Review: Bloodsucking Bastards (2015)

Evan Sanders (Fran Kranz, The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse) is in a dead end job. He’s “acting” sales manager and in line for a promotion to supervise a group of unmotivated telemarketers. Evan’s also in dutch with Mandy (Emma Fitzpatrick, The Social Network), who’s not only the head of Human Resources, but also his girlfriend…and someone he’s just pissed off in a rather awkward, intimate moment.

Just when he thinks things are going to turn in his favor, Evan is passed over for the promotion in favor of his old college nemesis, Max (Pedro Pascal, Game of Thrones). Armed with a vibrant attitude and a confident swagger, Max has plans to turn the company around by turning employees into vampires. Will Max let Evan stake a claim in the ranks of the new corporate order or will Evan face a new method of termination?

Let’s face it, there are many of us who can identify with Evan’s plight. Hell, I’ve had my share of soul sucking jobs, complete with promises of climbing the corporate ladder only to find that you have to trade your life to get ahead. That’s what makes the premise of Bloodsucking Bastards so enticing. Who among us would really be surprised to find out our bosses and go-getting co-workers were lifeless bloodsuckers?

Distributed by Scream Factory and Shout! Factory (who both put out some amazing films and TV shows on DVD and Blu-Ray), Bloodsucking Bastards borrows from countless workplace films including Office Space and Glengarry Glen Ross as well as numerous vampire movies. Not that that’s a bad thing, though, because some great dialogue (courtesy of Dr. God and Ryan Mitts) and exuberant performances (from Kranz, Pascal, Fitzpatrick, Joey Kern and the entire cast, really) intermingle to make Bloodsucking Bastards a real pleasure.

Director Brian James O’Connell keeps things moving briskly while tossing in plenty of gore and comedy. His style is reminiscent of Edgar Wright in that he frames scenes in a manner that, when repeated later in the film, are viewed in a new light to heighten both the humor and horror. If there’s any issue I had with the film’s direction, it’s that many scenes felt claustrophobic as if O’Connell was reluctant to open up the action. There are too many instances where we’re treated to either close ups, medium shots, or bust shots rather than a larger scope of the surroundings. However, that could have been due to budget constraints which is understandable considering the talent they were able to attract (i.e. name actors cost money).

Overall, I’d recommend Bloodsucking Bastards to both comedy and horror fans alike. What first drew me in was the fact that Kranz was the lead (as he’s great in just about anything) and Scream Factory and Shout! Factory were involved in the film’s distribution. I didn’t expect to get as much out of it as I did, however, and that’s always a plus in my book. Bloodsucking Bastards firmly understands that characters (albeit somewhat stereotypical in this case) are what elevate a story above a clever gimmick.

If you enjoy films in the vein of Shaun of the Dead, Army of Darkness, or even Office Space, then you’ll drink up the savory treats Bloodsucking Bastards has to offer!

Bloodsucking Bastards grade: B+

Review: Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead (2014)

What do the creatures want?–Daniel

Revenge.–Martin

Picking up exactly where the first Dead Snow left off, Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead finds Martin (Vegar Hoel) fending off the Nazi zombie attack while trying to flee the scene in a car. Trying to get the remaining gold coin that Martin inadvertently left in his pocket, the zombie leader, Herzog (Orjan Gamst), hangs on as Martin speeds away. When Martin brushes his car against a passing truck, Herzog’s arm is severed while the rest of his body falls to the ground. Later, after Martin is found by authorities who suspect him in the deaths of his friends, he is chained to a hospital bed with the arm found in his car reattached–Herzog’s arm.

Meanwhile, although the Nazi zombie army has recovered all of its gold, they now have their sights set on a new mission–to follow an order given to them by Hitler long ago and decimate the population of a local town responsible for turning the Nazis back in World War II. To stop them, Martin enlists the aid of an American “zombie squad” consisting of geeks like Daniel (Martin Starr), Monica (Jocelyn DeBoer) and Blake (Ingrid Haas) as well as a surprise ally–a long dead Russian army hellbent on destroying Herzog’s ever growing force.

Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead is completely insane, albeit in a great way. It’s highly reminiscent of balls to the wall horror comedies like Army of Darkness and Shaun of the Dead, but carves out its own niche within the genre as a genuinely gristly, funny film. To be honest, if you find yourself unable to suspend disbelief, Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead probably isn’t for you. Not only does the sequel throw in a bizarre plot twist of a magical method of raising the dead, but the inane conversations among the local police force about translating seagull conversations echo sparkling idle chatter in the vein of Monty Python’s best dialogue and may leave those who fail to appreciate dark humor scratching their heads.

The first Dead Snow began my 31 Days of Halloween marathon back in October and I enjoyed it but the sequel really takes it up several notches by upping the gore factor in addition to ratcheting up the belly laughs. Admittedly, I didn’t have much faith in a sequel, but Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead was a very pleasant surprise and makes me wish all sequels could have the spirit and energy that this one did.

You can snag a copy of Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead on Amazon or stream it on Netflix.

Dead Snow 2: Red vs Dead grade: A