Blu-ray Review: ZOMBIE (1979)

ZOMBIE
Directed by Lucio Fulci
Distributed by Blue Underground / MVD Distribution

 I have been a huge fan of Lucio Fulci ever since I saw my first film by him.  The first film of his I ever saw was ZOMBIE, on an old clam shell VHS back in my college days.   It has been almost 20 years since I have seen this film, so I was thrilled when I got a chance to review this new 40th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray edition of the film.   Here is a brief synopsis of the new release courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

In Italy, it was considered the 'unofficial sequel' to DAWN OF THE DEAD. In England, it was known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS and banned as obscene. In America, it was called ZOMBIE and advertised with the depraved tag line "WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU!" Tisa Farrow (THE GRIM REAPER), Ian McCulloch (CONTAMINATION), Al Cliver (CANNIBALS), and Richard Johnson (THE HAUNTING) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by 'Maestro Of Gore' Lucio Fulci (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!

  The plot of the film is simple.....a woman goes looking for her father on an island he was last known to be at.  That island is, of course, being ravaged by zombies!  The film is known by quite a few other names, such as:  ZOMBI 2, ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS, ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD, ISLAND OF THE FLESH-EATERS, and WOODOO. 

  The zombie effects in this film are top notch, and rank among my favorite zombies in film history, especially the worm infested zombie from the original poster and cover art.   This is how I imagine a zombie looking if they were real, decayed with worms oozing from the eye sockets!   Gross!  Along with the great make up and effects is some amazing gore, including the famous splinter in the eyeball scene and multiple neck biting resulting in tons of blood.   There is also that one scene you might have heard about, where a zombie fights a shark!  It really must be seen to be believed, and if you haven't seen it, you are truly missing out! 

  If you have never seen this film, do yourself a favor and watch it asap.   This is one of my favorite zombie films of all time.  Even if you have seen it, do yourself a favor and check out this new blu-ray release, as you have never seen it like this before! 

 ZOMBIE is available now from Blue Underground and contains the following Special Features:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
*  NEW! Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films
*  Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater
*  NEW! When The Earth Spits Out The Dead - Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci
*  Theatrical Trailers
*  TV Spots
*  Radio Spots
*  Poster & Still Gallery
*  Guillermo del Toro Intro

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Extras:
*  Zombie Wasteland - Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell'Acqua
*  Flesh Eaters on Film - Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis
*  Deadtime Stories - Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti
*  World of the Dead - Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca
*  Zombi Italiano - Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi
*  Notes on a Headstone - Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi
*  All in the Family - Interview with Antonella Fulci
*  Zombie Lover - Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films

BONUS! ZOMBIE Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD by Fabio Frizzi

BONUS! Collectable Booklet with new essay by Stephen Thrower


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray


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Blu-ray Review: ISLAND OF DEATH (1976)

ISLAND OF DEATH
Directed by  Nico Mastorakis
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment

   This might be one of the sleaziest, nastiest, filthiest movies I have ever seen, and I loved every minute of it!  Let's not take too much time thinking about what that says about me, instead lets talk about one of the craziest films to come out of the 1970's, ISLAND OF DEATH.   Here is some plot info from the MVD website:

THE LUCKY ONES GOT THEIR BRAINS BLOWN OUT!! Welcome to Mykonos, the holiday destination of choice for sun, sea and slaughter! From cult director Nico Mastorakis, Island of Death is a travelogue of atrocities with scenes so strong that the British Government was once compelled to ban it as a "video nasty". Arriving on the idyllic Greek island, Christopher and Celia appear to be every inch the perfect, handsome young couple. Little do the welcoming locals realise that they are in fact a pair of murderous degenerates, determined to spread their own particular brand of perversion across the island. DIY crucifixions, opportunistic bestiality, sexual peeing and murder by all conceivable forms ensue - including death by makeshift blowtorch, samurai sword, dump truck and more! Shocking, brutal and totally politically incorrect in its outlook, Island of Death is a gruelling cinematic experience devised by director Mastorakis to out-do the excesses of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which he was hugely inspired by. Now fully uncut and newly-restored from the original negative, fans can enjoy Island of Death in all its sleazy, lurid glory.

  This film has been hard to find on DVD lately, only being available in an out of print DVD from Image Entertainment. Luckily, the wonderful folks at Arrow Films have got their hands on this film and have released it as a beautiful Blu-ray/DVD combo pack which is being distributed through MVD Entertainment.  This new 2K restoration of the film is pretty amazing.  From the film quality there is now way you could guess that the film was over 38 years old!  Arrow always does a remarkable job with their releases and this one is no different. 
 
  The film itself is one that is really hard to explain.  The only real story is that a couple go on vacation to a Greek island and then just kill people at random. That's about it!   But, the way they go about it is what makes this movie.  They take pride on killing people in pretty unique ways, many times after just seducing them and/or having sex with them.  To say this is a strange movie would be a remarkable understatement.  

  The movie is very hard to categorize as well.  While it's horror for sure, it has elements of a giallo, exploitation, and sexsploitation film as well.    If you have never had a chance to see this wonderfully messed up film, now is the time to do so with this wonderful Arrow release.

  ISLAND OF DEATH will be released this coming Tuesday, May 26th.   The Blu-ray will be loaded with tons of special features, which include the following:

*  Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, approved by writer-director-producer Nico Mastorakis
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
*  Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Exploring Island of Death – film historian Stephen Thrower on the making of a cult classic
*  Return to Island of Death – Mastorakis returns to the original Mykonos locations
*  Archive interview with Mastorakis
*  Alternative opening titles
*  Island Sounds – five original tracks from the Island of Death soundtrack
*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  The Films of Nico Mastorakis – four-part documentary charting the director’s filmmaking career [Blu-ray only]
*  Nico Mastorakis Trailer Reel [Blu-ray only]
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
*  Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by academic and film historian Johnny Walker


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  (WARNING - Red Band Trailer - Contains Nudity - NSFW)
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray