Filmmaker Tommy Wirkola returns with this sequel to his 2009 cult hit Dead Snow, serving up a bigger, bloodier, and more overtly jokey tale once again centered on Nazi zombies. In the original, a group of medical students were systematically dispatched by reanimated Nazi soldiers after uncovering a stash of gold. Now, Martin (Vegar Hoel), the massacre's sole survivor, awakens to discover not only that he is suspected of killing his mates, but also that the hospital has made a terrible error—attaching to his shoulder the severed arm of brutal Nazi Col. Herzog, which has a vicious mind of its own (shades of Dr. Strangelove). The wayward arm creates obstacles in Martin's attempts to stop Herzog and his troops from wiping out a nearby town, but it also proves beneficial since it allows him to reanimate a bunch of Russian POWs (slaughtered by Herzog) to serve as Martin's own undead army. Martin is also joined by a gay museum worker (a terribly swishy stereotype) and a trio of nerdy American zombie hunters who have apparently spent too much time watching The Walking Dead. Although it tries very hard to be ghoulishly funny, Dead Snow 2 only fitfully succeeds (the Keystone Kops treatment of the local police especially falls flat), while its unfortunate tendency to make victims of children, the elderly, and the disabled comes across as more tasteless than outrageous. Still, fans of the first film will likely enjoy this gory second helping. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead
Well Go USA, 101 min., R, DVD: $24.98, Blu-ray: $34.98 Volume 30, Issue 2
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead
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