7) Witching & Bitching
Álex de la Iglesia is a bit of an acquired taste based on his past releases (The Last Circus comes to mind immediately), but in my mind, Witching & Bitching solidifies this Spanish maniac as one of the most interesting foreign genre talents in the game today. Not only did de la Iglesia find a way to make a frantic witch story with equal parts dark comedy and spooky cult horror, but he did so with an energy other filmmakers lack. From start to finish, Witching & Bitching is a fun-filled thrill ride that features a surprise ending with one of the most shocking bits of nudity captured on screen this year (based on sheer size alone).
The film starts out with a heist scene that introduces us to a team of bumbling criminals, one of their children, and a driver who gets caught in the whole ordeal. The “team” eventually finds themselves being chased by a coven of witches. Tomfoolery runs rampant, love is discovered, and lots of people die, but de la Iglesia never skips a beat while performing his tonal juggling act – a feat that secures a whimsical style, almost as if we’re watching a sinister fairy tale.
Witching & Bitching is a ballsy attempt at something fresh, invigorating, and wholly rewarding, making the payoff oh-so-sweet.
6) Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead
The original Dead Snow is an intriguing watch simply for the inclusion of Nazi Zombies, but there’s a seriousness in its handling of such goofy terms (Nazi gold, American cinema references, cranium-smashing kills). Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead is a direct follow up (yes, DIRECT) to Tommy Wirkola’s original adventure, but in spirit, this wildly uproarious sequel goes a far more comedic route than expected. While the kills are gruesome, Wirkola also finds a slapstick mentality that’s more fun than it has any right to be, ripping out intestines and blowing up baby strollers with the best of ’em. Yes, I just said baby strollers. No one is safe from Wirkola’s insanity.
Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead is the kind of horror movie that can reuse an intestine-tearing-out gag in three different scenes yet find a unique usage each time, featuring a story that culminates in an epic undead battle between Nazi zombies and Russian zombies. LOTS of people die in horrible, atrocious ways, but you’ll still find yourself laughing the entire way thanks to an American team of “zombie specialists” lead by Martin Starr. It’s also great to see Vegar Hoel stepping into a leading role with vigor this time around, elevating his game from the original Dead Snow, which is really the icing on this blood-splattered German cake.
This is the most important horror movie about Nazi zombies ever made, and as I say in my review of the film:
Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead is a superbly confident splatterfest that could be some of the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year. Ein! Zwei! Die…AGAIN!