Zombi 3 (1988)

    Shortly after an experimental reanimation drug is created, a group of terrorists steal it and one becomes infected. The government agency responsible decides on a ‘sweep and clear’ of the area while 3 small groups of tourists converge only to be caught between the military action, and the now-widespread walking dead.

    First of all, it must be said - Zombi 3 does not hide its influences! The ‘shoot ‘em up’-style of action is very reminiscent of Romero’s ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ while the scientists versus military dynamic harkens to 1985’s ‘Day of the Dead.’ Even the method of mass transmission, (the airborne ashes of a cremated zombie,) is taken from ‘Return of the Living Dead,’ also released just three years prior! 

    These make it even more surprising that the movie seems to completely ignore its own predecessor, Fulci’s amazing ‘Zombi.’ 

    Providing its own cause for the outbreak, and the subsequent spread of the infection, ‘Zombi 3’ seems more like a standalone reboot than it does a sequel.

    The acting is not good, get that straight. I know that an Italian film that is dubbed into English, often times the dialog is altered somewhat to fit the actors’ mouth movements. I am typically as forgiving of this as I can be, but with only a few exceptions, it was clear that these “actors” were new to this. Or just blatant ‘over-actors.’ And this on the parts of both the living and the dead.

This over-the-top scientist acted like a dropout of
the William Shatner/Adam West School of Acting!!!

    There is an inconsistency between the zombies, too. At times, they are perfect Romeros, (see my Zombie Classification Chart,) other times Russos, sometimes wielding weapons, frequently jumping from above, (TOO frequently!), and don’t even get me started on the flying head! (Yes. You read that correctly!)

    On the film’s positive side, it DOES have a good and clear story arc, beginning to end: Creation of the virus, outbreak, spread, conclusion. Very linear. I like that! No meandering.

    The movie also has a couple of genuine scares, (that awesome pool rescue!), and even a zombie siege on a (poorly,) fortified stronghold. I also like the fact that even if the living characters are devoid of backstory and fairly interchangeable, it is surprising to see just how frequently and dispassionately the movie kills one off! Kind’ve refreshing that way!

    Lots of Fulci gore for the fans of that, too. True, a good deal of it comes from festering pustules and blisters that accompany the zombism this time around, but plenty of flesh tearing, too. 

    For all its faults, I didn’t dislike this film. In fact, I kinda enjoyed it. My objective grading device, the Zombie Movie Rubric, however, was not so kind. Action / Pacing, Zombies, and Budget save this from the “Total Stinker” category, tallying up a 1.33 out of 4 for a score. 

    It is really hard to believe this is the sequel of Fulci’s masterpiece, Zombi. (Or Zombi 2, depending on your source.)

    So, I wouldn’t say avoid this one, it has its moments, but I can’t recommend it, unless you are desperate for an cheesy, 80’s, Italian zombie flick, and you keep your entertainment standards humble.

    YouTube seems to have the movie in its entirety for viewing, too! If you still haven't decided to watch this, here is a (long,) trailer to help make up your mind! ZOMBI 3 

    Also, I can’t help thinking this movie had hopes of being shown in 3D. There is a disproportionate amount of second-person 3D zooming! 

Return of the Living Dead, Part 2, (1988)

Get ready to open a fresh can.

    The brain-hungry undead are back in an almost carbon-copy remake/sequel of the first Return, right down to the James Karen/Thom Matthews alive-but-dying duo! 

     As a blatant copy, it lacks originality. Its most obvious defect, however, is its characters. Awful, awful people. And always yelling! (Drinking game idea: do a shot every time someone shouts "What's going on?" or "We gotta get outta here!" This certainly will make the movie more enjoyable, anyways!) Every character was annoying and unlikeable, and NOT in a good way like the crew of misfits from Return, Part 1! (Except Philip Brun's 'Dr. Mandel.' Him, I liked. Go figure.)

     So, no points for originality, even though the movie did introduce electricity as a way to kill the living dead, where previously, nothing did, short of total cremation. (True, on a logical level, electricity to kill the living dead makes no sense, but really? Let's not draw that line here. Just accept it for the movies sake. It has enough going against it already!)

     Horror factors take a back seat, and scary scenes are again compromised but the insertion of a pop/punk soundtrack, (yet another carry-over from Part 1!) My mute button helped bring back some creepy!

     Production, acting, pacing, SPFX, and some more decent-looking zombies flipped the right switches on the Zombie Movie Rubric, to bring in a GENEROUS 2.5 out of a possible 4.0.

     YouTube has the official movie trailer here: RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, PART 2  

And very cool poster art.

Flesh Eater, (1988)

       

        Written, edited, directed, produced and starring Bill Hinzman, (the cemetery ghoul from the original Night of The Living Dead,) Flesh Eater has some serious pedigree, so one might think this to be a continuation of that film. Not so much the case.

Our story opens with a group of college kids enjoying a hay ride out to the woods of some farmland in Western Pennsylvania to spend Hallowe’en around a campfire, with friends and beer.

Meanwhile, as he is clearing some land, a man discovers what turns out to be a grave sealed with a curse and some chains. Unknowing, the man opens the grave, thusly freeing Mr. Hinzman’s undead antagonist, all snarling and in full-color, setting things in motion.

He's Baa-aack!

It is important to one’s enjoyment of this film to remember that this is NOT Night of the Living Dead, or related to it, (you know, ASIDE from subject matter, location, cast and crew!) By that, I mean that witchcraft, or more accurately Satanic worship, is the cause of the outbreak. True, this is only hinted at on two occasions throughout the movie, but it makes the departure from the standard behavior of the undead principal zombie much more acceptable. For example, the punch through the torso, or the killing with a pitchfork, (both well done and have some very cool stories about them in the “making of” featurette!) are done ONLY by the Hinzman zombie - the one that was buried under a cursed grave. All other undead adhere to the rules of Romero: slow, shambolic, unthinking. Instead of this being a ‘spoiler,’ I believe that knowing this in advance will only enhance one’s viewing enjoyment.

   

        Oh yes! There are many faults. The editing could be much more thorough, sound quality is difficult to overlook, the nudity is a bit gratuitous, and the acting is sporadic, but there is a lot worth watching here, too. So, I used my Zombie Movie Rubric to grade this, (and remove my sense of nostalgia, and dispute the poor reviews from past critics,) and up with an object score of 2 out of 4. Personally, I would’ve given a bit more.

           You see, this is NOT a reinvention of the genre, nor is it even a great movie. It may even be simply a cash-in attempt on the success of Night of the Living Dead, but it is done with reverence and respect for classic zombie movies, deviating from formula only enough to keep it from being a rehash. 

            In short, I enjoyed this. Not only from a nostalgic point of view, (but, in honesty, that was a factor,) but, as a low-budget, mid-80s entry in the zombie movie genre, Flesh Eater is a worthy addition to any undead-fan’s video library. 

          Here is a link to the Flesh Eater trailer on YouTube, to entice you further.

      
          The movie is ALSO known as ‘Flesheater,’ ‘Revenge of the Living Dead,’ and ‘Zombie Nosh.’

Neither trick nor treat for this little angel.

    I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the musical score by Erica Portnoy. The arrangement is set around a simple line of five minor-key notes that capture the mood nicely. Reminiscent of those in the movie Halloween.

For such a low budget affair, BTW, the DVD also has a bunch of cool extras making it ‘purchase-worthy,’ too!