Reviews: Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) Movie Review
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Subgenres:
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Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019), directed by Timo Vuorensola, is a wildly ambitious, unapologetically absurd sequel that trades narrative logic for full-throttle spectacle. With its sci-fi satire, conspiracy theory mashups, and dinosaur-riding despots, the film doubles down on everything that made the original Iron Sky a cult hit — for better or worse. While chaotic and messy, it has moments of guilty-pleasure fun that some fans of genre-bending cinema might appreciate.
Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019) – A Campy Descent into Hollow Earth Chaos
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
Set two decades after the destruction of Earth, the remnants of humanity now live on a decaying N*zi moon base. When Obi Washington (played by Lara Rossi) discovers that the secret to humanity’s salvation lies deep within the Hollow Earth, she embarks on a mission to retrieve an ancient energy source called Vril. Along the way, she encounters reptilian shapeshifters, Elvis-worshipping cults, and yes — Adolf Hitler on a T-Rex.
The film attempts to weave in satire, mythology, and sci-fi parody, touching on ideas like the corrupting nature of power, blind faith, and the cyclical nature of humanity’s downfall. But these themes are treated with such exaggerated camp that they never quite hit with impact. Still, the film doesn’t pretend to be serious — it thrives on being outrageous.
Character development is thin. Obi is serviceable as the reluctant heroine, but the supporting characters function more as visual gags than meaningful players. The plot exists largely to string together increasingly ludicrous set pieces rather than to build any emotional stakes.
Acting and Cinematography
Lara Rossi delivers a respectable lead performance, grounding the film’s nonsensical world with enough sincerity to keep it watchable. Udo Kier, in dual roles (including a reprisal of Moon Führer), continues to be a scene-stealing oddity — adding just the right amount of absurd charm.
Visually, the film is a mixed bag. There are moments of stunning creativity — like the Hollow Earth environments and quirky set designs — but the CGI varies wildly in quality. Some sequences feel polished, while others feel jarringly cartoonish. Still, the production design is imaginative, and there’s no denying the visual ambition on display.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Timo Vuorensola directs with the confidence of someone who knows exactly how ridiculous this is supposed to be. His strength lies in world-building and genre-blending, but where the film falters is in pacing and tonal consistency. While the camp and satire work in bursts, the movie often drags between highlights or leans too heavily into nonsense, undermining its own momentum.
Instead of using satire to say something sharp, the film often uses it to avoid saying anything at all — which makes some of the jokes feel dated or hollow.
Strengths:
Imaginative world-building and off-the-wall set pieces
Committed performances, especially from Rossi and Kier
Bizarre humor and visual insanity offer cult appeal
Unique blend of genres — sci-fi, conspiracy, parody
Weaknesses:
Messy narrative that lacks cohesion
Inconsistent CGI and pacing
Underdeveloped characters and emotional stakes
Satire feels shallow, more weird than witty
Final Verdict & Score: 5/10
Iron Sky: The Coming Race earns a 5/10, reflecting the balance between campy entertainment value and narrative chaos. While its execution is far from polished, it offers enough visual flair, audacity, and absurd humor to engage viewers who know exactly what they’re in for. It’s not a smart satire, but it is a fun, unapologetically weird ride — and for fans of over-the-top genre cinema, that might be enough.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Iron Sky: The Coming Race Rating Scores
- Our Score: 5/10
- Overall Score: 4.32/10
- IMDB: 5.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 2.9/10
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