Review: Dead Snow 2

www.dreadcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Dead-Snow-2-UK-DVD-Sleeve.jpg

So tonight I wanted to watch me some zombie flick, and after looking at what options I had, I decided it would either be Dead Snow 2 or The Dead 2. I was honestly more excited about The Dead 2, but since it wasn't on Netflix, Dead Snow 2 it was.

The flick was a lot like the first installment, filled with pretty big positives and a fair number of negatives, but overall a fun way to spend 90 minutes on a Saturday night. Just like the first film, it's zombie gore at its very best and bloodiest, and the film possesses a tone that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Of course, like most sequels, it's not quite as good as the original. I think the main difference is that it doesn't have the darkness to it that the first film had. The first film was solidly in the black comedy genre, with a number of moments that were truly terrifying or disturbing. The second film tries, but it's really just a straight up comedy, even as the film is killing off children, the elderly, priests, etc.

The killing actually was my major complaint. Maybe I'm just getting old and boring, but I felt like the film was trying too hard to be "edgy" by killing off children in a sandbox, two people in wheelchairs, and two women with their infants in strollers. At first it was kind of funny that they were not holding anything back. A scene early on depicts a young boy being killed in a way that is legitimately both awful and completely hilarious, but from there some of the kills just seem like they're trying way too hard to be "shocking", and it distracts from the film.

http://fantasticfest-site.s3.amazonaws.com/films/40313/dead_snow_2__large.jpg

That said, the gore was visually very strong. For a movie that doesn't have an enormously large budget, they do a good job of being inventive with their gore and also making things look realistic. Like in the first film, most of the characters are bathed in a delightful coat of blood and dirt for the majority of the film which gives the film a strong aesthetic. You can't hate too much on a movie in which a Nazi zombie uses a dead man's intestines to siphon gas out of a tour bus and into a World War 2 era tank. I mean...that's just damn good cinema.

http://crypticrock.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/dead-snow-2-red-vs-dead01.jpg

The acting is probably a little better in this sequel than in the original, but it's hard to compare the two since the sequel is in English and the original has subtitles. I was worried about this decision, but it was fine. Much like the original film, however, the actors were all kind of strangely cast. I feel like many of the characters were too old for the characters they were portraying, and the two female American zombie nerds seemed extremely fake and were honestly pretty annoying. I love Star Wars as much as the next girl, but the one character's constant references to Star Wars seemed out of place, inauthentic, and distracted from the rest of the film. The local gay guy in the film was funny and endearing, but they made too big of a deal about him being gay. Maybe it's a bigger deal to be gay in Norway, but him trying to hide it seems a little silly and played for a film released in 2014.

Other than that though, the writing was probably one of the major strengths of the film. There are some witty moments, and the plot is interesting and original. Most of the characters have entertaining lines and deliver them well. The cinematography, like the original, is also pretty good and enhances the comedy of a lot of the scenes.

http://geekz.444.hu/assets/sites/24/2014/07/dead5.jpg

The ending of the film is a bit rushed, but the final battle is well executed and fulfilling. The very last moments of the film are kind of bizarre, but not horrible, especially considering how poorly most movies seem to end nowadays.

So, should you watch it? Totally. Don't expect to be laughing out loud, but it will give you some genuine chuckles and will keep you engaged for an hour and a half. Go in just expecting a fun little indie movie, and you'll be pleased. Just remember that, like the original, this is film is very loosely defined as a zombie flick. These zombies talk and use weapons. They're more like corporeal ghosts in a lot of ways except that their look is very "zombie", so if you are a zombie purist, I suggest that you stay away.

Top 5: Reasons Why You Should Give Warm Bodies a Chance

I'm baaaaack...
So after becoming a mom in November 2012, I kind of fell off the internet zombie map, but I've still lived and breathed zombies ever since. Now I'm going to get back to putting my undead thoughts online.
I've had this post written ever since I saw Warm Bodies back when my sons were tiny newborns. We saw the flick at a "moms screening" in 2013, where you can let your newborn ball of poop and tears wail without fear of bothering other movie goers. I've watched the movie a few times since, and my opinions are only reinforced.

1. Teenagers being teenagers without being annoying

With the recent, seemingly endless, stream of teen paranormal romance, you're probably sick to death of self destructive "love", irresponsible romanticizing of careless sex, and watered-down horror. I sure am. But I will make the argument that Warm Bodies presents a realistic and refreshing view of teen love. First of all, there is virtually no sex. There's sexual attraction, sure, but given the complicating factors (ie: him being dead) and the danger of the world, there's no time to get down, and the writers honor that reality. Additionally, there is no blind following of sexual/romantic impulse. The characters are constantly self doubting, cautious, uncomfortable, and skeptical. In my experience working with teenagers, to me that's way closer to how teenagers should and do behave.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/reviews/article3681581.ece

2. It's witty

The writing is really one of the primary strengths of this movie. It's dry as a corpse at times, but in that is so much comedy. The internal monologue of the male protagonist is sharp and elicits many a chuckle.

http://memeguy.com/photos/images/after-watching-warm-bodies-and-wanting-to-hate-it-13147.jpg

3. The side characters

Much like in the obvious source material (ie: Romeo and Juliet), the side characters are really the reason to watch. Rob Corddry plays the lovable and funny best friend zombie and brings to it all of his usual wit and comic timing. Analeigh Tipton is his female, non-flesh eating counterpart. You may, if your lame like me, recognize that name from Top Model a few years back. Not only is she insanely pretty, she's also got some excellent comic timing and is really a master at communicating through her facial expressions.

http://sarahtherebel.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/warm_bodies_2_20130106_1807987830.jpg

4. Bringing something new to the genre

You're probably not super hot on the whole zombies becoming human again thing or the whole zombies talking thing. Neither am I. I will say that that aspect of the movie won me over more than I thought it would. But the coolest new thing you'll see here is something I thought was very interesting and original. When the zombies eat the brain, they're flooded with the memories of the person they're chowing down on. Kind of interesting.

http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/rob-corddry.gif

5. Creating Fear

Although this probably bills as a romantic comedy, there are some truly eerie and frightening moments throughout. The art direction absolutely helps with that--everything has that grim grayness you traditionally associate with the post-apocalyptic genre. And unlike other teen genre movies, the death is not skimped on. People die. Plenty of them.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWaoJLZZFvUca1bKH7H4B7w24wSrdfPOkTt47WGtYOhc5liDL0VFMlH9vtTKo8HKVz2EEAEfXZ72CQEucpIobMVb7pi_ktd1TUfk2nqSdnXIlLCN93GoZJ9P0JPUbdJp4GDRX2ThrGORu/s1600/bonie.png

Review & Event: Juan of the Dead at The Wilmette Theater

I know it's been two weeks, but I might as well get around to posting my final two reviews from Chicago Fear Fest. One of the primary reasons that I went to the festival was to see Alejandro Brugues' Juan of the Dead. This independent flick has been devouring awards like outstretched limbs at recent festivals, and I couldn't wait to see what all the hub bub was about.

The film centers around the plight of Juan (Alexis Diaz de Villegas) and his portly, degenerate friend, Lazaro (Jorge Molina). Usually heroes are likeable, white toothed super men. They get all the woman and are the envy of all the men...but not Juan and Lazaro. Their bumbling idiocy, their blatant selfishness, and their inability to employ provident thought to any situation, are all some of the main reasons that this film is both unique and enduring. These aren't unrealistic super people surviving the zombie apocalypse; these are kind of scummy, realistic people surviving the zombie apocalypse.

Juan and Lazaro are certainly the central figures of the flick, and their crude banter is one of the main reasons to watch, but the supporting cast is loveable, dynamic, and brings a lot to the table--both in terms of zombie killing and comedy. Juan's daughter, Camila (Andrea Duro), is realistic and pretty. She brings a little drama and heart to a film that is otherwise pretty saturated with dick jokes and crime. Lazaro's son, Vladi (Andros Perugorria), is the eye candy you're missing in Juan and Lazaro. Some of my favorite characters in the film, however, were La China (Jazz Villa) and El Primo (Eliecer Ramirez). This couple consists of a particularly sassy drag queen/car radio thief and her enormous blood-shy boyfriend. La China's banter with Juan and Lazaro definitely adds to the comedy here, as does El Primo's tendency to faint every time he sees blood--not a great deficiency to have during the zombie apocalypse.

My only complaint about the film at all would be that the translation seems a little off. At times it is clear that a native Spanish speaker with a better understanding of Cuban history than I possess (Merci for that, three years of high school French) would find some of the jokes funnier and clearer. Because we're not watching a story about Cuban upper crust citizens here, the jokes are very colloquial and clearly contain many idioms. Unfortunately, at times these do get, pardon the cliche, lost in translation. Other than that, I have no complaints, but the movie is quite vulgar, especially sexually, so those with a reduced tolerance for the dirty joke might want to stay away.

Overall, the film will have you laughing and it may even tug at the heartstrings for a moment or two. There are absolutely some strong zombie effects here, and the story moves at an engaging pace. In other words, there isn't a "good time" to go grab some more popcorn from the concession stand.

Wondering when you'll be able to catch this gem on the big screen again? How about NOW!? The good folks over at The Wilmette Theater, one of my past employment stomping grounds, will be showing Juan of the Dead in a one week run between April 27th and May 3rd. The theater manager is a huge horror geek, and he is really excited to be premiering the film in its first American theatrical release. For tickets, check out the website. Showtimes are listed on the left. And don't procrastinate! The film won't be there next weekend!

Review: Rec 3 Genesis

Holy. Crap. I'm so glad that this film was at Chicago's Fear Fest.

Okay, so I've never seen Rec 1 or 2, but now I'll absolutely have to check them out. Apparently Quarantine was an American remake of Rec 1, and I have seen that, but it didn't come anywhere close to the awesomeness of Rec 3: Genesis.

This movie was stellar for so many reasons. The beginning was strong, and it did a good job of using cinema verite at the onset of the film, but transitioning to a more traditional camera style after about fifteen minutes when cinema verite would be annoying and unrealistic. The normalcy of the beginning was unsettling, and the filmmakers did a good job of incorporating both foreshadowing and red herrings to keep you anxious and attentive.

When the zombies do attack, the wedding of our protagonists, Clara (Leticia Dolera) and Koldo (Diego Martin), turns into a bloodbath in one swift and realistic moment. From there, it's the job of our heroes to find each other and find a way out, and it was never a dull moment watching them try.

This film is commendable for its bloody and realistic effects, its commitment to realism (aka: killing off a whole crap-load of people), its ability to seamlessly mix horror, comedy, and drama into one authentic piece of fiction, and its cultural commentary of/connection to Catholicism. But in addition to all of those strengths, this movie is absolutely excellent because of Leticia Dolera's performance. She is absolutely beautiful, even when covered in blood and running eyeliner, but she's also an immensely talented actress. I believe her, but I also want to BE her. She's the ultimate badass femme without being bitchy or unrealistic. This balance is not an easy one to manage, but both Dolera, and her director, Paco Plaza, have managed to craft a likeable and realistic female protagonist.

If you have a chance to check this flick out, I very highly recommend that you do so! Watch this preview...

Swag: Andrew Lincoln T-Shirt Hilarity

As some of you might know, before Andrew Lincoln was the BA Rick Grimes: Zombie Killer, he was just an emo guy in love with Kiera Knightley in Love Actually. It's true. The man who now commands the respect of millions with his no-nonsense Ricktatoship, was once just a man in a mildly homosexual sweater standing outside of a house on Christmas eve and declaring his love through a series of "awwww!" inspiring signs.

As a mock of that paradox, I found this shirt on Etsy.com that mixes the two Andrew Lincoln roles into one. Once again, Etsy comes through with the absolute hilarity. I want one...oh, how I want one. What's next? We need one the mixes Boondock Saints and Daryl Dixon. This is the closest they've gotten to that one though.

News: World War Z Makes Us Play the Waiting Game

World War Z, the long-awaited film version of the totally awesome Max Brooks novel, was slated to be the greatest Christmas present in history this year. I was expecting to be one of those obnoxious people at the movie theater on Christmas day. I worked in movie theaters for eight years, and I promised myself I'd never be one of those people, but this movie promises to be the mother of all modern zombification and certainly worthy of a little promise-breaking.

But news out recently suggests that we're going to have to hold our horses for a while longer...too much longer in my opinion. The new release date announced is June of 2013. One website reported June 21st while another website reported June 13th as the new release date. Regardless of which is correct, this pushes the flick back 6 more months and does not make me happy whatsoever. When I look at it objectively, I still kind of think the move was poorly conceived. Let's be honest, the biggest zombie market right now is Walking Dead fans. If you want to appeal to those people, advertising and then releasing during the third season would be wise. Still, maybe zombies aren't really a "holiday" thing, and since Paramount has done little in the way of advertising this film, bumping it back will give them more time to promote.

I'm a little nervous about this flick in general. It seems like an awkward format for the novel; I always thought it would make a better television show than a movie. For those who have not read the book (aka: fools), the story is written as a series of interviews. There is no central conflict (aside from the apocalypse), and there really isn't one central character. Sure, the "interviewer" is there as a unifying thread, but he really isn't a voice in the narrative...at least not in the book.

In the movie, however, Brad Pitt plays a character named Gerry Lane. I'm pretty sure that name doesn't even exist in the book. IMDB describes the plot of the film in the following way:  "A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic." Yeah...that's not the book...at all. Still, I'm down for anything with high production value and a zombie stamp of approval. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see...but for even longer than I previously thought.

Review: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Is the cellar the safest place or is it a death trap? This is one (of the many) questions posed during the Romero's original masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead. Although Romero sadly lost his rights to this proverbial zombie bible, it remains the number one reason for his success and for the success of the genre today. Without it, Robert Kirkman, Max Brooks and many others would still be hanging out in their parent's basements reading comics and wishing they had girlfriends. Of course, hanging out in Max Brook's childhood basement would be way cool in its own right, but I digress.

The film is a black and white beauty, so please for the love of all that is unholy, do NOT watch a colorized version. In fact, if you happen to end up in possession of a colorized version I advise you to incinerate it immediately. Also, avoid any remake like the plague. 1968. Black and White. Romero. Nothing else comes close.

Anyway, the film opens as a brother and sister visit a graveyard to place a wreath on the headstone of their long-departed dear old dad. The brother is irritable and cynical, and the sister is nervous and tired. As they lay the wreath upon the grave, the sister, Barbara, notices a man walking in the distance. His black form stands out starkly against the bright white of the skyline, and Johnny (who is quickly becoming an annoying little jack ass), begins to tease his sister with the now-popular catch phrase, "They're coming to get you, Barbara."

Now of course, Johnny thinks he's joking. He doesn't believe that the man is a zombie. How could he? What a ridiculous notion! But as the man comes nearer and nearer, it becomes clear to the viewer that something is desperately wrong. This man is not your run-of-the-mill graveyard mourner, and before anyone can say or do anything to stop it...

Goodbye, Johnny.

From there, the story never slows down. We are taken through what can only be defined as "a really bad night" for a group of survivors barricaded inside a local farmhouse. They fight the zombies as much as one another, and truly give credence to Sartre's famous quote: "Hell is other people". While the vast majority of survivors are painfully inept, one hero rises from the cesspool of idiocy: Ben.

Ben is meant for this kind of scenario, the kind of man who knows how to keep his head even when the entire world has quite literally gone to hell. He's rational, methodical and brutally honest. And yes, this reviewer does have the world's biggest crush on him. Sadly, he died many years ago and so my crush will never be realized. Sigh.

If you like the normal zombie gore, this movie has plenty of it. Do not be fooled by its black and white exterior, this is a zombie movie in the truest sense, and there's plenty of flesh-munching and gun-shooting to keep even the children of the 21st century entertained. But what this movie is really worth watching for is the character development and interaction. Romero truly knows human beings, and it is not difficult at all to believe that this is exactly the stupid way people would react in such a crisis. You'll love Ben. You'll hate everyone else. And...of course...the ending is to die for. True film making cojones.

The only complaint I'll even entertain is about some of the acting. Remember, this was a small budget film and some of the actors are just that--small budget. My personal favorite is Judy, a trendy girlfriend-type with the emotional depth of a petri dish. I've directed seven year old children who had a better grasp on communicating character emotion. But alas, this is a small flaw in an otherwise pristine masterpiece. The "corny" parts are even enjoyable for their comedic value, and one has to appreciate the film for its contribution to the genre if nothing else. If you've never seen it, call in sick tomorrow and watch it.

My review: 5 out of 5 head shots