"Horrible? How horrible? Dr. Falluci, Zombie Abomination - IZM
From the Director: "I think I've probably seen more zombie movies than any other "normal" person, in fact I've forgotten more zombie movies than most people will ever see, so does that put me in any position to judge them? I don't know, but since I'm making one (actually two) I thought I'd at least share my opinions on those I've seen without talking about their plots (Hey, c'mon, they're zombie movies! You already know their plots!) So bring this list to your local Blockbuster (or add them to your Greencine or Netficks request list) and act like you just can't believe they don't have these important films on their shelves!" (PS - More to come!!!)
The Director’s
Favorites (The zombie movies I’ve enjoyed and watched WAY too many times)
These
are the films I’d recommend to any real zombie movie fan.
Overall, these films show me the most interest in their subject matter,
and each one feels like the filmmakers, cast and crew put forth their best
efforts (within the restraints of their budgets).
28 Days Later (2002) DIR Danny Boyle
Maybe this isn't really zombie movie, but it has all the same elements. Very well directed and well acted with good music. Started a new wave of zombie “action” films, none of which are close to as good as this one. Oh, you will probably find this one at Blockbuster.
Anthropophagus (1980) DIR Joe D’Amato
Some
might question whether this is a zombie movie or not, but it’s close enough for
me. Very low budget, but driven,
with a gritty nastiness.
The Beyond (1981) (aka Seven Doors of Death) DIR
Lucio Fulci
Stylishly nonsensical horror set pieces that are lots of fun if you don’t need a
plot to enjoy a movie. A very
gruesome zombie.
Blind Dead III (1975) (aka Horror of the Zombies,
The Ghost Galleon) DIR Amando deOssorio
The
most contrived of the Blind Dead series, making it my personal favorite.
Dated, sexist stereotypes abound, with laughable miniature effects.
Burial Ground (1980) (aka Nights of Terror) DIR
Andrea Bianchi
Very
mean zombies with an absolutely unforgettable ending.
On any given day, this is may be my favorite zombie movie.
Cemetery Man (1994) (aka Dellarte Dellamore) DIR M.
Soavi
Easily
one of the best when it isn’t going too far over the top.
Intellectual (or at least philosophical) and funny storyline.
My favorite ending of any zombie movie ever.
Choking Hazard (2004)
Unusual, disarmingly funny and entertaining.
As fun as Shaun of the Dead.
Great zombie filmmaking.
City of the Living Dead (1980) (aka Gates of Hell)
DIR Lucio Fulci
One of
Fulci’s best, nonsensical horror films.
Great cast and effects.
City of the Walking Dead (1980) (aka
Probably the inspiration for 28 Days Later.
Action-packed contrived zombie madness, with usual 1980’s European
stereotypes thrown in for funny dialogue.
Dawn of the Dead (1978) DIR George Romero
The
European version of this one is my favorite.
The best music of any zombie film period.
Erotic Nights of the Living Dead (1980) DIR Joe
D’Amato
Much
better than you’d expect in a horror/p*rno combination.
Well acted with a good b-movie plot!
Hell of the Living Dead (1981) (aka Night of the
Zombies) DIR Bruno Mattei (alias Vincent Dawn)
Gross,
dumb, yet action-packed. Steals the
music from Dawn of the Dead. Every
trick of low-budget of filmmaking made as obvious as possible for the viewer.
You’ll laugh at it but you’ll enjoy it.
Horror Express (1972 ) (aka Panic in the Trans
Siberian Train) DIR E. Martin
Maybe
not a zombie movie, but it has all best the elements.
I’m surprised this hasn’t been remade
(although I tried when I was about 12).
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) (aka Living Dead at
the Manchester Morgue) DIR Jorge Grau
Probably the best Night of the Living Dead clone out there.
Good filmmaking and production values.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) DIR George Romero
Probably the best-known low-budget indie horror film ever made. Very worthwhile. The one that started it all?
Re-Animator (1985) DIR Stuart Gordon
Great
horror comedy with zombies!
Return of the Living Dead (1985) DIR Dan O’Bannon
One of
the best zombie movies ever. Part
parody, but not in a bad way. Call
it “a tribute” instead. Great
acting, clever humor and perfect music.
Seeding of a Ghost (1983) DIR Run Run Shaw
Just
see it. You won’t forget it.
It is gruesome. There are
many other similar
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
By far
the funniest zombie movie to date, with good scares, make-up effects and very
likeable characters.
Shock Waves (1977) (aka Death Corps) DIR Ken
Weiderhorn
Overlooked, unique zombie movie without much gore.
Tombs of the Blind Dead (1971) DIR Amando deOssorio
The
first of the Blind Dead series.
Brooding and contrived. Dated,
sexist and funny.
Wild Zero (2000)
Action
packed Japanese zombie flick.
Probably the only really good one of this genre.
Zombie (1979) (aka Zombi II, Zombie Flesh Eaters)
DIR Lucio Fulci
My personal favorite zombie movie period. This one has it all – great direction, photography, high production values, solid acting, a typically “European” contrived script, some of the best zombies (for the most part). This is no Dawn of the Dead clone. No humor here. It’s nasty all the way through.
Other Nearly
As Fun Zombie Movies (Flicks I’ve enjoyed more than once)
Made with about the same interest and effort as the films above, but just seem to have missed a little something along the line. Still quite entertaining.
Absurd (1982) (aka Anthropophagus 2) DIR Joe D’Amato
Meaner
sequel to Anthropophagus, but maybe not really a zombie movie.
The Boneyard (1991) DIR J. Cummings
Weird
zombie movie with some of over-the-top touches, but what weird casting!
The Child (1977) DIR R. Voskanian
Not
great filmmaking, but so weird it’s creepy with an exciting ending.
My favorite looking zombies.
Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972) DIR
Bob Clark III
Talky,
pseudo-intellectual, sometimes funny, with a good ending.
Nice zombie make-up.
Evil Clutch
I just
saw this one and wow. It is so
weird! It’s currently my favorite
film and I can’t figure out why?
Dawn of the Mummy (1981) DIR Frank Agrama
Okay,
not really a zombie movie, but so much like one.
Contrived, sexist and talky with a slam bang finish.
Day of the Dead (1985) DIR George Romero
Too
talky, but much is learned about Romero’s zombies, and it has a great gross out
finale.
Day of the Dead II: Contagium (2005)
Weird
movie. Weird point of view.
Gruesome, but what is really going on?
Dead Alive (1992) (aka Braindead) DIR Peter Jackson
Over-the-top, mostly in a good way, zombie-comedy.
Good zombie movie with really good direction during the scary stuff, but some of the other scenes are not pulled off well. Dark subject matter.
Fido (2007)
Zombie horror comedy. Reminded me of a non-zombie favorite of mine, "Parents" with Randy Quaid.
Grapes of Death (1978) DIR Jean Rollin
Brooding, sick movie, but I was pulling for the heroine all the way.
House by the Cemetery (1981) (Zombie Hell House) DIR
Lucio Fulci
Oh, to
find this movie without that terrible dubbing job they did on the kid.
Great “zombie” at the end.
Junk (2000)
Japanese zombie action. No Wild
Zero, but entertaining.
Killing Birds (aka Raptors: Killing Birds, Zombie 5)
DIRs C. Lattanazi, Joe D’Amato
Very
unusual zombie flick. Creepy and
gory. Mysterious zombies in this
one.
Land of the Dead (2005) DIR George Romero
More
Romero-style political/social satire, but not nearly as good as Dawn.
It moves along pretty good though.
An honest attempt at a serious zombie flick.
The Last Man on Earth (1964) DIR S. Salkow
Vincent
Price at his best in a low budget zombie movie.
Lifeforce (1985) DIR Tobe Hooper
Big
budget alien zombie (and/or vampire) movie.
Odd in all the right places.
Mutant (1984) DIR J. Bud Caros
Good
little minor zombie flick.
Night of the Seagulls (1975) DIR Amando deOssorio
Last of
the Blind Dead series. Not great
but it has good atmosphere.
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) DIR Ed Wood
Few people realize this is a zombie movie! So much “obvious” filmmaking you can’t help but enjoy it.
Punk
Rock Holocaust 2 (2006) The ultimate slacker-zombie movie. Funny,
purposely under-acted, with great punk music. Wish I could
find Punk Rock Holocaust 1!
Return of the Blind Dead (1973) (aka Return of the
Evil Dead) DIR Amando deOssorio
First
sequel in the Blind Dead series.
Contrived, dated and sexist like the first one, with a dreamlike atmosphere.
Shunken Heads (1994) DIR R. Elfman
Cool flick, but the weird casting almost ruins it.
The Stick (1987)
Very well-made South African zombie movie. Creepy story, well filmed/acted.
Mexican
zombie movie with a “Shaun of the Dead” feel.
Creative and funny at times.
I need to watch this one again!
Undead (2003)
Stylish
zombie movie with too many irritating characters, but a very cool and unexpected
ending.
The Video Dead (1987) DIR R. Scott
Very
sincerely-made little zombie film.
Zombie III (1988) DIRs Lucio Fulci, Bruno Mattei
Not as
bad as everyone says, but it’s more like a Bruno Mattei film than a Lucio Fulci
film. Not boring but nothing new.
Plenty gross!
Zombie Holocaust (1980) (aka Doctor Butcher MD) DIR
Marino Girolami
Too bad
they couldn’t pick up the pace a bit.
A zombie/cannibal movie combo.
Worthwhile with fun casting for fans, but what's with the ending?
Memorable for
Some Reason (Watched once, maybe twice)
Certainly watchable zombie movies, but not necessarily recommended if you’re on a tight zombie movie viewing schedule.
28 Weeks Later (2007) I wanted to like this one, but it was just too cowardly and dire and without any redeeming characters.
Black Demons (1991) DIR Ruggerro Deodato
Okay
production, but not well acted.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Atmospheric but confusing.
Hugo
Stiglitz in another zombie movie!
Chopper Chicks in
The female characters are more interesting than the zombie action.
Codename:
Yin-Yang (2006) DIR Bo Morck Pemstoft, Hnerik Andersen. Denmark gets
into the no-budget zombie genre. Attractive heroines and
anti-Americanism.
Creepshow (1982) DIR George Romero
Dead and Buried (1981) DIR G. Sherman
I read
the book, which is probably why I kind of liked the movie.
The Dead Pit (1989) DIR B. Leonard
Cool
vhs box had glowing eyes when it first came out.
Some good stuff.
Dead Heat (1988) DIR M. Goldblatt
Not very funny, but good to see another Vincent Price zombie movie.
Die You Zombie Bastards (2005)
Well, at least I can say I've now seen the most phallic zombie movie ever made.
Flesh Eating Mothers (????)
Unique story, with bizarre make-up effects
Flesh Eater (1988) DIR Bill Hinzman. Yup, that Bill Hinzman, the original zombie in the original Night of the Living Dead. Too bad his movie had some a lame script and bad acting. Some of the effects aren't bad. And he remains a creepy looking zombie.
The Fog (1980) DIR John Carpenter
House of Lost Souls DIR Umberto Lenzi
Lots of
gruesome murders and decapitations.
I Walked with a Zombie (1943) DIR Jacques Tourneur
Dated
but atmospheric
Kung Fu Zombies (1982) DIR I-Jung Hua
Different
Living Dead in
Feels
unfinished…
Mas Alla Del Terror
Creepy
story. I wish I could find a better
(subtitled) print.
Mausoleum (1983) (aka One Dark Night) DIR Tom
McLoughlin
Typical
80’s teen-horror flick, but has its moments
Messiah of Evil (1973) (aka Dead People) DIR W.
Huyck
Dark
and unusual
Mulva: Zombie Ass-Kicker (2001)
Funny
dialogue, but its not really a movie, is it?
Night Crawler (aka Zombie Brigade) DIR G.
Hickenlooper
Sincere
attempt
Night of the Comet (1984)
Trendy
(for 1980s) and not bad
Night of the Sorcerers (1973) DIR Amando deOssorio
Weird
but interesting
Oasis of the Zombies (1983) DIR Jess Franco
Slow moving but has its moments. Unintentionally funny dialogue.
Outpost (2006)
Interesting setting, characters, atmospheric.
Pet Semetary (1989) DIR Mary Lambert
Plaga Zombie (1997) See below.
Plaga Zombie: Zona Mutante (2001) DIR Hernan Saez, Pablo Pares
Stylish
no budgeter and it's sequel. Both are very watchable and funny at times.
Plague of the Zombies (1966) DIR J. Gilling
Very
interesting zombies. Good Hammer
production values.
Raiders of the Living Dead (1986) DIR Sam Sherman
I’ll
never get that damn theme song out of my head!
Redneck Zombies (1987) DIR P. Lewnes
Yucky,
poorly made, but entertaining at times.
Resident Evil (I, II, III) (2002, 2004, 2007)
Slick
flicks, and I like kinda anything with Milla
Return of the Living Dead III (1993) DIR Brian Yunza
Nice
recovery from Part II. A zombie
love story done well, with some cool effects and nice acting.
Revenge of the Zombies DIR Jean Rollin
Oddball
“zombie” movie. Gruesome. Sure wish a nice print existed.
Scooby Doo on
Better
than it had a right to be.
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) DIR Wes Craven
Serious study of voodoo. Well made.
The Stink of Flesh (2005) DIR Scott Phillips
Okay timewaster but feels unfinished, with mostly lame make-up effects, and why such a kinky subplot? Love the gal in the shed though...
Okay
zombie stuff, but not necessarily made by folks who like zombie movies.
Swamp of the Ravens (1974)
Weird,
kinda slow, but unforgettable visually.
Vengeance of the Zombies (1972) DIR L. Klimovsky
Waxwork I & II (1988, 1992) DIR Anthony Hickox
White Zombie (1932) DIR V. Halperin
Original and atmospheric but very dated.
Zombie Honeymoon (2006)
Mostly good production values, moves along nicely, sad ending.
If you’re desperately looking for some zombie activity and you’re not very picky you might find something to enjoy in these, but they won’t captivate you enough to justify their running time.
Alien Dead (1980) DIR Fred Olen Ray
Very
low budget but Buster Crabbe is in it.
Bloodsuckers from Outer Space (1984) DIR G. Coburn
Some funny gross-out stuff., when not annoyingly over-acted.
Bone Sickness (????)
Sick is right! Poorly filmed.
I
remember some nice eerie photography in this one, but little else.
Curse of the Blue Lights (1988)
Not a
bad ending
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Too bad
the whole film wasn’t like the end credits, which were AWESOME.
The Dead Next Door (1988) DIR JR Bookwalter
Why so
much hype about this one?
Deadly Friend (1986)
Flesh for the Beast (2003)
Ghouls (2004)
Interesting concept. Not sure if they are zombies or just cannibals. Poorly photographed.
Hellbound: Book of the Dead (2003)
I Was A Teenage Zombie (1987) DIR John Michalakis
Odd and
very cheap but sincerely made.
The Laughing Dead (1989) DIR S. P. Somtow
If only they’d stayed away from that way over-the-top ending!
Machine Head (2005) DIR Michael P. Murphy
Satirical Frankenstein-concept annoyingly acted/photographed
Night of the Creeps (1986) DIR F. Dekker
Night of the Living Dead (1990) DIR Tom Savini
Some
good effects but it’s too slick and “Hollywood”.
It lacks grit.
Nudist Colony of the Dead (1991) DIR Mark Pirro
Another theme song I’ll never be able to forget…
Ozone (2001) JR Bookwalter
Dull and Cheesy
Premutos: Lord of the Living Dead (1997)
The Rage (2008) DIR Robert Kurtzman
Yeah, that Robert Kurtzman, the effects guy for Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness, etc. Horrid photography and surprisingly bad digital effects doom this one. It is extremely gross though, if that's all you care about.
Raw
Force (????) This movie inadvertently inspired me to seek out
international zombie films. I thought it was cool when I was 10.
Pretty lame
but not unwatchable. A little less
humor would’ve helped.
Route 666 (2001)
Cool
zombies
Shatter Dead (1994) DIR Scooter McCrae
Not
sure what all the excitement was about this one.
One or two zombie scenes that evolve the myth in an interesting way.
Terror Creatures from Beyond the Grave (1965) DIR:
M. Pupillo
Barbara
Steele is in it.
Toxic Zombies (1979) (aka Bloodeaters) DIR C.
McCrann
Versus
(2000) DIR Ryuhei Kitmura
Another
Japanese zombie action flick. All
show and nowhere to go.
The Vineyard (1989) DIRs B. Rice, J Hong
Zombie IV Afterdeath (1988) DIR Claudio Fragasso
Poor
production values and where’s the story?
Zombie Cult Massacre (1998)
Annoying photographed and overacted
Zombie Death House
John
Saxon
Zombie Campout (2002) DIR Joshua D. Smith
Half-hearted low budgeter, poorly acted, but there is one special effect in this
one that I’m still totally amazed by.
The Zombie Chronicles (2001) DIR Brad Sykes
Zombie Nightmare (1986) DIR J. Bravman
Not good
at all (Unfortunately I watched these and I wish I had those hours of my life back!)
Just
avoid these. Even if you can rent them you’ll be sad you
wasted your time. These filmmakers
either lacked interest in their subject, had no story or lacked the skills
or budgets to pull something entertaining off.
I’ve wasted over 250 hours watching these (and who knows how much money!)
I’m not going to waste anything else on
them!
Astro
Zombies (1969) DIR Ted. V. Mikels
Beyond
Re-Animator (2003)
Biohazardous (2001)
Biozombie (1998) DIR Wilson Yip
Biker
Zombies (2001) DIR Todd Brunswick
Blood
of Ghastly Horror (1971) DIR Al Adamson
Blood
of the Zombie (1961) (aka The Dead One) DIR Barry Mahon
Bride
of Reanimator (1990) DIR Brian Yunza
Caution: Children at Play (1981)
Children of the Living Dead (2001)
Chud II
(aka Bud the Chud)
Cremains (2000)
Dangerous Creatures (????) So boring...
Dead &
Breakfast (2004)
Dead
and Rotting
The
Dead Hate the Living (2000)
Dead Meat (I & II) (2004-2005)
Dorm of the Dead (2007) Howard Stern's woman makes a brief appearance and then bails on it. So should you.
Electric Zombies (2006) Absolutely the worst "zombie" film I have ever seen, and that's saying something.
Evil Town (????)
Feeding
the Masses
Flesh Freaks (2000)
Flight of the Living Dead (2007)
Garden
of the Dead (1972) DIR J. Hayes
Graveyard Disturbance DIR Lambert Bava
Gory Gory Hallelujah (2004) DIR Sue Corcoran. Unfunny zombie camp with bad make-up effects.
House
of the Dead (2003)
Hot Wax
Zombies on Wheels (1999)
I Eat
Your Skin (1964) DIR: Del Tenney
I,
Zombie (1998) DIR A. Parkinson
Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies
(1964) DIR Ray Dennis Steckler
Living a Zombie Dream (1996) DIR T. Reynolds
Living Dead Lock-up (2005) Mario Xavier
The Mad (2006) DIR Johnny Kalangis. How far has Billy Zane's career fallen?
Mark of
the Astro Zombies (2002) DIR Ted V. Mikels
Meat
Market 1 & 2 (2000, 2001)
The
Morbus (2004)
Necropolis Awakened (2002) DIR Garret White
Night of the Zombies (1981) (aka Gamma 693, Battalion of the Living Dead) DIR Joel Reed
Night of the Living Dead in 3D (2007)
The
Plague (2006)
Prison
of the Dead (2000)
Revolt
of the Zombies (1936) DIR V. Halperin
Sars
Wars (2004)
Shadow
Dead Riot
Slither
(2006)
Space
Zombie Bingo (1993)
Stacy
(2001) DIR Naoyuki Tomomatsu
Teenage
Zombies (1957) DIR Jerry Warren
Vampire
Vrs Zombies (2004)
A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973) DIRs Jess Franco, Jean Rollin
Wiseguys Vrs Zombies (2003)
Zeder (1983) DIR Pupi Aanti
Zombie
90 (1991) DIR A. Schnaas
Zombie
Bloodbath 1 & 2 (1993, 1995) DIR Todd Sheets
Zombie
Doom (1999) DIR A. Schnaas
Zombie Nosh (1988) (aka Flesheater) DIR Bill Hinzman
Zombie Planet (2006)
Zombie Rampage 1 & 2 (1989, 1992) DIR Todd Sheets
Zombies Gone Wild (2007) If you like lots of juvenile puke and poop jokes
Zombiegeddon (2006) DIR Chris Watson. The making-of is the only interesting stuff. Painfully bad.
Zombiez (2005)
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