Sometimes over-the-top, self-knowing humour can be very off putting and especially when it's trying to be a horror movie too. I thought the straight-to-TV enterprise "Dead and Deader" did a good job making these elements gel in something that was outrageous in the thrills with moments of grisly gore, but also amusing in its gags. The snappy script really did like to play up trivial movie references (where it even takes a dig at film-maker Michael Bay) and acknowledge its influences, thanks mainly to Susan Ward's stunning looking film geek character. Along for the on-the-run, buddy formula is Dean Cain (who's quite likable) as a walking dead solider and Guy Torry as the token smart talking army cook as they race against time to stop a zombie plague which could wipe out the entire nation. Also showing up in entertaining roles is Armin Shimerman, John Billingsley, Colleen Camp, Dean Haglund and the always imposing Peter Greene. While it looks on the cheap due to its budget restrictions, it is competently executed with some creative camera angles on show and decent effects (mutant scorpions) as bodies are pulled and ripped apart. While the pacing never lets up. The further along the story goes the more unhinged and kooky it gets within its developments and set-pieces. It's fairly dumb, but remains tacky fun and a lot better than numerous sci-fi originals. .
"Don't make me eat you."
"Don't make me eat you."