Kelly WandZombie Holocaust
October 29th 2006 04:01
Well, the wheel rims are digging up the road with this one, kids. Desperation is in the air. George Romero had made “Dawn of the Dead” and that was re-edited for European release by Dario Argento under the name “Zombi”. Lucio Fulci got to make a sequel (Zombi 2) that bore no resemblance to the earlier film. That was released in English speaking markets as “Zombie Flesh Eaters”.
The success of that film prompted the release of Marino Girolami’s “Zombi Holocaust”. It bore absolutely no resemblance to either of the previous films and its zombies were more like Frankenstein’s monsters. They actually were fairly well behaved and that meant all the rending and chewing of flesh had to be done by a group of specially imported cannibals. I am particularly fond of the alternative German title of “Zombies Unter Kannibalen”.
In America, the guy who bought the rights didn’t have the rights to use the title “Zombie Holocaust” so he edited in some crappy footage from some other movie and called it “Dr Butcher MD”. Few would notice this addition. The plot makes no sense at all. There is no explanation why a group of natives from a remote island should come to New York to mutilate and eat cadavers in teaching hospitals let alone why the New York Health Authority should send anyone off to the island to investigate. The fact that this group of investigators is clearly unqualified demands some explanation but none is given.
I know that I often rattle on about the dream like qualities of Italian horror movies. It is not my fault if some idiot mistakes this dream like quality as a justification for ignoring plot and attempts to copy what they see on screen.
It is like watching a policeman type. They have seen a keyboard and they have seen it used. It is not their fault that they can only use one finger at a time. They may – after an extended period – complete a simple form but no-one has told them that red lines mean spelling mistakes.
Has this happened to you? You’ll know what I’m talking about then.
Having said all these bad things about “Zombie Holocaust”, can I just say that the score by Nico Fidenco covers a multitude of sins. It genuinely has the power to put the listener in a state of heightened anxiety. It actually sounds a lot like the hypnosis tone used in “The Ipcress File”.
This is neither the best zombie film nor the best cannibal film. It is probably the best zombie versus cannibal movie but only because it is in a genre of one.
The success of that film prompted the release of Marino Girolami’s “Zombi Holocaust”. It bore absolutely no resemblance to either of the previous films and its zombies were more like Frankenstein’s monsters. They actually were fairly well behaved and that meant all the rending and chewing of flesh had to be done by a group of specially imported cannibals. I am particularly fond of the alternative German title of “Zombies Unter Kannibalen”.
In America, the guy who bought the rights didn’t have the rights to use the title “Zombie Holocaust” so he edited in some crappy footage from some other movie and called it “Dr Butcher MD”. Few would notice this addition. The plot makes no sense at all. There is no explanation why a group of natives from a remote island should come to New York to mutilate and eat cadavers in teaching hospitals let alone why the New York Health Authority should send anyone off to the island to investigate. The fact that this group of investigators is clearly unqualified demands some explanation but none is given.
I know that I often rattle on about the dream like qualities of Italian horror movies. It is not my fault if some idiot mistakes this dream like quality as a justification for ignoring plot and attempts to copy what they see on screen.
It is like watching a policeman type. They have seen a keyboard and they have seen it used. It is not their fault that they can only use one finger at a time. They may – after an extended period – complete a simple form but no-one has told them that red lines mean spelling mistakes.
Has this happened to you? You’ll know what I’m talking about then.
Having said all these bad things about “Zombie Holocaust”, can I just say that the score by Nico Fidenco covers a multitude of sins. It genuinely has the power to put the listener in a state of heightened anxiety. It actually sounds a lot like the hypnosis tone used in “The Ipcress File”.
This is neither the best zombie film nor the best cannibal film. It is probably the best zombie versus cannibal movie but only because it is in a genre of one.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Man I remeber seeing this along time ago but havent seen it since. i vaguely recall moments of it but may have to get it out next time I need some schlock.
Comment by Bob Short
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bob Short
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks for the nod on your May reveiw. Feel free to post a comment on my review linking people to yours.