Upon my arrival to Sundance, there were three films that I was destined to see - Dead Snow, a Norwegian film about an army of Nazi zombies, was one of them. After waiting in line for over three hours in below freezing temperatures, I was turned away in my first bid to see the film. Thankfully, my second wait wasn't nearly as long nor as disappointing as an usher showed me to my seat where my preconceived beliefs of a great film and iconic plot line were rendered true. On the screen, Dead Snow blew away the competition as the chills proved well worth the wait as it provided an iconic blend of comedy and horror, reminding me of the classic 80s fright films that still overtake my closet of VHS tapes today.
The story, told through the eyes of eight medical students looking to escape the harsh terms of reality, is as standard as one might expect. The characters, solely one-dimensional, are secondary to the chills and thrills that find their way onto the screen as each becomes the victim to an onslaught of Nazi zombies who are out for revenge. There is no need to go into detail about someone who will soon be dead, right?
Nevertheless, relationships are explained, sex is expected and gruesome blood and guts is literally a must. However, unlike other zombie films of the past, Dead Snow successfully mixes ironic moments of comedy with the horrific, gut wrenching visuals have you come to expect, sending the audience into a state of glee as you find yourself laughing at the events on screen, enjoying them more than ever deemed possible.
Yet, the best part of the film doesn't lie within the characters, or even the horrific deaths that await those in the cabin. Instead, the iconic property belongs to the zombies. Instead of your typical, bite me and I become one of your scenarios, director Tommy Wirkola creates a legendary moment as you sit and witness an army of Nazi zombies break out of the snow and transcend upon their innocent prey. The incident is pure, classic cinema at its best, giving the film a final boost that helps it lay claim to being the clear break-out hit of the festival.
Dead Snow is fun, horrific and painstakingly funny. The chase scenes are awesome and the character interactions are priceless, all accumulating to form a film that not only warrants a watch, but a purchase at any level.
Dead Snow has been purchased by IFC films and is expected to receive a VOD release.
