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Lesser-known zombie films...

post #1 of 77
8/3/06 at 8:38am
Thread Starter 
Some say there are too many of them nowadays, but they keep getting made. I'm not talking the well-known stuff, so the Romero films/Resident Evil/28 Days Later(if you count it)/Braindead/Shaun of the Dead/Evil Dead are automatically disqualified.

What are some of the great overlooked/DTV zombie films?

I love me some zombies, and I'd love to see more. I know that someone, somewhere(hopefully on this very website), checks them all out. I was just wondering if someone could help me seperate the shit from the great(that includes cheesy-great). Thanks.
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post #2 of 77
8/3/06 at 8:48am
I don't know if it counts as lesser-known, but Fulci's THE BEYOND is awesome. Gory as hell but genuinely scary, it's a treat.
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post #3 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:00am
LES REVENANTS is weird and atmospheric and pretty creepy at times. Not your usual zombie movie-there's no munching of flesh and the zombies are more just reanimated normal people-but it's well worth a look.
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post #4 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I guess it's tricky with the "lesser known" comment. Means different things to different people. I guess I'm just looking for more great zombie films. Old and new.
There's been a surge of them lately... and it's hard to tell if someone is worth checking out when there are ten new ones in the stores every few months.

I haven't seen it, but obviously House of the Dead is shit from everything I've heard and read. What about Undead? Or Zombie Honeymoon(I believe I read positive things about this one on CHUD)? There are a billion others, and I guess I don't know where to start.

I've got to admit I've never seen Re-Animator, but have heard great stuff. Is that a zombie movie?
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post #5 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Brigden
I don't know if it counts as lesser-known, but Fulci's THE BEYOND is awesome. Gory as hell but genuinely scary, it's a treat.
Excellent call. Fulci's perennial classic "Zombie" wasn't on your list either, but is fairly well known for the infamous "Splinter in the Eye" scene.

It's definitely 70's schlock, but "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" has my all time favorite film zombies. You just have to fast forward the majority of the film to get to them.

Zombie spoof "Dead and Breakfast" has some amusing moments as well.
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post #6 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-6
I've got to admit I've never seen Re-Animator, but have heard great stuff. Is that a zombie movie?
Re-Animator is a great horror film regardless. Rent it immediatly. Skip the sequels.
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post #7 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:12am
And while were on it, if you haven't seen "Return of the Living Dead", a sorta-spoof of NotLD, that's fantastic as well.

"Send More Cops....."
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post #8 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:34am
Hammer films' Plague of Zombies is pretty great, as is Shockwaves (which is more or less Night of the Living Dead w/out the gutmunching, political allegory, and charismatic lead).

Burial Ground, Zombie Holocaust and Zombie Lake are hugely entertaining guilty pleasures, all of them just as retarded as they are violent and sleazy.

edit: ZH has the awesome distinction of being both a zombie film AND a cannibal film, and Alexandra Delli Colli is obscenely gorgeous in it.
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post #9 of 77
8/3/06 at 9:40am
One of my fave lesser known zombie flicks The Dead Next Door recently got a good dvd released of it.

I also really dug The Stink of Flesh.
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post #10 of 77
8/3/06 at 11:00am
Check out "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie." It's not well known and is one of the best zombie flicks out there. I'm not a fan of Fulci's films. For me, they're way too over the top to be effective as horror movies, and they tend to look pretty cheap, although there are genuinely creepy moments in Zombie and City of the Dead. One other hidden gem is "Children shouldn't play with dead things." The acting isn't very good, but it has a great last act that makes it a must-see.

For some reason, 70's horror films creep me out way more than modern day ones. I think part of it has to do with the organ/synth scores and the washed out look of the film prints.
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post #11 of 77
8/3/06 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny
Burial Ground
Is this the one that has the skeevy incestuous midget son? If so, good pick. Not very scary but good sleazy fun.

On the subject of Italian zombie horror, Lenzi's Nightmare City doesn't get enough love. Decent gore, completely insane narrative structure, and an early use of running zombies add up to an odd and uniquely creative entry in what is frequently a predictable and derivative category.
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post #12 of 77
8/3/06 at 11:44am
I'm surprised noone has yet mentioned the Blind Dead yet. The Blue Underground box set is awesome.
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post #13 of 77
8/3/06 at 11:55am
You're absolutely right, the Blind Dead series is a must. Another favorite I forgot to mention is Zombie 3, directed partly by an ailing Lucio Fulci, but mostly by Bruno Mattei and another guy whose name escapes me.
Like Burial Ground, Zombie 3 is brilliantly bad and immensely quotable, and it has a flying zombie head.
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post #14 of 77
8/3/06 at 12:07pm
See Burial Ground, if only for the line "Mommy! This cloth smells of death!"
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post #15 of 77
8/3/06 at 12:22pm
I love that "Mommy!' dude in Burial Ground. That last scene with him and his crazy mom totally made the movie for me.

I also dig Shock Waves. Nazi Zombies. Need I say more?
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post #16 of 77
8/3/06 at 12:22pm
FULCI FULCI FULCI

Watch his filmography. Start with the ASTOUNDING The Beyond and then move along to Zombi (Zombie, Zombie 2)...Where else will you see a zombie battling a fucking shark.....?

Edit: and let us not leave out one of my favorites. CONQUEST.
Technically a Sword & Sorcery flick, but does contain zombies.

...and nudity, and chewbacca creatures doing cocaine, and laser bow & arrows, among other attributes.
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post #17 of 77
8/3/06 at 12:36pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks a lot, everyone. I need to join Netflix ASAP.

Are any of the recent low budget zombie flicks worth a shit? I pick up Undead every time I go to the video store, then end up renting something else.
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post #18 of 77
8/3/06 at 12:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad_Kinski
FULCI FULCI FULCI

Watch his filmography. Start with the ASTOUNDING The Beyond and then move along to Zombi (Zombie, Zombie 2)...Where else will you see a zombie battling a fucking shark.....?

Edit: and let us not leave out one of my favorites. CONQUEST.
Technically a Sword & Sorcery flick, but does contain zombies.

...and nudity, and chewbacca creatures doing cocaine, and laser bow & arrows, among other attributes.
I'd also add City Of The Living Dead and House By The Cemetery to the Fulci list. Not exactly straight zombie movies, but close.

Undead was OK. I'd think I'd like it better if I gave it another spin. It's not what you expect.
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post #19 of 77
8/3/06 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sawalter
I'd also add City Of The Living Dead and House By The Cemetery to the Fulci list. Not exactly straight zombie movies, but close.
Excellent call!

I'd add DEAD & BURIED. Very interesting take on the "living dead" with a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon.

ALthough they aren't zombie films (ala EVIL DEAD) check out DEMONS (excellent!) & DEMONS 2 (decent).

If you're region free find a copy of JUNK and SARS WARS (although I believe a Region 1 comes out next month). Seriously.

And, yes it is a bit overrated, give VERSUS a whirl. I think everyone should see it at least once.
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post #20 of 77
8/3/06 at 1:23pm
i hit this post a little late. yes, there are a lot of great zombie movies listed here. i gotta say though, Undead was a huge disappointment. i don't think it's worth the price of a rental.

And as weird as it may sound, Scooby Doo on Zombie Island is actually a blast and has some good, creepy stuff.
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post #21 of 77
8/3/06 at 1:32pm
Maybe you guys could help me:

I rented a VHS movie in the late 80's, where I think it took place on an island. I think it was chemicals that caused the rising of the dead. I don't remember much else, but probably spoiling the film, the main actress has her tongue ripped out, except it wasn't pulled out of her mouth, but from the back inside of her mouth, I think. It was weird. I can't remember much else, other than she was very attractive, and it was a pretty gory finale, where the heroes all died.

Any ideas from you zombie enthusiasts?
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post #22 of 77
8/3/06 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-6
Thanks a lot, everyone. I need to join Netflix ASAP.

Are any of the recent low budget zombie flicks worth a shit? I pick up Undead every time I go to the video store, then end up renting something else.
Yeah, listen to Boogen- this one isn't worth picking up. Don't let that triple barreled shotgun tempt you.

I wouldn't really consider Fulci overlooked or DTV horror, but if you're unfamiliar with the man's work you guys need to get aquainted, fast.

Listen to Greg too- Versus is a great time, and Dead and Buried is definitely underapreciated.

Another Japanese zombie flick that's a helluva lot of fun is Bio-Zombie. It's silly, it's gory, and it's got one of the hottest Japansese woman ever in it too, which is always a plus.
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post #23 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny
Zombie 3, directed partly by an ailing Lucio Fulci, but mostly by Bruno Mattei and another guy whose name escapes me.
Claudio Fragrasso?
God, i hate him.
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post #24 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:08pm
Nodbody's mentioned Cemetary Man/Dellamorte Dellamore yet, so let's get that out of the way. Probably the most off-the-wall zombie flick out there, really an incredible piece of work, and probably one of my favorite endings of all time.

I really like this movie called Dead Creatures. A very low-key zombie movie about day-to-day life in post-zombie-apocalypse London. It was sold to me as "the zombie movie Ken Loach or Mike Leigh would make."
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post #25 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:10pm
Let us not forget about the 1977 classic SHOCK WAVES starring Peter Cushing.
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post #26 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Yeah, listen to Boogen- this one isn't worth picking up. Don't let that triple barreled shotgun tempt you.
Damn, the cover art and trailer had me going. Plus I have an Australia fascination right now.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
I wouldn't really consider Fulci overlooked or DTV horror, but if you're unfamiliar with the man's work you guys need to get aquainted, fast.
Nothing but shit video stores around here unfortunately, but Netflix is getting more and more tempting. If you guys knew all the "classic" horror movies I haven't seen, I'd probably be chased out of this forum by an angry mob(with torches!). Right now I'm just on a zombie kick.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Listen to Greg too- Versus is a great time, and Dead and Buried is definitely underapreciated.
Yeah, I've seen Versus, it's pretty snazzy. Not great but entertaining. It's one of those movies that makes me want to start making movies with my friends again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Death Surge
Fulci's perennial classic "Zombie" wasn't on your list either, but is fairly well known for the infamous "Splinter in the Eye" scene.
I'm not squeamish at all normally, but eye trauma freaks me the fuck out. I'm making a list though, and it's on there. I'll just have to find out the exact point that I'll have to exit the room.
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post #27 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:18pm
Some excellent suggestions here. I just wish some of these indie zombie films were more accessible.
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post #28 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Hansen
Let us not forget about the 1977 classic SHOCK WAVES starring Peter Cushing.
Me: "Plague of Zombies is pretty great, as is Shockwaves"

Dalyn: "I also dig Shock Waves. Nazi Zombies. Need I say more?"

We didn't.
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post #29 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Z-Man
Nodbody's mentioned Cemetary Man/Dellamorte Dellamore yet, so let's get that out of the way. Probably the most off-the-wall zombie flick out there, really an incredible piece of work, and probably one of my favorite endings of all time.
Yes, put this one higher on the must-see list. See also: Nick's recent DVD review. Fascinating film.


There are certainly some of these hard to find titles on dvd at Blockbuster. If not, Netflix has never been so very important to your life.

err
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post #30 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randolph Carter
Claudio Fragrasso?
God, i hate him.
That's him. I can't tell his "style" for anything, but the scenes lensed by Bruno Mattei are really, really easy to spot.
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post #31 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:28pm
Nexus- if you have a thing about eye trauma- stay the fuck away from Fulci. Seriously- the guy's got a fetish for eye destruction- I believe there's about 3 people killed in a way involving their eyes in The Beyond...

Very brutal stuff.

Don't feel bad about not having seen enough classics though- hell, I bet everyone here was in your situation at some point in their life. I know I went on a horror binge when I first found out about all these relatively underground films. Definitely pick up a netflix subscription if you want to track these down- it'll help you out a lot.
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post #32 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:28pm
A friend linked me to this short film: I thought it was pretty good actually, shows potential. A bit of a straight-up take on UK zombies.

http://www.detainedthemovie.com/

It runs about 10-15 minutes.
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post #33 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny
Me: "Plague of Zombies is pretty great, as is Shockwaves"

Dalyn: "I also dig Shock Waves. Nazi Zombies. Need I say more?"

We didn't.
Ouch. I'm tellin' my Mom...
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post #34 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Nexus- if you have a thing about eye trauma- stay the fuck away from Fulci. Seriously- the guy's got a fetish for eye destruction- I believe there's about 3 people killed in a way involving their eyes in The Beyond...

Very brutal stuff.
Oh dear. The eye/eyelid stuff at the end of Audition fucked me up a bit, so if it's on par/worse with that... yeah, I dunno.
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post #35 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-6
Oh dear. The eye/eyelid stuff at the end of Audition fucked me up a bit, so if it's on par/worse with that... yeah, I dunno.
Oh and stay away from DEAD & BURIED's hospital death scene as well... However there is a cool doc on how they did it on the DVD.
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post #36 of 77
8/3/06 at 2:54pm
i just saw some pay-per-view ad for some movie called Severed, anyone seen that?
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post #37 of 77
8/3/06 at 3:10pm
People weren't too impressed.

http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93520
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post #38 of 77
8/3/06 at 3:37pm
THE DEAD HATE THE LIVING is what would happen if Chewers made a zombie film over the course of a weekend, five years ago.

I haven't seen Fangoria's I, ZOMBIE but the idea is interesting (secluded writer chronicles his transformation).

ED & HIS DEAD MOTHER isn't exactly a zombie film, but it features resurrection, plus Steve Buscemi and John Glover. Fun early/mid-90's indy horror/comedy.
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post #39 of 77
8/3/06 at 4:09pm
I'll take this opportunity to pimp my zombie flick, Hide and Creep. You don't have to take my word for it -- Dave liked it.

It's at Netflix, Blockbuster, etc., if you want to check it out.

-Chance
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post #40 of 77
8/3/06 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chance
I'll take this opportunity to pimp my zombie flick, Hide and Creep. You don't have to take my word for it -- Dave liked it.

It's at Netflix, Blockbuster, etc., if you want to check it out.

-Chance
That sounds pretty cool. I am adding to my rental list.
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post #41 of 77
8/3/06 at 4:37pm
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. Some great make-up work and a trippy 70's soundtrack.
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post #42 of 77
8/3/06 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BobClark
Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. Some great make-up work and a trippy 70's soundtrack.
Around 1984 I had some serious nightmares from seeing the VHS box at the local video store.
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post #43 of 77
8/3/06 at 5:04pm
There's a Troma film called REDNECK ZOMBIES that I'm dying to see. Anyone seen it?
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post #44 of 77
8/3/06 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dario Delfino
There's a Troma film called REDNECK ZOMBIES that I'm dying to see. Anyone seen it?

It's great. Very low budget though- so low budget it was shot on video. As in tape. But it's pretty funny, and got some good gore to it. Plus, toxic moonshine and gay rednecks.
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post #45 of 77
8/3/06 at 5:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Riviello
Toxic moonshine and gay rednecks.
Sounds like BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. With zombies.


Sold.
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post #46 of 77
8/4/06 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Giant Baba
I'd add WILD ZERO, from Japan - it's the ROCK'N'ROLL HIGH SCHOOL of zombie films.
Hellz yeah! Rock and roll zombies- hard to go wrong. It's funny, bizarre, and has great music.
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post #47 of 77
8/4/06 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Giant Baba
It's ass. Had it been cut to a lean, 30 minutes it would have worked to maximum effect. It's a mid-eighties shot-on-video feature that was not made by Troma, though they did distribute it. It's gory, nad has some inspired moments, but the moments of monotony in between those moments makes it a chore to sit through.
Which means I shouldn't watch it sober. Done and done.
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post #48 of 77
8/7/06 at 8:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalyn
I love that "Mommy!' dude in Burial Ground. That last scene with him and his crazy mom totally made the movie for me.

I also dig Shock Waves. Nazi Zombies. Need I say more?
Burial Ground is definitely worth looking into, good story, lots of T n A, and a midge playing a little boy with a big sexual interest in his mother. The makeup effects for the zombies leaves a lot to be desired, but the movie in general was good. Also Undead was a good kick ass zombie flick, kind of reminded me of Jacksons Dead Alive. Lots of action lots of gore, and a completely different angle for the plot, kept you wondering. Damn good pizza and beer zombie flicks!
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post #49 of 77
8/7/06 at 8:15pm
Another great thing about THE BEYOND: killer spiders. The ones that rip the guy apart may be fake as hell, but it's still not a pretty scene. Also, they used a few frames from that scene in SPIDER-MAN.
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post #50 of 77
8/8/06 at 7:57pm
Quote:
UNDEAD could have been the PHANTASM of zombie films (its imagination was in the right place, though its execution was not) ,especially with tis unique twist on the genre, but it ends up being the RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2of post nineties era zombie films.
I'll agree with this & enjoyed it all the same.

I'll also 2nd Cemetery Man, Re-animator & Bride of, & Versus. Junk was ok (the Res. Dogs of zombie movies).

Conquest is great... more of a Sword & Sorceror, low-budget Frazetta-ish kind of flick, with all sorts of inhuman beast-men mutants (never thought they were zombies per se) and a fully nude villainess.

Can't wait to see Worst Case Scenario & Black Sheep... 2 zombie flicks in the works.

Some of the Hong Kong vampire movies (which tend to be more zombie like than vampire) are entertaining as well.

Can anybody recommend the flick, Vampires vs Zombies?
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