Previously posted on blog and written by S. Kess
“Iron Sky: The Coming Race” is a 2019 film directed by Timo Vuorensola and is a sequel to 2012’s “Iron Sky.” The original was a film about moon Nazis coming to Earth and starting a war that ended with nukes flying and most of the human race wiped out. The sequel picks up that thread and runs with it and keeps running and running and running. What I am saying is that this movie has a hell of a lot of plot for 90 minutes.
Ok, so… “The Coming Race” starts with the remaining humans fleeing a destroyed Earth and going to live on the Nazi base on the far side of the moon where they have to play nice with the remaining Nazis. Our hero Obi (Lara Rossi) is the daughter of the base’s leader. There is a techno cult that dresses all in white and worships Steve Jobs, run by Donald (Tom Green.) Donald is always scheming while he putzes about on a segue, though Obi shuts him down by threatening to turn off the Wi-Fi. One day a Nazi ship shows up, but it is full of Russian refugees and is piloted by Sasha (Vladimir Burlakov) who is looking for safety for his people. Obi finds a hidden Nazi named Wolfgang (Udo Kier) who offers a cure for her mother’s illness in exchange for helping him get the Holy Grail from the center of the Earth which will power the base and keep the people alive. Oh, did I mention that Wolfgang created humans by forcing monkeys to evolve? Obi and Sasha are joined by Obi’s friend Malcolm along with Donald and some of his cronies. The ragtag group heads back to Earth and into the center of the planet where there is a lost prehistoric world. In this hidden paradise, we find former world leaders including Sarah (“Scale-in”), and learn they are all ancient alien lizard people led by Ancient Alien Lizard Hitler (Udo Kier!) who is also Wolfgang’s brother! So that is about a third of the film. It actually gets wilder from there. The movie isn’t terrible and has quite a few good things about it, though it does feel hollow somehow. It starts with an amazingly stupid Bond-style theme and then ends with what I will call a “space trucker” song and most of the other music is pretty good.
Most of the effects look nicer than the budget would suggest. The age makeup is better than some more acclaimed fare and the lizard people look pretty cool. The digital effects are mostly good, especially the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The indoor sets are wonderful, outside they are cheap as shit but charming. Everything is good enough to never be distracting. The characters are all fun. Obi is plucky and likable, Sasha is a delightful dipshit, and Malcolm boxes raptors, what’s not to love? Tom Green is, well, Tom Green. Meanwhile, a double dose of Udo Kier? Yes, please!
My two highlights ore of the film are space lizard Pope yelling “holy shit” as he falls into a crevice and this moment right here:
Which is cinematic gold and should start off the Oscars every year.
“Iron Sky: The Coming Race” isn’t the best thing ever made, but it doesn’t have much bad in it either. It has some really fun moments, strong music, a game cast, and visuals that work. It could stand to be simplified though as it feels like they chopped up the “Wolfenstein” and “Far Cry” video games series and mixed it all up and drew pieces out of a hat. It’s just a whole mess of parts cobbled together and while it makes for a wild ride it really doesn’t help the narrative. I’d love to see these characters in something a bit more structured and streamlined so they can really shine.
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