Category: Zombies

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is Coming (to get you, Barbara)!

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Has any film influenced a genre and had an impact on movies, television, books, comics, graphic novels, video games and pop culture like George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead?  I don’t think so.

Fans of the movie are in for a treat on September 30th when NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is released.  Here’s the info…

The official retrospective of one of cinema’s most important films – Night of the Living Dead.

The full story of the first “zombie” movie, the 1968 George A. Romero cult film that denoted the birth of modern horror genre.

Released in 1968, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead revolutionized horror, redefining the zombie subgenre and influencing filmmakers for generations.

This official retrospective tells the full story of how the film was made by a small group of people at the outset of their film-making careers. Interviews with cast and production company members explore the genesis of the movie, from persuading friends and family to become investors, finding the perfect run-down farmhouse in rural western Pennsylvania for the central location, assembling a cast of extras to portray “flesh-eating ghouls”, and the ground-breaking casting of a black actor in a leading role — Duane Jones as Ben — to therough-and-tumble guerilla-style shoot.

The book explores how Night of the Living Dead went from controversial to iconic over the years, gaining critical acclaim and a hardcore cult following. And how zombies — as envisioned by Romero and his co-creators—now permeate everything from video games to literature, all tracing back to the unparalleled original.

Illustrated with movie stills, memorabilia, and unpublished on-set photos never previously seen, and including analysis of the original shooting script annotated by George A. Romero, this book is a must-have for horror fans.

“Wages of Fear” aka “Le salaire de la peur” (2024) / Z-View

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Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024)

Director: Julien Leclercq

Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur”); Jérôme Géronimi (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur” co-written by) (as Jean Clouzot); Georges Arnaud (novel); Hamid Hlioua (scenario); Hamid Hlioua (adaptation) & Julien Leclercq

Stars: Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Sofiane Zermani, Ana Girardot.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When a remote desert oil well catches fire, the only way to extinguish the blaze is to set off a small explosion that will put it out.  In less than 24 hours the oil well will explode.  If it blows the explosion will be gigantic and kill the local population.

A pair of brothers and a few other mercenaries are paid handsomely to drive two truckloads of highly explosive nitroglycerin to the site.  They’re sending two truckloads, because it is unlikely even one truck will make it.  With two there might be a chance.  Odds against making the journey safely include the speed needed to cover the distance, the rough terrain, bandits and more.

It’s a suicide mission to save a village.  Not all will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wages of Fear (2024) is a remake of 1953’s Le Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Fear).  In 1977, William Friedkin brought his version, Sorcerer, to the big screen.  Both the original and Friedkin’s versions are vastly superior to the latest.

Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Woman in the Window” (1944) directed by Fritz Lang, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey and Dan Duryea / Z-View

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The Woman in the Window (1944)

Director:  Fritz Lang

Screenplay:  Nunnally Johnson based on ONCE OFF GUARD by J. H. Wallis

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey, Dan Duryea, Edmund Breon, Thomas E. Jackson, Dorothy Peterson, Arthur Loft, Iris Adrian, George “Spanky” McFarland and Robert Blake.

Tagline: It was the look in her eyes that made him think of murder.

The Plot…

Richard Wanley is a mild-mannered, middle-aged college professor.  While his wife and kids are away, Wanley decides to meet some friends at a club.  In the store window next to the club is a large painting of a beautiful woman.  Wanley stops to admire it before heading into the club.

During a conversation with his friends, the painting is brought up.  All of the men agree that the woman is beautiful.  At the end of the evening as Wanley leaves the club, he decides to look at the painting one more time.  The woman IS beautiful.  Wanley is surprised to see a woman watching him stare at the portrait.  He is even more surprised to see it is the woman from the painting.  Her name is Alice Reed (Bennett).

Wanley and Alice engage in small talk.  She invites Wanley to her place for a nightcap.  Wanley agrees.  As they are talking, a man bursts into the room.  The intruder is Alice’s lover who believes Alice is cheating.  The man attacks Wanley.  In the struggle Wanley kills the man in self-defense.

Wanley and Alice decide the best thing is to dispose of the body and act like nothing ever happened.  Of course neither Wanley nor Alice are professional criminals.  They make mistakes and leave behind clues.  As the police begin to close in, a crooked ex-cop sees an opportunity for blackmail.

Wanley has no idea how to escape this nightmare.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Woman in the Window was nominated for one Academy Award: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Hugo Friedhofer, Arthur Lange

Director Fritz Lang and three of his stars (Edward G. Robinson, Dan Duryea, and Joan Bennett) from The Woman in the Window reteamed in Lang’s next film: Scarlet Street.

George Spanky McFarland and Robert Blake (both former child stars of the Our Gang series) have uncredited cameos.  McFarland would not appear in another film until 1986’s The Aurora Encounter (which was his last film appearance).

The original film ending was very bleak.  Director Fritz Lang came up with the new ending and the inventive way it was shot.

The Woman in the Window (1944) rates 5 of 5 stars.

SCARECROW RETURNS by Matthew Reilly / Z-View

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SCARECROW RETURNS by Matthew Reilly

First sentence…

The plane hurled down the airstrip, chased by furious machine-gun fire, before it lifted off with a stomach-lurching swoop and soared out over the vast expanse of Artic sea ice that stretched away to the north.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Dragon Island, located near the Artic circle, was a Russian possession.  There the best Russian scientists conducted cutting-edge experiments with no guardrails.  When Russia collapsed in 1991, so did the program. Since then only a skeleton crew of scientists have lived and worked there.

Until today.

Today, a terrorist group that calls themselves the Army of Thieves let it be known that they have control of the island.  They have set in motion something that will literally burn the atmosphere above the USA, Russia and every country along that latitude/longitude.  The only way to stop the process is with boots on the ground.  Neither Russia nor the US has military ships/planes close enough.

There is one hope.  Marine Captain Shane “Scarecrow” Schofield is on site about 100 miles north of Dragon Island.  Schofield, a couple of marines and a few civilians have been testing extreme cold weather gear.  They could get to the island before the deadline.  Once there the odds would be overwhelmingly against their survival, let alone stopping the Army of Thieves.

When there is only one chance to save the world, you take it.  Even if it’s a suicide mission.

+++++

Matthew Reilly is the king of page turning nonstop action.  His villains are truly evil. Shane “Scarecrow” Schofield although outmanned and outgunned never gives up. Each cliffhanger will push you forward.  Reilly shocks and surprises readers with outlandish situations and roller-coaster thrills.

Rating:

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2020)starring Viola Davis & Chadwick Boseman / Z-View

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

Director:  George C. Wolfe

Screenplay: Ruben Santiago-Hudson; based on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson

Stars: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, Colman Domingo, Jeremy Shamos, Jonny Coyne, Taylour Paige, Joshua Harto and Quinn VanAntwerp.

Tagline: Everything Comes Out in the Blues.

The Plot…

In 1927, Ma Rainey is a radio sensation.  Her blues renditions are in demand.  Ma Rainey is in demand and is going to make the best of it.  Ma suffers no fools.  Although black in an age of Jim Crow, Ma Rainey defers to no one.

Ma Rainey has contracted to make a record for white producers.  Her regular band members show up early and begin getting ready.  As they warm up, Levee Green, the band’s trumpeter arrives.  Mel Sturdyvant, the white record producer is getting nervous since Ma isn’t there.  Levee sees an opportunity and talks to Mr. Sturdyvant about recording Leeve’s songs.  The rest of the band sees that as in insult to Ma.  Ma will not be happy if she learns Leeve is trying to undercut her.  She’ll be even more upset if she learns Leeve is putting the moves on Ma’s girl, Dussie Mae.

Finally Ma arrives.  When Ma sees that some of her requests for performing weren’t honored, she becomes irritated.  Mr. Sturdyvant and Ma begin to butt heads.  Ma says she won’t perform until she is satisfied.  Tensions rise.

Who would have thought that a simple recording session would lead to murder.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two…

  • Nominee Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Chadwick Boseman
  • Nominee Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Viola Davis
  • Nominee Best Achievement in Production Design: Mark Ricker (production design), Karen O’Hara (set decoration), Diana Stoughton (set decoration)
  • Winner Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling: Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson
  • Winner Best Achievement in Costume Design: Ann Roth

Denzel Washington was one of the film’s producers and had mentored Chadwick Boseman since Boseman’s college days.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is Chadwick Boseman’s final film.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a rare film where it all comes together.  A great screenplay, adapted from a superb play, with an excellent director leading a wonderful cast.  I’m surprised Viola Davis didn’t win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End” (2024) / Z-View

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Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024)

Director: Carles Torrens

Screenplay: Ángel Agudo based on Apocalipsis Z 1. El principio del fin by Manel Loureiro

Stars: Francisco Ortiz.

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

A year has passed since Manel’s wife was killed in a terrible car crash.  Manel lives alone with just the cat he and his wife shared.  Manel’s only family, his sister, her husband and his niece live in another city.

When a zombie outbreak begins spreading across the continent, Manel’s sister’s family is evacuated to the Canary Islands.  Manel decides to hunker down in place.  But when his supplies dwindle, Manel is forced to take his cat and venture out.  He hopes to find a way to the Canary Islands where (he hopes) safety awaits.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End is based on the first book in a trilogy of novels by Manel Loureiro.

This is more of a character study that all out horror film.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Outside” (2024) written & directed by Carlo Ledesma / Z-View

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Outside (2024)

Director: Carlo Ledesma

Screenplay: Carlo Ledesma

Stars: Sid Lucero, Beauty Gonzalez, Marco Masa and Aiden Tyler Patdu.

Tagline:  You can’t keep out what’s already inside.

The Plot…

A zombie outbreak has arrived.  Francis (Lucero) takes his wife, Iris (Gonzalez) and their two sons, Josh (Masa) and Lucas (Patdu) to his father’s remote farm.  Francis finds his mother is a zombie.  He kills her.  Francis then finds his father dead by suicide.

Iris believes the family should continue north.  There are reports of a human stronghold that will provide safety.  Francis overrules her.  The family will barricade the house and stay on the farm until it is safe to go outside.

Iris will soon realize, it might be safer out there.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Outside is a zombie story, but the emphasis is not on the apocalypse.  There are a few scenes with zombies, but the focus isn’t on THAT danger.

Outside (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“White Zombie” (1932) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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White Zombie (1932)

Director:  Victor Halperin

Screenplay: Garnett Weston based on THE MAGIC ISLAND by William Seabrook

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Madge Bellamy, Robert Frazer, John Harron, Brandon Hurst, Clarence Muse and Frederick Peters.

Tagline:  With These Zombie Eyes he rendered her powerless – With This Zombie Grip he made her perform his every desire!

The Plot…

Madeleine Short (Bellamy) and her fiancé Neil Parker (Harron) arrive in Haiti. They are guests of Charles Beaumont (Frazer) and staying on his huge plantation.  Charles secretly loves Madeleine and wishes she would marry him.  Desperate to have Madeline, Charles visits ‘Murder’ Legendre (Lugosi).

Murder is the owner of a huge plantation.  Everyone knows that Murder’s plantation is worked  by Haitian zombie slaves. Murder has the ability to turn people into mindless beings that follow his every command.  Charles wants Madeleine to love him.  He believes Murder can make this happen.

Murder agrees to help.  But the truth is he has other plans for Madeleine.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

White Zombie was filmed in less than two weeks on a budget of $50,000.00.  Reportedly up to 10% of the budget was Lugosi’s salary.

White Zombie was one of Bela Lugosi’s favorites of the films he made.

Beware of poor copies since the film went into public domain in 1960.

White Zombie (1932) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Variety Picks the 100 Greatest (Best?) Horror Movies of All-Time!

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Variety came up with their list of The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time.  Before we get into that, how about the sweet cover by Franco Francavilla?  You know he loved that assignment.

I’ve seen 69 of the 100 films that they chose. 

The cover says Variety chose the 100 Greatest, while the article says the 100 Best.  To me there’s a difference.  The greatest, in my mind, refers to the film’s quality and the impact it had on the genre.  The best would take into account, just the film’s quality.  With that said, here in alphabetical order are my top ten choices for the greatest horror movies of all time.

  • 28 Days Later (2002) – reinvigorated zombie films (although many argue the monsters aren’t zombies) and let them run fast. 
  • Alien (1979) – a haunted house movie in space, but instead of a ghost we got a new kind of alien.  Spawned a franchise.
  • Dracula (1931) – one of Universal’s classic horror monsters. 
  • Exorcist (1973) – based on the best selling novel of the same name.  The Exorcist is a film that will stay with you and provide scares even when the film is over. 
  • Frankenstein (1931) – another of Universal’s classic horror monsters.
  • Halloween (1978) – John Carpenter’s low budget film spawned a new type of horror film.  Most focused not on the suspense but on the big, brainless killer that cannot be stopped.
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – One of the best horror films from the 1950s and an all-time great.
  • Night of the Living Dead (1968) – If George Romero made a dime from every zombie movie, tv, comic book, or novel his film influenced, he’d have been a multi-millionaire.
  • Psycho (1960) – Groundbreaking.  I love how Hitchcock morphs a crime movie into a horror film.
  • Thing, The (1981) – Considered a box office failure on its release, it is now considered a classic.

“Planet Terror” (2007) written & directed by Robert Rodriguez, starring Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin and Bruce Willis / Z-View

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Planet Terror (2007)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey, Michael Biehn, Rebel Rodriguez, Naveen Andrews, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Fergie, Nicky Katt, Tom Savini, Carlos Gallardo, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Parks, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Zoë Bell, Robert Rodriguez and Bruce Willis.

Tagline: Humanity’s last hope… rests on a high power machine gun!

The Plot…

When an experimental military gas is accidentally released outside a small town, those exposed, after a short incubation period, turn into zombies.  The first sign of a problem occurs when the hospital gets an influx of victims.  Some show signs of being bitten, while others suffer from huge boil-like pustules.  Then all hell breaks loose as the infected become mindless zombies.

Meanwhile at other locations, zombies are attacking.  As people become aware, they seek shelter and plan for survival.  A stripper (McGowan), her ex-boyfriend Wray (Rodriguez), J.T. Hauge (Fahey) and his brother Sheriff Hague (Biehn) and others find themselves working together to survive.

Then they discover that the zombies aren’t their only problem.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino teamed to create a “double feature” known as Grindhouse.  Rodriguez directed Planet Terror.  Tarantino’s effort was Death Proof.  The idea was to make their films appear to have been made in the 1970s for drive-in theaters.  The films have scratches, 1970s style previews, drive-in “let’s go to the lobby” type ads and more.

Michael Parks played Sheriff Earl McGraw in four movies: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003); Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) and Planet Terror (2007).

Planet Terror (2007) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Amityville Uprising” (2022) / Z-View

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Amityville Uprising (2022) 

Director: Thomas J. Churchill

Screenplay: Thomas J. Churchill

Stars: Scott C. Roe, Mike Ferguson, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Troy Fromin.

Tagline: To Serve. To Protect. And to Fight the Undead.

The Plot…

An explosion at a military base produces a cloud that releases acid rain over Amityville.  The contaminated downpour turns town folk into zombies.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Amityville Uprising sounded like a low budget drive-in movie that might be a fun way to spend an hour and a half.  I tapped out after 31 minutes.  I was still waiting to see a zombie.

Amityville Uprising (2022) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“Dead Heist” (2007) / Z-View

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Dead Heist (2007) 

Director: Bo Webb

Screenplay: Anghus Houvouras, Eric Tomosunas, Bo Webb

Stars: Big Daddy Kane

Tagline: The perfect heist…the wrong night.

The Plot…

When a small town bank robbery goes sideways due to the start of a zombie apocalypse, the thieves and cops find themselves fighting for their lives.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Made on a micro-budget and it shows.

Loved the idea, not so much the execution.

Dead Heist (2007)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Godzilla Minus One” (2023) / Z-View

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Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Screenplay: Takashi Yamazaki

Stars: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe.

Tagline: Postwar Japan. From zero to minus.

The Plot…

1945.  World War II is nearing the end.  Kōichi Shikishima, a Japanese kamikazi pilot lands his plane on Odo island for repairs.  There is nothing wrong with his plane.  The truth is that Kōichi was afraid to finish his mission.  That night a giant prehistoric-looking creature comes ashore.  It attacks the Japanese stronghold.  Try as they might, the creature is impervious to anything the soldiers can do.  Kōichi is too afraid to help.  The next morning he is one of the only two to survive Godzilla’s attack.

The war ends.  Kōichi returns home to Tokyo.  He discovers his parents were both killed in a bombing. Kōichi meets a homeless woman with an orphaned child. He brings them to his home. As time goes by they become more of a family, but Kōichi still feels like a coward.

Reports of Godzilla attacking ships becomes more frequent.  The government fears Godzilla will come on land and wipeout entire cities.  Nothing has been able to stop the giant creature.  Then the worst is reported, Godzilla is heading inland.

Will Kōichi get a chance to redeem himself and save his country?  What do you think?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The title, Godzilla Minus One, refers to Japan being taken “down to zero” after World War II.  Godzilla’s attacks on the country take it even lower.  This minus one.

After seeing the trailer and the great reviews for Godzilla Minus One I was excited to see the film.  The scenes of Godzilla’s attacks and the destruction caused by the monster are the best in any Godzilla film ever.  This is where Godzilla Minus One shines.  I wanted more of that.  It almost felt like I was watching a more adult film during Godzilla’s attacks and a movie aimed at kids with the Kōichi subplot.

Godzilla Minus One (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1957) written & directed by Ed Wood Jr., featuring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.

Screenplay:  Edward D. Wood Jr.

Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Tor Johnson, Lyle Talbot, Conrad Brooks, Maila Nurmi, Bela Lugosi, Edward D. Wood Jr. and Criswell.

Tagline: Unspeakable Horrors From Outer Space Paralyze The Living And Resurrect The Dead!

The Plot…

Aliens are worried that humans will produce a doomsday bomb that could destroy the universe.  To stop them, the aliens put into motion Plan 9.  They resurrect the recent dead.  Humans will be so horrified that they will follow the aliens’ directives.  If not, the aliens will use the zombies to destroy them!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Plan 9 From Outer Space is Bela Lugosi’s last film.  Ed Wood and Lugosi were friends.  They had filmed snippets of scenes for an Ed Wood movie in development.  Bela Lugosi died and Ed Wood decided to incorporate these clips into Plan 9.  Wood also used the fact that Plan 9 would be Lugosi’s last film to induce some of the actors to join the project.

It’s funny to note that scenes featuring Lugosi’s character not played by Lugosi were completed by Wood’s wife’s chiropractor.  He was much taller and looked nothing like Bela Lugosi.  So Ed Wood told him to hunch over and always keep the cape in front of his face.  Problem solved.

The film was made on a miniscule budget.  Tor Johnson’s home was used as a location.  Johnson’s son was a San Fernando Police officer.  They got use of the police car and uniforms through him.  The alien’s flying saucer was adapted from a popular UFO model kit.  Bela Lugosi supplied his own cape (from playing Dracula on stage). The gravestones were made of cardboard or styrofoam and can be seen wiggling when actors brushed against them.

Harry Thomas did the make-up for Plan 9.  He become upset and asked his name be removed from the credits.  Thomas wanted the aliens to have elongated chins using appliances he would make, cat’s eye lenses (special contacts) and green hair (wigs). Ed Wood said that those ideas would be too expensive.  Ironically, the year before Henry Thomas worked on Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments which was the most expensive movie ever made to that time.

Plan 9 From Outer Space gained popularity after being named The Worst Film Ever Made.  It is a bad film, but far from the worst ever made.  The low budget, bad script, Lugosi stand-in, wooden performances, outlandish idea for a movie and more make for a humorous viewing, especially with friends.

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.