Review of House of the Dead 2 (2006) by Mark P — 15 Feb 2006

[font=Courier New]I guess since the first [i]House of the Dead[/i] movie actually did some sort of business while in theaters, a direct to video sequel has been made. Like the first one, this follow-up doesn?t have anything to do with the arcade game?s story line. Well, except for having a character named Curien being the one responsible for all the zombies. So what is this one about? A zombie outbreak at a university. Why couldn?t I tell ahead of time this wasn?t going to be good?

After Professor Curien (Sig Haig, from last year?s [i]The Devil?s Rejects[/i]) tries to bring a college girl he killed back to life. It appears that it didn?t work, so he turns his back to her and speaks one of the worst monologues ever. Naturally, this is only here so the movie can supply one of those ?Oh my God, where did the body go?? moments. So after that, everyone in the school is either killed or infected. And a special group of soldiers and scientist are called in.

I don?t understand why it is so hard for a studio to follow a video game?s original storyline. I know something like a [i]Final Fantasy[/i] story might have been too much to convert into a movie, but [i]House of the Dead[/i]? Instead we get a movie where the people fighting to survive are either too stupid to live, or just dull enough for you to want them to survive. Even the movies two heroes Alex (Emmanuelle Vaugier) and Ellis (Ed Quinn) aren?t worth your interest.

The movie did try to tie this one with the original, which I liked. I figured since the first one was so hated, this film would try to distance itself from it. But it is tied in, so I guess I?m happy. But I am confused onto why one of the characters who died in the first one is live and well in this one. I won?t say who it is, just in case someone reading this actually saw the first one and plans on seeing this one. But trust me, you will see them? question it, but find there is no answer supplied in the movie at all on why this person is alive.

So we have another dumb zombie movie! Seems like horror follows the same trend. A hit movie comes out, and then there are countless wannabes. When the first [i]Scream[/i] movie came out, there was a seemingly endless slew of copy-cats. Hopefully, like those films, all these bad zombie movies will stop being made. [/font].