Screenplay: Tommy Wirkola, Stig Frode Henriksen
Starring: Vegar Hoel, Lasse Valdal, Charlotte Frogner, Stig Frode Henriksen, Evy Kasseth Røsten, Jeppe Beck Laursen, Jenny Skavlan
Year: 2009
Language: Norwegian
UK rental release: August 2009
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Following the last few of reviews here on filmbore, I felt we should stay in Scandinavia a little longer, nipping across the way to Norway. Hell, after Rare Exports last time around we might as well stay in the comedic horror genre while we're at it. Now I come to think of it, we might as well keep it snowy too, especially as the white stuff has been causing some problems for some of you the world over. With all this in mind, no film feels more relevant in fitting this description than Dead Snow.
It's Easter, and a group of medical students are taking the opportunity during the break to go on a skiing vacation to Øksfjord. In one vehicle, four lads shoot the breeze en route to the lodge, joshing about some of the girls on the trip with them.
In the other car, the three girls are also chatting about the boys. Martin's girlfriend, Hannah (Charlotte Frogner, TV series Maria) is sensitive plus a little claustrophobic. She's joined by her two friends Liv (Evy Kasseth Røsten, Hawaii, Oslo) and Chris (Jenny Skavlan, Fatso), who are intrigued to find out who's who in the other car, especially which ones are single.
They reach the parking spot ready for the trek into the woods. Vegard has brought a special toy with him - his snowmobile. He rides it ahead to get their cabin all warmed up, taking their luggage for them while the rest are left to follow on foot.
They drink and party
while they wait for Vegard's girlfriend, Sara, to arrive, who wanted to
ski all the way to the lodge. But on this first evening they're alarmed
when a dubious stranger turns up. He warns the students of the nearby
dangers and of the terrifying history tied into the area.Øksfjord has links to Nazi occupation during World War II, acting as a harbour for German battleships. During the war, led by the relentless Colonel Herzog, the Nazi soldiers tortured and maimed the local inhabitants. And, once they looted the local villages of all their fortunes, disappeared into the mountains. They haven't been seen since, believed to have frozen to death, but there is word of an evil presence remaining in the hilltops.
It's the next morning and Sara still hasn't turned up, leading Vegard to go and investigate. In his absence, the rest of the gang to and keep themselves entertained. Erlend, while have a scope around for some more beer find an old box under the cabin, containing gold and jewels.Little do they know that this lucky find brings with it despair and terror and, most obscurely of all...Nazi Zombies!
Referred to in my Top 10 Zombie Killers (thanks to Vegard and his crazy snowmobile antics!), Dead Snow is a wonky spin on the zombie genre. It opens with a piece by Norway's own Edvard Grieg's, namely In The Hall Of The Mountain King. While the beasts give chase to our hapless victim, the selected score lightens the film immediately, helping to demonstrate its flesh-eaten funny bone.
However, rock music infiltrates the rest of the picture to bring it back into the real world. Yet, I think a little more blend into the classical genre may have been a better choice to keep the tone a slight more uplifted, especially when considering the approach taken by Tommy Wirkola. He also penned the piece with Stig Frode Henriksen (also starring as the movie's cheeky if entertaining Roy) but, to be a little brutal, this isn't where Dead Snow's success lies. Yes, the plot is a little loose, and could do with some serious strengthening, but that's no what we're here for. The thrills and blood spills come at you with gusto, and Wirkola does an exceptional job filming the action scenes in handheld form with a incredible sense of awareness.
The picture really does look great throughout. Trusting the shadows and minimalist angles during the night time, the rest of the daylight shots, which dominate the film, are effervescent. And, thanks to the brightness of the snow in the Norwegian sunlight, such illumination permits the use of natural light, grounding the film a little.
A little further realism is brought in the guise of actual historic events from North Norway to enhance the terror. The events described at Øksfjord may not be specifically true but are influenced by similar events. However, it's the other side of this tale that we're truly interested in isn't it?! That's right...the zombies!
And not any old zombies either but Nazi ones. Wirkola was brainstorming with his creative team on how they could make their monsters even more terrifying and nothing says movie villain more than "Nazi". Although this isn't the first time Nazi zombies have been attempted in the movie business, with small B-movie horror fare like Shock Waves and Oasis Of The Zombies trying this through the 70's and 80's, this is the best realisation so far, especially when sourcing historical events to give it a little backbone.
Plus, these zombies have a little sentience too. They even attack with weapons and are driven by a sole purpose. Too often, we always see the same identi-kit zombie hordes and it's refreshing when someone pushes for a different take on the world's favourite undead beast. They're humorously handled as well, with a splash of slapstick in their character. 
Considering this approach and its rambunctious concept, you won't be surprised to hear that Dead Snow is a little over the top, with its tongue firmly in its cheek. The fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously only helps to accentuate the thrills and laughs that bit further. Okay, it may be a little cheesy but that's part of its charm. Totally self-aware, its really competent when it comes to laughing at itself. It really is a lot of fun.
It's, knowingly, chock-full of cliches and is saturated with well timed "jump moments". A must for horror fans, referencing known films, its even being a bit self-referential: only seven minutes into the movie and Jeppe Beck Laursen's wacky Erlend is already quizzing the other characters on how many horror films they can name where teenagers go to a cabin in the woods.
All this aside, it still has its dark, serious moments, allowing the cast to flex their acting muscle a little. Stand out is Vegar Hoel as Martin. There's a particular moment near the end of the piece that rips his soul in two, only to be junctured by an even darker, if carefully comical, bloodied instance, which Hoel handles incredibly well.
It's this bluntness and blatant angle on blood that is Dead Snow's trump card. It may be your standard "kids in a cabin" tale except this one holds no punches; it has absolutely no shame in its goriness, while intestines and brains are dished out without any consideration of whether you're eating your dinner or not. Blood on snow has always been a striking image and there's plenty on show here, with the striking contrast of bright white and warm red repeating and strengthening as our tale progresses. However if, like lead character Martin, you find the site of blood too hard to stomach, you may find this film a little difficult.
Whatever your view on blood and guts in film though, it's crucial to understand what has been achieved here. This is a modestly funded movie which, thanks to an incredible team of experts, is gifted with some excellent make-up and special effects. When considering that it was put together on a measly budget of just $800,000, it's just unbelievable what Wirkola has managed to piece together, especially when taking note of the quality of these effects and the film's incredible production overall.
To bleed or not to bleed, this is a film that does polarise viewers. It's clearly not Shakespeare but that isn't what Dead Snow sets out to do. It comes across as a fan of the horror genre in celluloid form. It's perfect Saturday night popcorn fare too, which is good to know for those of you not of the "foreign language persuasion" or just those who dodge subtitles; it's a nice little intro into world cinema. Plus...come on people...Nazi Zombies!
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Laughed out loud, loved it.
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