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."

"Dead and Deader" is one of more fun zombie entries out there.**SPOILERS**After a mission in Cambodia, Lt. Bobby Quinn, (Dean Cain) arrives back in the US pronounced dead, though he is still alive. When Dr. Boyce, (Natassia Malthe) determines that he is dead but is still able to function in all other areas. Realizing that the other soldiers in his squad, Private Sanderson, (Tyson Turrou) Landgon, (John Billingsley) and Reed, (Jackson Bolt) have become infected like him, though no one believes him. Learning of their re-location status, he escapes from capture with Hieronymous Judson, (Guy Torry) and Holly, (Susan Ward) and goes out to find them, fearing they have escaped as well. After learning that he became infected through a mythical Cambodian scorpion that turns it's victims into flesh-eating zombies, they race to stop it before it gets out and infects others around them.The Good News: This was one of the most impressive zombie films around. A lot of that goodwill is directed towards it's great story. Radiation leaks and chemical spills have been done many times before, and while it's okay to do that, this one throws in a different version for the virus and actually seems thought out rather nicely, complete with actions, repercussions and more. Overall, that is fantastic and merely serves to make the zombies that much stronger. The fact that there's also a change to them is rather nice, as the main one is allowed to speak, form thoughts and reason, re-gather memories and many unique skills and traits that most zombies are never even considered to have. All of this is due to the flexibility given to it from the strong story. The zombies themselves look really nice as well, from the decaying flesh and facial wounds to their shambling look and feel, which is really appropriate for a zombie film. Among the better features from that is the film is incredibly action-packed, having a ton of it here that is just fun to watch on any level. The opening scene in Cambodia is great with their sudden appearance in the creepy ruins of the disabled security compound, the confrontation in the funeral home is really nice and the extended diner sequence is one of three stand-outs in here, mainly for the ironic opening, the sheer chaos of their attack on the patrons unleashing a sea of blood, and then the gunfire-laced shootout to escape, giving it some wonderful and glorious moments. The other two stand-outs maybe just as good, and neither one ever really tops the other two. The sequence in the kitchen is fantastic, mixing in just about everything to make it exciting. There's a knockdown brawl that causes some collateral damage to the surroundings, a couple of inventive tactics to rid the enemies, a bunch of blood and gore, some nice jokes and even manages to throw in some more surprises to keep it from being boring. The other big scene is the over-the-top and just plain enjoyable finale, which is so much fun it should be illegal. It's almost impossible to list everything right that it does, but it's still one of the single best scenes in the film. What's even better about it is that, along with the rest of the film, there's some really nice humor in this. It's a lot of self-deprecating wits and remarks, but the main one is the dissection of a zombie film and it's remake while in the middle of battle, which is laugh-out-loud funny especially since one of them is a zombie. There's also some situational gags and playful humor which are nicely included and don't take away from the film. The last big plus is here is the really great gore on display. This is just insanely bloody, as limbs are ripped off and bitten into, throats are torn open, knives are stabbed into various orifices, there's a really wicked decapitation with a spinning room fan and bullet wounds galore, splattering everywhere and making this one a real mess. Overall, these were the film's good points.The Bad News: There wasn't much wrong here. The fact that the zombies are given the minor change, here with all their abilities mentioned earlier, are a radical change for most zombie fans and might take offense with the change, but some might not. The other problem here is two brief scenes that really don't offer much to the film. The scenes with the two on the road is a one-note joke that wears thin easily and quickly, while the scenes of them captured don't serve much purpose other than naming the virus and getting the gore, which could've been done easier and rid the film of it's painful chained-together chase. These, though, are the film's only flaws.The Final Verdict: An incredibly impressive zombie film that has a lot going for it and only marginal flaws, giving this one a really great feel and appearance. Definitely give it a watch if you're into the genre at all, a fan of the Sci-Fi Channel Creature Features or the plain interested, otherwise there's not a whole lot who won't like it.Rated R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language

I watched this the other night, didn't know what to expect from it. As it was a low budget zombie flick, i din't carry any high hopes about it as i was disappointed by other so-called hip zombies flicks like: Gangs of the dead (aka Last rites aka 48 weeks later. WHAT???!!! 48 hours later more like)Dawn of the living dead (please notice that i said Dawn of the living dead aka Curse of the Maya so don't get it confused with Dawn of the dead the great George A. Romero film) Day of the dead:Contagium and Rise of the undead. Dead and deader was a bit of fresh air to me, finally i saw a recent low budget zombie movie that was decent even though it was a made for TV movie. All i knew about this film was that it was about zombies, which being a zombie fan interested me straight away. Glad to see that i wasn't disappointed and found out it was a fairly decent zombie flick. The story was fairly good, not that believable but hey this was a sci-fi horror movie so it didn't need to be. It was just one of those turn-your-brain off sit-back and-enjoy movies and i did. It was better than i thought it would be. There are some gory gruesome scenes well done by KNB fx (the masters behind From dusk till Dawn, day of the dead, Land of the dead and Hostel). At least quite a few zombies deaths that made me say "cool" a few times and some great characterisations from Dean Cain, Guy Torry and Susan Ward. Guy Torry's character the army chef Judson had me in stitches, he would have rather faced off against Gordon Ramsey than be in that army kitchen.There were a few good quotes and even a dawn of the dead eulogy comparing the original to the remake during one of the fights which i thought was cool. Hunting zombies and talking about the greatest zombie flick of all time during it has to be a stand out moment. I'm sure there will probably be a few fights over that speech by the people watching it. All in all Dead and Deader is an enjoyable romp from beginning to end. Kinder like From Dusk till Dawn, Dead and Deader starts off as an action movie then turns into a zombie horror. The balance is just right to hold the film together for it's running time of nearly 2 hours. One to add to your zombie collection.

You don't need an intelligent script. ("More holes than a Michael bay film"....yes, but Michael Bay films are watchable!!)You don't need quality acting. (The master at work indeed...Dean Cain....look at him go...)You don't need to make sense. (Scorpions turn you into a zombie!!)You don't need to spend money. (Marvel at the effects)Throw any old junk together. Don't spend to much time developing it or making it or even caring about what your doing.Why do all Starz Media films start with a bunch of soldiers in the jungle? Then proceed into the realms of utter nonsense?Yes the internet may be contributing to the demise of fine feature films but drivel like this being made and then being reviewed as "Great", "Excellent movie" and "Better than expected." can't be helping. Films like this a lowering the quality bar.There will always be an audience for this type of terrible movie and they'll always claim:-"It's a great movie, best zombie flick ever" - What other zombie films have you seen exactly?"Ideal for Saturday night fun!" You really should get out more if you think Saturday night would be improved by this."Better than expected" That says it all, you thought it'd be a bad movie before you watched it.......so why did you watch it? If you thought "Fire may burn my body" would you then jump into a fire to see if it's a bad a burning as you thought?Unless...How many of the reviewers above actually work for the company that produced the film. Does IMDb double check this?I'm lucky, I'm being paid to watch this drivel. I'd advise you to avoid it (and anything else Starz Media produces) if your not in such a fortunate position.However if your a brain dead text jockey, suffering from an excess of forehead grease, who gets his jollies off by seeing more blood, more bad acting, nonsensical plots and some very feeble post modernist pop culture references...then this is the movie for you!They have the cheek to have a pop at Michael bay in this film, his films may have plot holes but they're far superior to this hokum! And ultimately more watchable and more profitable. Film making used to an art form once......