Dead Snow (2009)

The hype-machine was out in full force for Norwegian zombie flick Dead Snow. Personally, I’m tired of the zombie film genre. There’s been little innovation and way too much mediocrity. I loved [Rec] but other then that I’ve been left wanting something new. From all the hype around Dead Snow, you’d think we were getting a new genre classic. What a dissappointment.

Dead Snow is about a group of college kids staying in a cabin up in the middle of nowhere in Norway. They unwittingly raise the ire of ancient zombie Nazi soldiers and the entire horde decends on the group. The group has to fight to survive, blah blah blah. Other then the Nazi element, you’ve heard it all before, and if you’re really savvy, you’ve seen the Nazi zombie angle done before as well.

Sure, the makeup for the most part is great. The Nazi zombies look very frightening and the gore is well done and graphic. 9/10 times thats totally enough for me to at least enjoy myself. This time though I had the wrong expectations. I was expecting something slick, polished and tightly written. I wasn’t expecting great innovation or revolutionary story-telling. I just figured with such a standard storyline it would at least the dialogue and plot would be written well. Not so. The film is filled with plot holes and scenes that go nowhere. Its not smart or slick in any way. The editing and shooting is sloppy, the acting is mediocre and the zombies don’t even show up until the last 30 minutes.

In short, Dead Snow was sub par and only mildly entertaining. Its yet another case of a great trailer for a lackluster film.  Go in looking for great gore and cool makeup and nothing else.

4/10

Gore: high

Nudity: mild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkC7HiAlAeE