Co-directed by Lucio Fulci (along with an uncredited Bruno Mattei), this uneven sequel to Fulci’s astonishing Zombie (aka Zombi 2 ) ignores every frame of its predecessor, shifting the setting from the Caribbean to South East Asia, and supplanting hazily defined zombie origins with a concrete, modern explanation: biological (and, not surprisingly, zombie-creating) weapons unleashed upon an unsuspecting populace.
Amid interminable chase scenes featuring a gaggle of hapless and forgettable characters attempting to outrun their collective fate in both slow- and fast-motion, we are treated to a few unforgettable moments of zombie-movie bliss, including a decapitated zombie head somehow able to launch itself through the air, a zombie fetus attacking its first victim through its mother’s abdomen, and a hideous zombie torso erupting out of a stagnant pool.
In addition, the film presents an interesting contribution to zombie mythology by allowing several of its lurching undead to retain the powers of speech and reason. In place of monsters intent on consuming humanity, here is a new species intent on supplanting it. Appropriately, as the zombie plague spreads, and moves into a third grisly day, an announcement is made over the still-functioning radio waves: It is now officially the year 0. A new age has begun, the age of the undead. It’s an intriguing concept, and one with great cinematic potential. Sadly, this mediocre film is mired too deeply in shoddy direction and acting to do much with it.
Related films:
Zombi (aka Dawn of the Dead )
Zombi 2 (aka Zombie )
by Thomas Scalzo | Source: Shriek Show DVD
20 Mar 2007 7:09 AM | Submit Comment
