Sci-Fi's 2006 Zombie Flick: Dead & Deader

A team of American soldiers go to Cambodia and are attacked by the remnants of another team which were infected by scorpions carrying a zombie virus. Everyone except for Lt. Bobby Quinn (Dean Cain) is killed AND infected by the scorpions. The army retrieves the bodies for autopsy and burial and the doctor performing the autopsy on Quinn is startled when Quinn awakens alive and coherent but pale and without a pulse! Quinn cuts a scorpion out before it has a chance to full turn him. After zombies cause the deaths of two doctors, the army, as well as his team of soldiers turned zombies are chasing Quinn and a black cook thought to be his accomplice. The search for the truth ensues while the dead stack up!

I caught this on Sci-fi during its television premiere. Being an edited Sci-Fi, low-budget TV B movie I had low hopes but wanted to review it ASAP. It turned out much better than expect for a zombie flick. While far from the best zombie movie, it isn't bad for being low budget. It's not to be taken as serious horror and it knows it which makes for a fun time.

The story itself is not very original, as to be expected with it being a B movie. While this is true of the main story arc, there are a few twists. First off, the zombie virus is carried and caused by Cambodian scorpions that burrow their way inside their hosts and try to get to the heart to create full-fledged, flesh-eating zombies. Secondly, Quinn is only half turned because he cut the scorpion out before the virus reached his heart. While not a fully-turned zombie, the virus left him with some superhuman abilities and a craving for raw meat!