DVD Review: Inspired Zombie Mayhem of Gore-Filled ‘Dead Snow’

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CHICAGO – Just as Edgar Wright’s “Shaun of the Dead” was a wonderful homage to the work of George A. Romero, I feel like Tommy Wirkola’s highly-buzzed Nazi zombie film “Dead Snow” is an ode to the work accomplished by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell in the films of the “Evil Dead” series. Not only is Ash, Campbell’s character, directly mentioned by a character in the film but the style, story, and even amputations are straight out of the ‘Cult of Ash’. Being inspired by horror greatness doesn’t always lead to quality itself, but this cult-hit-in-the-making nearly lives up to its gory ancestors and will clearly have a loyal following for years to come.

HollywoodChicago.com DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0
DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

What’s scarier than normal zombies? NAZI zombies! With a plot that sounds spawned from too much Red Bull after a 24-hour midnight movie marathon, “Dead Snow” opens with a woman running across a snowy landscape and being set upon by shadowed villains. It turns out the girl’s name is Sara and she was crossing to meet a group of friends going to a cabin in the mountains for a fun-filled weekend of hooking up and copious drinking.

Dead Snow was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23rd, 2010.
Dead Snow was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23rd, 2010.
Photo credit: MPI

While they wait for Sara, the seven unlucky souls in the cabin stumble across an old wooden box under the floorboards that contains gold from the Nazi era. It turns out that the Nazis want their gold back and they will go to any gory extreme to get it.

Dead Snow was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23rd, 2010.
Dead Snow was released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 23rd, 2010.
Photo credit: MPI

Like “Shaun,” “Dead Snow” isn’t cliched as much as an homage to the zombie genre. It is filled with not just specific nods to films but elements of the genre as a whole like the old man who happens to stumble across the cabin in the middle of nowhere to warn them about the undead living in the woods, a movie-knowledgeable character who wisely screams “don’t get bitten,” and the clever gore design throughout. The film features multiple beheadings and I’m pretty sure that half of the protagonists actually see their own intestines before they die.

Clearly, “Dead Snow” is for a very specific audience and I expect that audience to be satisfied throughout. The only problem with the film is that — continuing the “Evil Dead” parallel — there’s no Ash. The absence of a hero creates a lack of narrative drive and makes it abundantly clear that Wirkola is pretty much rooting for the zombies.

The script for “Dead Snow” is easily the weakest part (although the dialogue is surprisingly clever). “Dead Snow” may not be as simply perfect as Raimi’s best work, but it does display moments of gory ingenuity that make it clear that Wirkola could have an “Evil Dead: Dead by Dawn” later in his career. I hope Sam Raimi sees “Dead Snow” not merely because it was inspired by his films. I hope he see it because I think he’d really like it.

Special Features on the 2-Disc DVD:

o Behind Dead Snow
o Special Make-Up Effects of Dead Snow
o Original Theatrical Trailer
o Teaser Trailer
o Madness In The North!
o Madness In The West!
o Outtakes
o VFX
o Burning The Cabin
o The Sounds Of Dead Snow

‘Dead Snow’ is released by MPI and stars Charlotte Frogner, Orjan Gamst, Stig Frode Henriksen, Vegar Hoel, Jeppe Laursen, Evy Kasseth Rosten, Jenny Skavlan, Bjorn Sundquist, and Lasse Valdal. It was written by Stig Frode Henriksen & Tommy Wirkola and directed by Wirkola. It was released on February 23rd, 2010. It is not rated.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

  

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