Zombie Massacre 2: Reich of the Dead

Actually not really. But it sounded good. Like the title sort of. But then again, we've been there, seen that. Something that cannot be said about the characters in this, who are oblivious to what is going to happen. To distinguish itself, the movie tries to go meta or even philosophical if you will at times. There's a muddled time-line or at least a "flash", which seems unnecessary, complicating things further, getting in the way of any fun this could've been.

Still better than the first one, this hasn't really put anything in its favor acting wise. Effects are decent for a low budget movie or if you're willing to lower your own expectations. But the story will not keep you at the edge of your seat, the ending will rather confuse (until part 3 will be released? If it's going to be released that is) than enlighten you ...

Another zero-budget zombie film, from the Italian team who made the poor EATERS. The good news is that Reich of the Dead is a lot better than that film, although still not particularly good; the problem is that the story plays things out very predictably on a tight budget, so there's no room for anything memorable or original. FRANKENSTEIN'S ARMY this isn't!

Instead, what we get are a couple of characters wandering around some gloomy locations and occasionally encountering some zombies that shuffle around. The zombie threat is zero as is the horror content, although this is definite a bad taste vibe going on in the way the zombies are all dressed in concentration camp uniforms - they were former prisoners experimented upon by a mad surgeon.

The one thing Reich of the Dead has going for it is some surprisingly decent direction; no shaky-cam work here, just solid cinematography which makes the most of the dreary and drab setting. It's probably the best direction I've seen in a low budget zombie flick, so it's a shame it was wasted on such a non-starter of a story. Too much of the slender running time is padded out with boring conversations on the nature of war and B-movie veteran Dan van Husen barely gets a look in.

After the events of Zombie Massacre (2013), you would imagine that this film would be a sequel. You are mistaken. This film is not even a prequel.

Zombie Massacre 2: Reich of the Dead (2015) details an independent story set in WWII. A small group of American soldiers finds shelter in an apparently abandoned building as they try to call for help.

We know that things are going to get worse. And the film does a good job of keeping the tension going. I was waiting for a zombie to appear at any moment, but the tension continued and continued. And continued. And continued ...

When you get to the first zombie action, you've already watched a third of the movie. This is not bad, but the zombie encounter is disappointing. Disappointing enough that you label this movie "stalled." And you are correct: the film is really stalled.

In the film's setting, I assume that "zombie knowledge" is not a common thing. Still, it seems that the story tries to explore the concept that a bite will turn you into a zombie, which I think doesn't make sense for the time portrayed in the film.

The performance is acceptable, but it is still weak.

The story as a whole does not present anything interesting. The ending tries to make everything mysterious and sinister, but I thought it was too confusing.

I would not recommend this film to any ordinary viewer, just for fans of zombie movies.

I can' remember the last time I was so bored watching a movie, even just few minutes till the end I was considering turning it off just because there just wasn't anything keeping me interested. If you're looking for a full action-packed, gore movie you will be very disappointed, the titular zombies are not only are extremely dull (like the rest of the movie) and predictable, they don't pose much threat besides what characters themselves manage to bring upon themselves. Also, the zombies don't show up until halfway through the movie, so there's that.

There isn't a lot in the movie that deserves a praise, maybe not-awful soundtrack (guess that's where the 2nd star came from). The dialogues are beyond awful and so is the writing in general, the characters are people you'll wish to never see again and there is no humor beyond the irony of how bad they managed to make this movie.

Zombie Massacre 2 is a movie that tries to be too serious and too smart but has neither the budget nor talent to back up its ideas. You'll not find any exciting scenes here, the ones that come close are ALL included in the trailer, so do yourself a favor and watch that.

WWII battle worn soldiers come across a Nazi complex where experiments are taking place to resurrect dead prisoners.

Zombie Massacre 2: Reich of the Dead (2015) is dark, gloomy, more serious than their 2011 entertaining ride Eaters and more sombre and grounded than Zombie Massacre a.k.a Apocalypse Z.

Again filmmaker talents Luca Boni and Marco Ristori deliver a grim competently constructed bleak zombie horror that is stylishly shot with some good blood and gore effects presented on a saturated colour palette. The practical effects come better off that some of the CGI explosions and splatter. The sets and location look outstanding for the budget.

With actors Andrew Harwood Mills, Dan van Husen and Lucy Drive who is stunning as Erin the rest of the cast are on form and give performances as their picked off one by one that far surpass those in the first outing.

Zombie Massacre 2 is slower and more dramatic than Boni and Ristori's previous work, and while the story isn't the most original there's plenty of gore, creepy visuals, dead soldiers, vertical white stripes zombies, creepy faces and the like.

Boni and Ristori are becoming somewhat cult directors and need a breakout mainstream film but for the moment we have to wait a little longer, nevertheless, it's still agreeable zombie fodder.