In the horror genre, it’s always more surprising when films don’t get sequels than when they inevitably do, especially on the indie front. So when it was announced that Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola would be revisiting Nazi zombie in a sequel to his 2009 cult hit Dead Snow, it only seemed strange that it hadn’t happened already. And honestly, we probably wouldn’t even be covering this film except that it has attracted the likes of Judd Apatow-world alum Martin Starr, reports Variety, along with comic actresses Ingrid Haas and Jocelyn Deboer. While that news is crazy enough on its own, they’ve also somehow decided to change the film’s name from Dead Snow 2: War of the Dead to the even more cringe-worthy Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead. My interest in Starr’s involvement was cut in half by that stupid ass title.
Given the first film was a full Norwegian production, it’s somewhat surprising that this second film will be released in English as well as Norwegian, but the original was pretty popular here in the U.S., as well as many parts of Europe. And the plot reflects this, as it will follow the first film’s lone survivor, who soon finds himself taking on an even more expansive Nazi zombie army, only this time he has the assistance of The Zombie Squad, a professional team of zombie killers from the U.S. I’m sure some of you could hear me sighing unbelievably loud after writing that. I’m going to give Wirkola the benefit of the mountainous doubt, however, because Dead Snow contained some damned good moments amidst the genre buffoonery, and his latest movie, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, was on the flashier side of average. And having a cast of funny people doesn’t hurt.
Starr, who first achieved fame as the lovably awkward Bill in Freaks and Geeks, was most recently seen in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s apocalyptic comedy This is the End, as well as Adult Swim’s police procedural spoof NTSF:SD:SUV and the reality show parody web series Burning Love. He was also in Abe Levy and Silver Tree’s below-all-radars indie thriller Deep Dark Canyon. You can find him soon opposite Kristen Bell in both The Lifeguard and Veronica Mars.
Though Haas’ feature work has been limited to Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and Jason James’ upcoming comedy That Burning Feeling, she’s appeared on Chelsea Lately and episodes of The League and Key and Peele. She also starred in some CollegeHumor Originals, just like Deboer. Aside from a few really independent movies in 2009, Deboer has really only been seen on TV for an episode of Inside Amy Schumer, but will appear in Victor Levin’s upcoming romantic comedy 5 to 7.
There’s no word on when Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead will be releasing, but hopefully it drops the ass end of that name before it does. Below you’ll find a recently released featurette for the film discussing the look of the Nazi zombies. And below that, a trailer for the original film, which you can find on Netflix.
