War in the Dead

Somewhat Film Co., Rialto Intl., Lithuanian Film Art galleries and Media One Entertainment production. (Worldwide sales: Accelerator, Studio City.) Produced by Barr Potter, Ramunas Skikas. Executive producers, Alessandro Fracassi, Robbie Little. Co-producer, Marko Makilaakso, Joel Soisson. Directed by Marko Makilaakso. Script, Makilaakso, Barr B. Potter, in the story by Makilaakso.With: Andrew Tiernan, Mikko Leppilampi, Samuel Vauramo, Juoko Ahola, Jouko Ahola, Mark Wingett, Andreas Wilson, Antti Reini, Magdalena Gorska. (British dialogue)Finally premiering greater than four years after principal photography wrapped, "War in the Dead" turned up with time to see Toronto's During The Night fest alongside "Exit Humanity," another movie placing zombie action in the war time historic context. The slicker plus much more pricey of those two, Finn helmer Marko Makilaakso's British-language, Lithuania-shot bigscreen debut is muscular if your little one-dimensional, with little human interest or scariness to flavor what's basically one extended military shootout. Taken just like a straightforward actioner, it's pointing if unmemorable, with solid prospects for homevid sales in lots of areas. Theatrical exposure will probably be spotty. Prologue unveils Nazi "anti-dying" medical experiments completed on taken Russian soldiers early throughout World war ii. couple of years later, in 1941, allied Finn and American forces are saved to a pastime to get a rival bunker round the Finnish-Soviet border. First they are decimated having a Russian ambush (just before the U.S.S.R. switched in the tenuous Axis association to committed Allied allegiance) then youngsters are further reduced with a anxiety attack within the undead, flesh-hungry people with people experiments. With the half-hour point, only Yank officer Stone (Andrew Tiernan), Finn Laasko (Mikko Leppilampi) and Russian grunt Kolya (Samuel Vauramo) still fight the nonstop onslaught. Much machine gunning evolves, in order to and inside the abandoned secret Nazi project's undercover HQ. Protags' trigger-happy offensive against plenty of uniformed zombies (no matter the undead's superior speed, strength and resilience) helps to make the pic feel a great deal a lot more like a "Rambo" movie than as being a horror meller. It certainly doesn't cash if this involves atmosphere, dread or "boo!" moments, no matter the polished if undistinctive pictures and score. The testosterone-laden proceedings don't supply the competent thesps much chance to develop character, as well as the script (co-put together by Makilaakso with veteran producer Barr Potter) leaves the essential premise undeveloped beyond a thing that to keep numerous busy but interchangeable action sequences simply put, more plot may have aided. Fadeout signifies a need to setup "War in the Dead" as first inside an ongoing horror-combat action series a la "Underworld." Packaging-wise no less than, the conclusion product shows no manifestation of many production worries the pic allegedly experienced, including late changes of cast and funding.Camera (color), Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen editor, Michael J. Duthie music, Neal Acree, Joel Goldsmith production designer, Algis Garbaciauskas art company company directors, Darius Bastys, Kari Kankaanpaa, Audrius Dumikas set decorator, Daila Pranckenaite costume designer, Daiga Rybakoviene visual effects supervisor, Chad Goei assistant director, Boris Taskov casting, Donatas Simukauskas, Laura Munsterhelm. Examined on DVD, San Francisco Bay Area, November. 11, 2011. (In Toronto During The Night Film Festival.) Running time: 86 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com