Film Overview"House of the Dead 2" is a 2006 horror film sequel directed by Michael Hurst. It is loosely based upon the computer game of the exact same name by Sega and is a follow-up to Uwe Boll's 2003 motion picture, "House of the Dead." The plot takes us to a generic university where a virulent zombie outbreak has occurred. Two members of a secret federal government agency, Nightingale (Emmanuelle Vaugier) and Ellis (Ed Quinn), are dispatched to halt the dispersing disease and search for Patient Zero.
Plot SummaryThe film opens with Professor Curien (Sid Haig) trying to resuscitate his dead kid with the 'Hyperion' infection. However, the experiment fails terribly causing a break out of fast-moving zombies. In spite of the teacher and his laboratory being tidied up by an Agency from National Science Association (NSA), one student unknowingly ends up being a carrier of the virus, leading to a university-wide zombie break out.
2 NSA representatives Nightingale (a tough-as-nails detective) and Ellis (a wisecracking novice) are charged with obtaining the blood of Patient Zero, the initial provider of the infection. The blood is imperative to develop a remedy that can potentially end the infection and save the human race. The agents are paired with a group of soldiers for this mission into the university, where the situation has gotten progressively dire.
Key CharactersThe movie largely depends on the chemistry in between Nightingale and Ellis, who are polar revers. Nightingale's seriousness is balanced by Ellis' light-hearted nature and comic-relief existence. For each nose-to-the-grindstone one-liner Nightingale provides, Ellis counters with a quip or some sort of ironical remark. Among their group are Lieutenant Henson (Victoria Pratt), Lieutenant Dalton (Sticky Fingaz), and Private Casper (Nadine Velazquez), who include more depth to the story.
Obstacles and ConclusionInside the university, the team faces many challenges. The team is assailed and besieged by the undead, causing a gory standoff. As the bodies accumulate and the bullets run out, Nightingale and Ellis discover a rather unnerving fact: the zombies aren't simply hungry-- they're extremely smart and ruthless.
After various close shaves with death and devastating betrayals, the duo handles to discover and obtain Patient Zero's blood, allowing the possibility of an antidote. In a particularly grisly scene, Nightingale is likewise contaminated and sacrifices herself, while Ellis, who appears to have actually established feelings for her, can not conserve her. The film ends with Ellis carrying Nightingale's body to their extraction point and a tip that there might still be surviving zombies inside the university.
Examination"House of Dead 2" in spite of its low-budget production, calls back to its computer game roots with its over-the-top gore and ruthless undead baddies. The chemistry between protagonist, Ellis and Nightingale, brings a human aspect to the otherwise monstrous horror. However, it's completely fit for fans of campy, gore-heavy horror B-movies.
Post ReleaseWhile the film was not particularly successful nor well-reviewed, it has acquired a cult following amongst zealous horror and video game fans due to its adherence to the source material and unapologetic gore.
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