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c h r i s3.5

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Blake Bergman "Various Spaghetti"4.5

If the embodiment of a can of SURGE was turned into a movie, this would be it....

Jayson Kennedy4.0

A pair of slacker/testicle admirers working a bootleg VCD shop in a mall besieged by bioweaponized soda pop zombies must save themselves as the onslaught is just beginning...Lifting a certified classic's familiar locale and clearly idolizing Braindead (1992) even down to the style of its score, this often breakneck zomedy has one nagging aspect going against it. The duo at the center recalling the dynamic of Bio-Dome (1996) push the "loveable prick" thing to its limits. They're not only loud, self-aggrandizing bullies but resort to tactics like extortion and strongarm robbery in the pursuit of petty cash. Of course, it's all played for laughs and maybe the metric is just perceived differently in Hong Kong?This hurts the eventual heroics and tearful goodbyes somewhat; however, these wild shifts in extremes from wacky slapstick to deadly serious horror were likely intended by director Wilson Yip as a display of skill. It payed off as the filmmaker was on the cusp of much bigger projects and prestige. The somber ending, going where Romero tinkered yet ultimately decided against for Dawn of the Dead (1978)'s conclusion, is perfect and surprisingly mature considering the film's intended teen audience. So much so my rating gets bumped up for it alone. Watched via Tokyo Shock's DVD (Where's a Blu-ray?).