Dead Snow (2009)

Original Release Date: June 19, 2009 (U.S.A.)
Run time: 90 minutes

When a zombie film is called the “darling” of the increasingly-prestigious Sundance Festival, you know you’ve got a movie on your hands that is at least worth a look-see. Fortunately for those who do seek out the movie in question, “Dead Snow,” there should be something in it for every zombie fan to reward them many times over for finding this film.

“Dead Snow,” or as it’s known in the original Norwegian language in which it was filmed, “Død Snø,” could probably be best defined as an homage to the small genre category of horror comedies, especially those of the days gone by – the ‘80s and ‘90s in particular. Indeed, the characters directly reference such snarky classics as “Evil Dead” and “Braindead” during their conversations with one another. The main characters consist of six college students who travel to a remote cabin in the snowy woods – sound familiar, “Evil Dead” fans? – on their Easter break for some good old-fashioned fun and fornication. Well, technically five college students are the main characters, as one meets her untimely demise at the hands of the zombies as she is going to meet up with the others, before the title of the movie even hits the screen.