Zombie (1979)
While many credit “The Beyond” as Lucio Fulci’s cinematic masterpiece, it’s this film that broke Fulci onto the horror scene way back in 79’ and to most splatter aficionados it’s still the one closest to their little black hearts. After the financial success of George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” overseas, Fulci’s film was intended to cash in on the coming zombie craze of the late seventies and early eighties, and cash in it did, proving to be a success both at home and here in the states while spawning numerous Italian zombie films (for better or worse) in the same vein. However, “Zombie” is far more than a derivative rip-off of in the strictest sense, easily transcending it’s low budget/exploitation origins to be a solid film on it’s own accord.
While the film itself suffers from marginal acting, cumbersome dubbing and a rather clunky script, “Zombie” serves up a heavy brew of foreboding atmosphere, some truly creepy as all hell zombies and, carrying in “Dawns” tradition, some righteously shocking and graphic special effects courtesy of fx maestro Gianetto De Rossi. Back in the day when a movie could actually get country wide distribution here in the U.S. wearing an UNRATED label, Fulci delivers with a plethora of artery spurting zombie attacks, heads mashed and blown apart, and, in what has to be one of the most classic splatter moments of all time, actress Olga Karlato’s hazel eyeball meeting a rather jagged ten inch wood splinter. Ouch. With such various acts of bodily desecration, it’s no wonder this baby was on Britain’s notorious “Video Nasties” list back in the eighties. While most films like to tease the viewer with an expected act of gruesomeness and then pan away, Fulci always keeps the camera as is, almost as if he’s daring the viewer to sit and watch. Every act of violence is filmed in loving detail and when the blood flows here friends, it flows mighty freely. As for the zombies themselves, I’ve always considered the undead in this film to be probably “the” creepiest looking zombies to ever hit the screen, as they truly are a rotting, fucked up mess. Whereas Romero’s undead looked as if they drank to much and were going to be sick (in terms of the blue and green tinted makeup), Fulci’s undead army appear in various stages of decay, with many a squiggling worm in the eye sockets for good measure. Fulci also throws several nice set pieces amidst all the mayhem, including one truly surreal scene of an underwater battle between zombie and shark that simply comes out of nowhere. Cool stuff. Accompanying the undead assault on the living is a memorable and creepy score by Fabio Frizzi, and it’s nearly impossible to not think of the soundtrack whenever the movie comes to mind. Christ, I even have the soundtrack on CD, complete with a remixed “dance” version! Yikes.
Though most mainstream viewers will be no doubt turned off by the almost non linear “plot”, dubbed voices, and somewhat shoddy acting, horror buffs will no doubt continue to champion it for years to come. While it easily could have been a mere imitation in “Dawn of the Dead’s” shadow, Fulci and his crew created a potent little film that stands all on it’s own rotting legs. Viva Fulci!
On a side note, I’ve recently just acquired the new Media Blaster’s DVD which will probably be the last word on this film for some time to come. The print quality easily blows away all other versions (including Anchor Bay’s previous release) and was truly a joy to see in pristine quality. It’s also loaded with tons of nifty extras, and should satisfy most Fulciphiles.