[SteveGon]

I Was a Zombie for the FBI - Retro low-budget chiller about two laconic FBI agents tangling with aliens who want to zombify the good ol' U.S.A. Lotsa zombified citizenry here, but they don't eat anybody - the flesh-eating is left to the aliens' pet monster! Overall this is fairly well done, despite the monotone soundtrack and some chintzy effects.

**1/2 out of ****

Goreometer rating: * out of ****

[Kevin M]

That reminds me, I saw a very unusual "Zombie" movie the other week and I meant to come in here and mention it.



The Grapes Of Death (A.K.A. Les Raisins de la Mort) (1978) is a Jean Rollin film, yes the "lesbian vampire" Jean Rollin, and it is an odd departure from his usual erotic fare. I'm not sure if you could legitimately call this a "Zombie" film as it has much more in common with Romero's The Crazies than a true living dead film...but it also clearly takes a lot of it's cues from Grau's Let Sleeping Corpses Lie with it's ideas of environmental zombification and from Cronenberg's Rabid and it's ideas of contamination horror.
But in the end what we have here is IMO Rollin's best film and a pretty good thriller, which features some absolutely beautiful photography of the French landscape coupled up with a slightly annoying score that reminds me quite a lot of The Who's Teenage Wasteland (Baba O'Riley)....anyone who has heard this film's soundtrack knows what I mean ...anyway, it is a nice little thriller featuring some of the very first true gore effects in a french horror film and they aren't all that bad, they ain't great but pretty good for a first effort. Also this is the first time that Rollin worked with french porn star Bridgette Lahaie & she does quite a good job in the small role she is in....if you guys haven't seen any of Miss Lahaie's other work I recommend it, she is quite a beautiful women.

So, rent this from Netflix if you are in the mood for a different kind of "Zombie" film.

[Cory H.]

Just wanted to clarify, "28 Days Later" is not a zombie movie. The people are merely "infected", and having never died, aren't eligible for the prestigious "Zed" title.

[Kevin M]

Well, a literal "Zombie" isn't actually "the living dead", they are effected by a drug to behave in a zombie like way, so in that frame of mind none of Romero's films are truly "Zombie" films....so, I think there are exceptions to every rule in how we define something. How about..."Zombie-esque"?

[Cory H.]

I'll gladly meet you half way there, Kev.

[Anthony_De]

Anyone seen this set from Anchor Bay?



Think it would be worth picking up?

[Michael Allred]

Quote:

I think my favorite zombie is the goth rocker zombie bad guy from Ghosts of Mars, though those don't quite fit the classic definition of zombie.

He was possessed by an alien spirit, not even close to being a zombie really.

[Justin_S]

Quote:

Anyone seen this set from Anchor Bay?

Yep. Its just too bad I already bought most of those movies separately at full price. If you don't own any of those films, I definitely think its worth buying. City of the Living Dead is classic Fulci. If you're a Fulci fan, its a no-brainer. The House By the Cemetery is pretty decent too, though I think its one of Fulci's weaker efforts. Hell of the Living Dead is a cheese fest. Personally, I love a good cheesy film every now and then, so I get quite a bit of enjoyment out of it. Nightmare City has its fair share of cheese as well, but its actually a pretty interesting little flick to tell you the truth.

Let Sleeping Corpses is the best film in the set. Its a slow building, subtle film with some pretty eerie zombies. The film is full of gorgeous locations, and the environmental aspect that Grau works into the story gives it a more unique feel than you're typical zombie flick. Its most heavy on atmosphere and suspense, but if you're a gorehound, the ending should please you. It also has an arrogant chief of police character that you'll despise. Well, I despised him anyway...

Dead Heat is pure garbage. Its the only one in the set that I don't own, and I wouldn't change that. Joe Piscopo (I think that's the proper spelling) is so annoying in that movie.

[SteveGon]

Zombie Night - ultra-low budget zombie flick finds the world overrun with the living dead after a nuclear/chemical war. Strictly amateur night in terms of acting, directing and production values, but still fairly effective. Worth a look if you've got ninety minutes to kill.

** out of ****

Goreometer rating: *** out of ****


Keep this thread alive!

[SteveGon]

Zombie Honeymoon - Not nearly as bad as the title would indicate! What would you do if your spouse died but came back from the dead, seemingly normal except for a voracious appetite for human flesh? Sort of a Cronenbergian spin on zombiehood, Zombie Honeymoon isn't totally successful, but gets an "A" for effort.

*** out of ****

Goreometer rating: *** out of ****

[ChrisBEA]

I read about that and thought it looked pretty good. Glad to hear it is, I just need to track a copy down!

[SteveGon]

The Living Dead Girl - Jean Rollin's fairy tale-ish story about a young woman who returns from the dead and is protected (and fed) by her childhood friend. Cheesey yes, but also eerie and erotic.

*** out of ****

Goreometer rating: *** out of ****