Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974)

A cop chases two hippies suspected of a series of Manson family-like murders; unbeknownst to him, the real culprits are the living dead, brought to life with a thirst for human flesh by chemical pesticides being used by area farmers.

Director:

Jorge Grau

Writers:

Sandro Continenza, Marcello Coscia

Stars:

Cristina Galbó, Ray Lovelock, Arthur Kennedy

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cristina Galbó	...	Edna Simmonds (as Christine Galbo)
Ray Lovelock	...	George Meaning
Arthur Kennedy	...	The Inspector
Aldo Massasso	...	Detective Sgt. Kinsey
Giorgio Trestini	...	PC Craig
Roberto Posse	...	Benson
José Lifante	...	Martin West (as Jose Ruiz Lifante)
Jeannine Mestre	...	Katie West
Gengher Gatti	...	Keith
Fernando Hilbeck	...	Guthrie Wilson
Vera Drudi	...	Mary
Vicente Vega	...	Dr. Duffield
Francisco Sanz	...	Perkins
Paul Benson	...	Wood
Anita Colby	...	Nurse

Storyline

A cop chases two young people visiting the English countryside, suspecting them of a local murder; unbeknownst to him, the real culprits are the living dead, brought to life with a thirst for human flesh by radiation being used by area farmers as a pesticide alternative.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | radiation | police | living dead | human flesh | 

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Taglines:

One of the best zombie films ever made.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian Spanish

Release Date:

1 June 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Don't Open the Window

Filming Locations:

Barnes Hospital, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 16,894,971 (Spain) (3 March 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star Films S.A., Flaminia Produzioni Cinematografiche

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min (R-rated) 93 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Jorge Grau the woman streaker seen in the street during the opening credits was originally hired as an extra on the film.

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Goofs

During the zombie attack scene on the hospital stairway, a zombie has part of his chest sliced off by an ax. In the next shot, that part of his chest is undamaged.

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Quotes

The Inspector: You're all the same the lot of you, with your long hair and faggot clothes. Drugs, sex, every sort of filth!

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Connections

Referenced in Two Evil Eyes (1990)

User Reviews

Now THIS is a zombie movie!

I've been a fan of zombie films for pretty much the same amount of time that I've been a fan of films, and I thought I'd seen just about all there is to see from the horror sub-genre. So you can imagine my surprise then when I came across this hidden gem! Let Sleeping Corpses Lie does everything that you would want a zombie film to do; it has gore, shocks, atmosphere, humour, intrigue and a typically thin plot line, which allows the film to put more emphasis on the more important aspects, rather than swamping itself in needless plot details. Of course, the film does somewhat cash in on the success of George Romero's zombie milestone; 'Night of the Living Dead', but really; it's almost impossible for a post-Night zombie film to not have that comment lauded upon it, and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie has enough about it to more than adequately rise above the Night of the Living Dead rip-off's. The classically styled zombie film story follows a group of farmers that create a machine to kill insects with ultra violet rays. However, this contraption does more than it says on the tin, as recently deceased members of the public start popping up, just around the same time that George and Edna; two people that came together after an accident, roll into town.

Ray Lovelock takes the title role, and looks the part as a young London man. His style, along with very over the top dubbed in London accent work a treat, and his performance adds something of a sense of humour to the picture. Christina Galbó has less to do opposite Lovelock, but she does well with what she has and makes for a good heroine. The film starts off rather slowly, but the relaxed pace never makes the film boring, but it does add to the film when the horror really starts; as we're sufficiently on the edge of our seats by then. Director Jorge Grau creates a fabulous atmosphere through his English countryside setting, and I personally thought it made a very nice change for the zombie antics to be set in the English countryside rather than America, as they usually are. Despite the fact that this is an Italian film, the filmmakers have managed to implement a great British feel to the movie, and the movie feels something like a fusion between Italian and Hammer horror. This is certainly a plot line that Hammer would have taken on! The gore in the film is few and far between, but when it's on screen, you'll definitely know about it, as it doesn't exactly hold back! On the whole, I think it's criminal that this film hasn't won itself more recognition. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie is a film that I wont hesitate to name as one of the best zombie films ever made, and it therefore comes with the highest recommendation!