Cinema Macabre, Volume 5: Zombie aka Zombi 2

This month's edition of Cinema Macabre centers on the undead shamblers of untold numbers of nightmares. That's right, zombies! Who doesn't like a good zombie flick? For that matter, who doesn't like a bad zombie flick? Most of them have something to like about them. Well, maybe not. Still, they are a staple of the horror genre. My offering is Lucio Fulci's gory classic Zombie, or Zombi 2 if you prefer. Be sure to check out the full column at BC Magazine for the bottom line on Plague of the Zombies, Night of the Living Dead '90, and Shawn of the Dead.

In 1978, George Romero's Dawn of the Dead was released. It was the sequel to his granddaddy of the modern zombie film, Night of the Living Dead. It was an instant hit, and when it was released in Italy, producers there were eager to capitalize on its success. At about the same time, Lucio Fulci was gearing up for a film that could easily be tied to the Romero-verse. Since Dawn of the Dead was released as Zombi in Italy, they decided to call this new film Zombi 2 to capitalize on that name (in the process adding the opening and closing New York set scenes). It would then give rise to a series of Zombi(e) movies, each just using the title as a marketing ploy. Still, it is this first film (Zombi 2 in Italy, Zombie in the US) that has become a classic and cemented Fulci's place at the forefront of Italian horror.

Zombie is a rather languidly paced horror film that will not appeal to everyone, as it has that slow pace and is punctuated by the graphic setpieces. It took me a couple of viewings to warm up to it. When I first heard about how graphic it was, and its revered status among horror-philes I expected something a bit different. I was ill prepared to deal with that slow pace, but after a few tries I started to feel at home with it, and recognizing just how good a zombie film it is.

The story begins when a derelict yacht sails into New York Harbor. Upon investigation, a zombie is found to be onboard. The creature is quickly dispatched by the investigating officers, but not before getting in a bite of his own. The fact finding mission settles on Peter West (Ian McCulloch), a reporter who winds up teaming with Ann Bowles (Tisa Farrow), the daughter of the yacht's owner. Ann's father was a scientist working on some random island in the Caribbean, we learn that he and another doctor, Dr. Menard (Richard Johnson). Together they head off to the Caribbean in search of the missing doctor, tagging along with a vacationing couple, played by Al Cliver and Auretta Gay.

If you are looking for a strong plot, you are going to be sorely disappointed. The story is terribly thin, the point of this film was the atmosphere and the gore scenes. Fulci delivers on both counts. The slow pace keeps you on edge, wondering just when something is going to happen, and when it does finally happen the blood is plentiful as they deliver some of the more iconic moments of zombie cinema.

So far as the story goes, suffice to say they wind up on an island that is suffering a zombie infestation that may be a virus, but could also be voodoo related. They find Dr. Menard and a newly unearthed horde of walking dead. It is the sort of story where there will be virtually no possibility of a happy ending, once it hits the fan, nothing will be left alive.

The gore delivers some great moments, including Fulci's penchant for eye violence, some flesh eating, exploding heads, wormy eye sockets, and an unforgettable battle pitting a zombie against a shark (yes, a shark!). For the most part, the effects are well rendered and believable. Nothing done digitally can quite live up to the use of well crafted practical effects. There is nothing digital to be found in this film!

Zombie rightfully retains its status as a classic zombie film, right down to its apocalyptic ending. It may be plagued by a weak script and acting (both of which could be attributed to half the cast speaking English and the other Italian, dubbing resolved the problem in the end), it delivers a creepy slow burn atmosphere, and the gore is first rate. Again, not for everybody, but definitely in the upper echelon of zombie horror.

The DVD that I watched for this revisit was the Anchor Bay Lucio Fulci Collection edition, and it is clearly not the best way to go (I have the Media Blasters version linked above, but couldn't locate it in time to meet the deadline). It is a non-anamorphic transfer that isn't all that pretty but still offers the proper widescreen ratio. As far as extras go, it has a commentary track with actor Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine editor Jason J. Slater, it has some good bits, but it is awfully dry. It also includes a theatrical trailer, a couple of TV spots, and a couple of radio spots.