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Overall Rating : 6/10
Directed By : Michael Hurst
Emmanuelle Vaugier (SAW II)
Ed Quinn (Starship Troopers 2)
Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones (Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood)
Sid Haig (The Devil's Rejects)
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Mar.8, 2006
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| PLOT Government operatives investigate a university campus where a new outbreak of zombies has started. |
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| THE REVIEW HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2, takes place when government operatives are assigned to investigate an outbreak of a malicious zombie plague at a University. Upon their arrival this discover that it is already too late and that the whole compass is now infected and they are hungry for the human flesh. Fighting their way through the undead they must find and kill "Generation Zero". the zombie that started it all, and with a sample of it's blood, the AMS agents may have chance to create an antidote to clear the plague once and for all. But later it becomes apparent that some of the agents have plans of their own of selling the antidote for financial wealth. It really is a surprise that when a movie does so bad, it can somehow still generate a sequel, such as the case with HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2. The original HOUSE OF THE DEAD was considered major flop to fans and also apparently it's filmmakers. With HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2 the story appears to have been crafted more carefully this time as the film is quite entertaining I will admit. I will also say that when I heard that a second HOTD movie was coming out, I had no hope for it, I thought to myself "Do they actually think that the first film was all that good?" I also knew that this film would never see the light of day theatrically, and on that notion I was right, as it did not... instead it premiered on the Sci-Fi channel as does many of Lionsgate's DTV features. I actually passed on seeing the TV premiere in order to review the dvd which happens to be now. The DVD appears to be uncut and I would imagine that some of the things shown in this cut couldn't be shown on TV, for example the nudity and possibly some language. Although shot on a much lesser budget than the original, HOTD2, to me packs an entertaining punch! At first it starts off far less serious than it, should be, leading me to believe I was in for yet another stinker. But I soon after found out that the movie was just getting warmed up. I cannot express just how refreshing it was to go right into the pulse pounding action without having to briefly inter cut with cheesy video game footage, which was the most annoying aspect of the original besides it's less than stellar director. This one also have some very funny dialogue which also helped the movie movie right along without running out of gas. When talking about the action in this flick it is shot at a fast pace but is much more realistic this time (we don't have the camera following the bullets this time or slow motion edits), it often reminded me of the original RESIDENT EVIL film. It should also be pointed out that the zombies are more realistic also and have much more "life" in them, I really liked how they showed the undead proceeding which their lives as if nothing happened it, it is particularly hilarious when the operatives have to gun down a zombie football team on the playing field! There is questioning to be said as some aspects of the film to not really add up, in many of the scenes the agents are sprayed in the face with "zombie blood". wouldn't swallowing the blood infect a person as well? This was not the case as they always remained alive and well after digesting the juice. The acting here was surprisingly good. Emmanuelle Vaugier, who appeared in SAW II, offers yet another strong showing. In some people's opinion some think that her performance her in HOTD2 was far less stronger to the one in SAW II...I have to disagree there as I think she is approving more and more as each film passes. Ed Quinn, whom I had never seen previously is good here as one whom recently lost his brother(a fellow soldier) and who may secretly hold feelings for Vaugier's character Alex. Sticky Fingaz, is the hard-nosed Sergeant Dalton, going in I thought Sticky would be the worst actor in this movie but ever since he began to primarily focus on acting instead of rapping, he has actually become one of the most promising actors. This role isn't a far stretch from his role of the FX series OVER THERE( in which he is great also) and I think he feels at home with these types of roles. Next he will play Blade on the BLADE TV series, but i'm not so confident when it come to that role. Ellie Cornell also returns despite getting her legs ripped off in the original....which is so ridiculous but hey i'm glad she returned! I have liked Ellie ever since her roles on HALLOWEEN 4 and 5 as Rachel Carruther, and although her role is short here, i'll take anything I can get! Let But not least there's Sid Haig, he appears as Professor Curien. the man that started the plague as an experiment. Sid is always great and has talent running out his ass, and I feel as if that talent was wasted, as he doesn't have as much screen time as he deserves. This film is a vast improvement from the first and also while just being a rather mediocre series of zombie films, the writers know what they have, and approached this film as if they were righting their wrongs, and for the most part works. |
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| GORE
METER 5.5/10 I really enjoyed the film's gore and their seemed to not be a dry face in the "house". |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 4/10 I wasn't too crazy other the score, I expected some really heavy tracks to boost the actually, while their are rock tracks they are just not heavy enough to do it for me. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM While certainly not the best zombie flick ever, HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2 is entertaining enough to make you forget about the crappy original.(if you already haven't that is). I really enjoyed this and I could honestly see myself watching it again in the future, which has been a rarity for me lately unless it is from the 70s or 80s. I do recommend this even if you have little faith left in the HOUSE OF THE DEAD series. This DVD will be released on Mar. 21th,2006 |
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