Traditionally, mixing horror and comedy has proven to be thwart with peril. There were few directors who could pull it off, but Peter Jackson (Braindead/Bad Taste) and Sam Raimi (Evil Dead trilogy) were notable exceptions. Of late, the likes of What We Do in the Shadows, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, Housebound and Dead Snow have bucked this trend. Whilst Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies may not be up to that pedigree it is an imaginative and fun ride.
When Steve (Laurie Calvert), a famous snowboarder, ruins another high-profile shoot, his girlfriend Branka (Gabriela Marcinková) has finally had enough. However, they find themselves stranded, along with another snowboarder (Oscar Dyekjær Giese), on the mountain. Their only haven is a garish tavern which is hosting an all-night party to celebrate the last day of the season. When an experiment to produce manmade snow goes awry, the locals become infected, leaving the trio to fight for their lives.
Director Dominik Hartl takes genre conventions and gives them an alpine twist. He also makes some well-observed comment about the similarities between drunks and zombies, but then that’s just part of the amusement. The young ‘heroes’ make use of what they know to stay alive and there’s great entertainment to be had. However, it’s very oddly paced at times, giving it a rather disconcerting feel. Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies is really fun but lacks the depth to be anything more.
https://vimeo.com/167108565
Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies is released on Blu-ray and DVD by Screenbound Pictures on Monday.
