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Top Ten Zombie Movies
25th Jun 04
Romero’s genre-defining trilogy is the benchmark to which all other zombie films compare themselves. Night is a low-budget black & white exercise in taught and tight terror, Dawn (considered the best), a full on horror/suspense zombie...
10 . 28 Days Later (2002) Although suffering from a weak second-half, the first section of Danny Boyle’s apocalyptical Brit-zombie DV film is superbly edgy and brutal, most notably the early morning shots of a deserted London, and the quick and deadly ‘contaminated’. The film plays on our fears of isolation, viruses (infected by Rage) and social paranoia, with heavy debt to Romero.
9 . Versus (2000) From Japan comes this insane Japanese martial arts / Highlander / zombie film. Set in one location (The Forest of Resurrection) the film is a subtle blend of myth (themes such as reincarnation and destiny) and non-stop action. Sure, it’s as silly as hell, but the terrific camerawork and fast editing more than compensate for the script’s shortcomings.
8 . Wild Zero (2000) Rock’n’Roll! Also from Japan, this cult film follows the rock band Guitar Wolf as they rock hard, and defend the world from alien-invading zombies. “There are no boundaries in love! There are no boundaries in Rock’n’Roll!” Forget Rocky Horror, this is the greatest ‘punk-rock-action-horror-comedy-zombie-midnight-movie’ ever made.
7 . Dellamorte Dellamore (The Cemetery Man) (1994) This criminally under seen movie is from Michele Soavi, understudy of fellow Italian horror master Dario Argento. Rupert Everett (in laid-back James Bond mode) is the caretaker of a cemetery where the dead don’t stay dead. Surreal, comical, romantic, tragic and magic all at once and made with a real passion and affection for the genre. Oh, and Anna Falchi is a babe.
6 . Braindead (1992) Braindead is when ‘Lord of the Hobbits’ director Peter Jackson really hit his stride. This period set (late 50s) zombie splatstick film gives us Lionel (Timothy Balme) as a weak nerdy anti-hero, slaying a horde of undead to save his true love Paquita (Diana Panalver). Tons of gore featuring rat-monkeys, karate-kicking priests and a brilliant Lawnmower Massacre ending.
5 . Re-Animator (1985) Two great straight turns from Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West (who creates a serum capable of bringing the dead back to life - sort of), and the late David Gale as the maniacal Dr Carl Hill lift this film with the help of director Stuart Gordon to cult classic comedy gorefest. Try and get hold of the uncut version, (Region 1) the scene with the severed head is hilarious stuff indeed.
4 . Return of the Living Dead (1984) Dan O'Bannon, writer of Alien, breaks the rules of the traditional slow, shuffling zombie, instead giving the undead a boost of speed and a punk soundtrack in this 1986 gory horror comedy spoof of the classic dead trilogy, featuring supercool victims/heroes Bert’n’Ernie. Deliciously vicious, but more importantly gut-munchingly funny. “MORE BRAINS!”
3 . Zombie Flesh Eaters (Zombi 2) (1979) A Italian spaghetti-zombie classic from Lucio Fulci. On a voodoo island the living dead massacre everyone before turning their attention on New York. Particularly remembered for its ultra-gore (including a skewered eyeball and a graphic throat slit) it’s also notable for it’s bizarre underwater fight scene with a topless female diver, a zombie and a shark.
2 . The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974) Borrowing heavily from NOTLD, this ‘filmed in lake District’ zombie flick from the mid 70s is both nightmarishly bleak and sinister. Arthur Kennedy is the American-English policeman investigating experimental pesticides which seem to be having unexpected effects at the local cemetery. Genuinely creepy with an unrelenting tension.
1 . Trilogy of the Dead George Romero’s genre-defining trilogy is the benchmark to which all other zombie films compare themselves. Night is a low-budget black & white exercise in taught and tight terror, Dawn (considered the best), a full on horror/suspense zombie assault, whilst Day provides a fitting end to the series with a superbly pitch black comedy/gore sign-off.
Posted by Rawshark
Return to Top Ten Index
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| | | Requiem
10th Dec 09 Schmid’s film inhabits an emotional terrain that exists in a place a million miles away from the tired Hollywood model. | | | | |
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| You're Next
17th Feb 14 I'm next? Shit, I'm outta here. | | |
| | | World War Z
27th Sep 13 The most expensive zombie movie ever isn't actually that bad. | | |
| | | Remains
26th Sep 13 Zombies attack a casino in Reno. Whatever next? | | |
| | | From Beyond
1st Sep 13 So there you are mucking about stimulating the pineal gland and the next thing you know your dead colleague returns from beyond. | | |
| | | Knightriders
6th Jun 13 Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! | | |
| | | Megan is Missing
29th May 13 If you’re a human being, prepare to wish you were a member of some other species. | | |
| | | Friday the 13th Part 2
20th May 13 With Jason's mum dead, who could possibly be the killer in the sequel if Jason drowned all those years ago? Wait a minute... | | |
| | | Bait 3D
14th May 13 Just when you thought it was safe to go to an underwater supermarket wearing a special suit constructed out of shopping baskets. | | |
| | | Motel Hell | | | 4th May 13 | | | | | | Delirium Photos of Goia | | | 22nd Apr 13 | | | | |
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| Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors 30th Jan 13 "Welcome to the Prime Time bitch!" | | |
| | | Vigilante Night 12th Mar 12 Jump inside my Vigilante Van, get tooled up and beat the shit out of everyone. | | |
| | | Deodato Night 11th Jan 12 Don't try and Cut and Run, we're watching The Washing Machine at Camping del Terrore | | |
| | | Peter O'Brian Night 10th Dec 11 Join us, and Peter O'Brian, in the Indonesian jungle for The Intruder and The Stabilizer | | |
| | | Strike Commando Dawn 5th Oct 11 Not more Bruno Mattei movies, will we ever learn? | | |
| | | George Kenne-Day 7th Aug 10 Pissy shit, crap fighting, secondhand chest-bursting, decapitated out-of-towners, green goo for blood. Welcome to George Kenne-Day! | | |
| | | Ninja Ninja Ninja Night 5th Jun 10 Ninja, Ninjas, get your Ninjas here! Comedy spy Ninjas, demonic possessed female Ninjas and Swedish action Ninjas! | | |
| | | Juan Piquer Simon Night 5th Apr 10 Killer slugs and chainsaw-weilding maniacs, we take in two of Senor Simon's finest pieces. | | |
| | | Panther Night | | | 10th Feb 10 | | | | | | Klaus Kinski Sci-Fi Night | | | 23rd Jan 10 | | | | |
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