philosoraptor42

Cold Prey 2 (2008)

During the last Halloween Candy October Horror Marathon one of my favourites was a rather awesome Scandinavian slasher movie called "Cold Prey". The plot was pretty much the typical slasher movie plot, but what impressed me was the way the film focussed on the victims and made them all into interesting and very real characters. Perhaps the biggest problem with the slasher genre has generally been the lack of genuine character in the potential victims. Cold Prey had engaging and interesting characters who interacted well and even had a sense of humour.

If "Cold Prey" was Friday the 13th at a ski resort, "Cold Prey 2" is Halloween 2 at a ski resort. This time the main setting is a hospital. The one survivor of the last film is severely disturbed by what happened to her last time around, but she's also kind of badass now too. She's a bit like Ellen Ripley from the "Alien" series, in that she has skills that she possessed before the trouble started, but she's also been hardened by her experience. She's no longer surprised by the villain, so she's cool-headed, pro-active and the best person to have on your side when facing the threat.

Sadly not all the new characters are as interesting as in the last film. This time many characters feel a little less genuine. However, they are still on top form by slasher movie standards. What's more, the villain is given a bit more character this time around. He's still a faceless behemoth of few words, but in the background old files and memories are being pieced together to uncover the truth behind the killer. Rather like with the Friday the 13th series, the legend of the villain becomes that bit more elaborate as the series progresses, making him more than just an ordinary psycho.

This was a very satisfying slasher film and seems like these filmmakers seem to be able to filter out all but just the best aspects of classic slasher movies. These "Cold Prey" movies have distilled all the best aspects of the slasher genre. The premise and settings may pay tribute to the older slasher movies, but I genuinely feel like these films deserve their place as exemplary slasher classics in their own right. If you've ever enjoyed a slasher film in the past, you owe it to yourself to check out the first two "Cold Prey" movies.

A+

Juan Of The Dead (2011)

Inevitably when you start talking about a zombie comedy the tendency amongst reviewers is to make comparisons to "Shaun Of The Dead". I love "Shaun Of The Dead", but I am aware of a few problems with it.

Firstly, "Shaun Of The Dead" feels like an extra long one-off episode of "Spaced" except all the characters have changed. That's not much of a criticism since "Spaced" is bloody brilliant, but sometimes taking what was previously a tv format and transferring it to the cinema can feel a bit odd. I feel this is an issue that Edgar Wright had overcome when it came to his next two movies: "Hot Fuzz" and "Scott Pilgrim Vs The World".

Secondly, I don't find "Shaun Of The Dead" consistently funny all the way through. There are some wonderful moments, but there are other parts, like where the protagonists start throwing vinyl records at the zombies, where I feel a bit alienated from the material. Never the less, I feel that "Shaun Of The Dead" is fantastically made and definitely counts as one of my favourite horror comedies in spite of a little bit of comedic inconsistency.

With a title like "Juan Of The Dead", it's inevitable that it will be compared with Edgar Wright's excellent directorial debut. However, it is neither overly hyperbolic praise nor is it anything to be sneezed at when I say that "Juan Of The Dead" is actually BETTER than "Shaun Of The Dead".

In Cuba, Juan and a group of friends find that they are the last survivors dealing with life in the middle of a zombie-infested neighbourhood. The news reports claim that the violence is caused by "dissidents" who are believed to be supporters of the US. As such, not having the term "zombies" to hand, the zombies are often rather amusingly referred to as 'dissidents'.

Considering that the zombies are being dismissed as capitalists, it's rather ironic that Juan and his friends' response to the situation is to try to make money out of it. Once they get past the initial shock, they try to run a business whereby they will finish off zombies in exchange for money so that people can return to their homes. Their slogan?: "Juan Of The Dead, we kill your loved ones!"

In terms of side-characters, I was particularly entertained by the duo of China and Primo. The former being a transvestite who is as effeminate as he is badass. The latter being a large and heavily muscular figure who, due to fainting at the sight of blood, has to fight the zombies blindfolded.

Naturally Juan is the main character. He's a bit of a drifter. He wants to do what is best for his daughter, who is briefly in Cuba, though he is upset to hear that she has plans to live in Spain out of contact with him. His best friend Lazaro is also a slacker and similarly is hoping for the best for his son, which is presumably why his son is named California...

While there's occasionally some inevitable gore as zombies are dispatched, the focus is clearly on the comedy. "Juan Of The Dead" is a very funny film, but like "Shaun Of The Dead" before it, there's also a lot of heart.