Directed By: Tommy Wirkola
Starring: Jeppe Laursen, Charlotte Frogner, Jenny Skavlan
Tag line: "Ein! Zwei! Die!"
Trivia: Originally it was going to be called "Rød Snø" (or Red Snow in English), as an homage to the Swedish/Norwegian mini-series with the same name
Dead Snow opens on a moonlit night. It's a snow-covered landscape, and a young woman is running through the woods as Edvard Grieg's classic “In The Hall of the Mountain King” fills the soundtrack. The girl is obviously being chased, though we have no idea who, or what, is after her. Later, we learn her name is Sara (Ane Dahl Torp), and she was on her way to a cabin to meet some friends.
Unfortunately, Sara never got there.
Queue the opening credits, and let the carnage begin!
Sara's friends, seven in all, arrive at the cabin the next morning for a little rest and relaxation over the Easter holiday. The group has come prepared, with plenty of beer, a couple of snowmobiles, and even a few board games.
But they won't have as much free time as they'd hoped.
That first night, a strange man (Bjorn Sundquist) pays the friends a visit, and warns them that this area is no place to kick back and relax. Apparently, during World War II, a rather nasty platoon of Nazis occupied a nearby town, where they terrorized the locals. As the war drew to a close, the people fought back, driving the Nazis into these very hills, where it is assumed they all froze to death.
But as these seven will soon discover, not even death can keep a Nazi down!
As I'm sure you've figured out by now, Dead Snow is a movie about Nazi zombies, but unlike your standard undead, these Nazis are neither slow-witted nor slow on their feet. They look every bit like zombies (save their uniforms), yet act like soldiers. They are hybrids, if you will, creatures with a ravenous craving for human flesh that have retained all of their military training. Even the stranger who warned the friends, a man fully aware of the danger, proves no match for these undead remnants of the Third Reich; after setting up a tent for the night, the stranger doesn't even get a shot off before the zombies cut his throat and makes a meal of his intestines.
Under the leadership of their barbarous commander, Herzog (Orjan Gamst), these Nazi Zombies (or Zombie Nazis...I'm not sure which is the proper classification) remain the tight-knit unit they were some 50+ years earlier. Only now, they're a lot harder to kill.
Dead Snow moves along at a great pace, is well-acted, and provides ample helpings of blood and guts for fans who like their horror films messy. If you love a good undead story, then you won't want to miss Dead Snow. It's one of the best!
12 comments:
For your foreign members Doctor Shock the actual movie title is Dod Sno and is a Norwegian film.
For the most part this was a gruesome zombie movie, a hint of comedy and fierce looking zombies with some scary scenes. The part I didn't like was the mystery man that showed up and explained the story, kind of seemed out of place and he wasn't a good actor. On a whole it would be worth a buy for a zombie fan only, don't think other horror movie goers would be big on this.
I would put a 6 on this one and a scare of 7. Hey now I feel part of the best horror podcast, Planet Macabre.
Ed F.
Dallas, Texas
Ed F: Thanks for the Norwegian title, and yeah, I didn't mention that this was a foreign film (I guess mostly because the trailer gives that fact away). FYI for those who don't like subtitles: the DVD does supposedly have an English language track.
I'll admit the Mystery Man showing up at the cabin was a bit of exposition that could possibly have been handled differently, but he didn't really bother me (especially considering the way they dealt with his character once he left there. I liked that this guy, who KNEW the danger, was still powerless against it. That brought a real sense of doom to the rest of the film: If a guy who knows what he's up against is so easily dispatched, what kind of chance does that give the rest of them?).
I would agree with you that DEAD SNOW is a definite buy for zombie fans. If you're indifferent to films about the undead, then you might want to do a little research first (though, ultimately, I think you'll enjoy it).
Thanks so much for the rating (I dub you an honorary "Macabite") and for sharing your views on DEAD SNOW. I appreciate them! Thanks, also, for listening to Planet Macabre.
Please stop back again!
I'm not sure why I don't already own a copy of this film, especially since used copies have been kicking around the stores here for some time.
The description reminds me a bit of Outpost (2008) - although Nazi Ghosts (or Ghost Nazis) not zombies were involved :) -- either way, an interesting concept for a horror movie.
Klaus: It took me some time to get around to it as well, but I'm glad I did. And I haven't seen OUTPOST. I'll have to add it to my ever-increasing 'virtual queue" of films!
I've been wondering about this one for a while. Looks like I need to check it out.
Sammy: Definitely check it out. It won't let you down!
Thanks for stopping by.
I went out to buy a used copy last night, and there were none to find...Argh! the hunt is on...
Klaus: Keep looking...there's just GOT to be a used copy around somewhere :)
And when you do get a chance to see it, please stop back and let me know what you think.
Happy hunting!
Yeah, I'm cheap, and I'm not a fan of buying anything new if i can help it :)
Hey, I'm with you on that. Why buy new when you can buy someone else's cheaper?
Today was not only a holiday here in st. John's, but with a snow storm blowing outside my window - a perfect day to watch Dead Snow.
Definitely some pretty funny action sequences, and while a little thin on plot, an enjoyable way to spend part of a snowy afternoon!
I still haven't found a copy of my own, but definitely on my to-buy list.
Klaus: Glad you enjoyed it (and yeah, you definitely had the perfect 'conditions' to watch this movie).
Good luck on the continued hunt to find a copy, and thanks for the feedback!
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