The Dead Next Door (1989)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

J.R. Bookwalter

Writer:

J.R. Bookwalter (writer)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

How do you kill something that won't die? Where do you run when they're everywhere?

Plot:

The government sets up a Zombie squad after an epidemic has made the world run rampant with living corpses...

Plot Keywords:

Zombie | Virus | White House | Akron Ohio | Blood

Cast

Pete Ferry	...	Raimi (as Peter Ferry)
Bogdan Pecic	...	Dr. Moulsson (as Bogdan 'Don' Pecic)
Michael Grossi	...	Mercer
Jolie Jackunas	...	Kuller
Robert Kokai	...	Rev. Jones
Floyd Ewing Jr.	...	Capt. Kline
Roger Graham	...	Dr. Franklin
Maria Markovic	...	Anna
Jon Killough	...	Vincent / farmhouse zombie
Scott Spiegel	...	Richards
Jeff Welch	...	Cmdr. Carpenter
Michael Todd	...	Jason / Van driver
J.R. Bookwalter	...	Lloyds
Jennifer Mullen	...	Powers
Joe Wedlake	...	Dr. Savini
Lester Clark	...	Dr. Bow
Michael Tolochko	...	Randalls (as Michael Tolochko Jr.)
Barbara Gay	...	Dr. J.
Bill Morrison	...	Vox
Jerry Porter	...	Soldier #1
Emilio Cornachione	...	Soldier #2
Kelly Helmick	...	Drag-along zombie / Hood zombie
Matt Patrick	...	TV announcer
Jeffrey W. Scaduto	...	Video store manager
John Dearing	...	Thug in prologue
Anthony Regic	...	Thug in prologue
Tina Gill	...	Phone booth zombie
James L. Edwards	...	Dead kid in farmhouse / Zombie Squad Unit 319 zombie
Robert W. Armstrong	...	Farmhouse zombie #2
Robert Hudson	...	Worker in Zombie Squad rec room
Ken Ingersoll	...	Worker in Zombie Squad rec room
Cameron Armstrong	...	Worker in Zombie Squad rec room
Louise Leininger	...	Zombie Squad Unit 319 zombie
Chris Breiding	...	Zombie Squad Unit 319 zombie
Melanie Todd	...	Sacrifice Room victim
Scott P. Plummer	...	Luther (van driver's zombie)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David P. Barton	...	Fire Hydrant Zombie (uncredited)
Bruce Campbell	...	Raimi / Cmdr. Carpenter (voice) (uncredited)
Thomas Tennant	...	Zombie extra (uncredited)

Directed by
J.R. Bookwalter

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
J.R. Bookwalter		writer

Produced by
J.R. Bookwalter	....	producer
Jolie Jackunas	....	line producer
Scott P. Plummer	....	co-producer
Sam Raimi	....	executive producer (as The Master Cylinder)
Michael Todd	....	associate producer

Original Music by
J.R. Bookwalter

Cinematography by
Michael Tolochko		(as Michael Tolochko Jr.)

Film Editing by
J.R. Bookwalter

Casting by
Jolie Jackunas
Jon Killough

Production Design by
Jon Killough

Costume Design by
Louise Leininger

Makeup Department
David P. Barton	....	special effects makeup department head
J.R. Bookwalter	....	additional makeup effects artist
Ron Contenza	....	makeup effects assistant
Mike Davy	....	additional makeup effects artist
Joanne Gallagher	....	makeup artist
Tina Gill	....	makeup artist
David Lange	....	makeup effects assistant
Sharon Mirman	....	key hair stylist
Sharon Mirman	....	key makeup artist
Bill Morrison	....	makeup effects
Jennifer Mullen	....	makeup artist
Dave Nadvornick	....	makeup effects assistant
Sean Rodgers	....	makeup effects assistant
Susan Rothacker	....	makeup artist
Lori Siegenthaler	....	makeup artist
Michael Todd	....	additional makeup effects artist
Natalie Vaughn	....	makeup artist
Patty Witteman	....	additional makeup effects

Production Management
J.R. Bookwalter	....	post-production supervisor (as Lance Randas)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Todd	....	assistant director

Art Department
Lauren Beck	....	scenic designer
Randall Enlow	....	scenic designer
Kelly Helmick	....	set constructor
Kelly Johnson	....	props mistress
Jon Killough	....	set constructor
Michael 'D.O.C.' Porter	....	logo designer: zombie squad
Mary Sue Poulelis	....	props assistant
Jeffrey W. Scaduto	....	designer: zombie squad wagon
Michael Tolochko	....	designer: zombie squad wagon (as Michael Tolochko Jr.)

Sound Department
David Aird	....	post-production sound assistant
Cameron Armstrong	....	sound mixer (as Cameron Auxer Armstrong)
Bruce Campbell	....	audio post-production supervisor
Tony Cannella	....	post-production sound engineer
Maui Holcomb	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Kenneth Ingersoll)
Ken Ingersoll	....	sound mixer (as Kenneth Ingersoll)

Special Effects by
J.R. Bookwalter	....	explosive effects
Kelly Helmick	....	explosive effects
Kelly Johnson	....	explosive effects
Vince Rossetti	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John R. Ellis	....	digital effects artist

Stunts
Kelly Helmick	....	stunt coordinator
Kelly Helmick	....	stunts
Scott P. Plummer	....	stunts
Anthony Regic	....	stunts
Michael Todd	....	stunts
Joe Wedlake	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
J.R. Bookwalter	....	camera operator
Chris Breiding	....	grip
John Dearing	....	grip
Roger Graham	....	still photographer
Robert Hudson	....	camera operator
Robert Hudson	....	videographer
Anthony Regic	....	grip
Jeffrey W. Scaduto	....	gaffer (as Jeffrey W. 'Spud' Scaduto)
Joseph M. Setele	....	gaffer (as Joseph Setele)
Michael Tolochko	....	camera operator (as Michael Tolochko Jr.)
Joe Wedlake	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Gail Dearing	....	extras casting assistant
Barbara Katz-Norrod	....	extras casting assistant (as Barbara Norrod)
Martina Matich	....	extras casting assistant
Jennifer Mullen	....	extras casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Sue Poulelis	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Del Casher	....	post-production services
Bill DeRonde	....	on-line editor
Dave Keleshian	....	color timer (as David Keleshian)
Ernest Prell	....	on-line editor

Music Department
J.R. Bookwalter	....	musician

Transportation Department
Joe Catrone	....	transportation
Jerry Porter	....	transportation

Other crew
Daron Anderson	....	extra
Michael Aust	....	extra
Carolyn Bookwalter	....	insurance
Jennifer Bookwalter	....	extra
Robert Bookwalter	....	weapons
Christine Braybon	....	extra
Chris Breiding	....	slate (as Chris 'The Rock' Breiding)
Phyllis Brown	....	extra
John Chapman	....	locations
Dan Church	....	locations: Edwin Shaw Hospital
Geoffrey Cole	....	pre-production assistant
Judith Cross	....	extra
Gail Dearing	....	assistant coordinator
Lesa Dieter	....	slate
James L. Edwards	....	key intern
Ora Ford	....	extra
Brian L. Gault	....	intern
Tina Gill	....	production coordinator
Tina Gill	....	production secretary
Tina Gill	....	script supervisor
James Gray	....	locations: Springfield High School
Ralph Hannaman	....	intern
Ronald Hintz	....	locations: Tallmadge A&W Restaurant
Barbara Katz-Norrod	....	production coordinator (as Barbara Norrod)
Delbert Killough	....	weapons
Ray Murphy	....	extra
Tracie Murphy	....	extra
Dennis Petersen	....	film conformist
Mary Picirilli	....	extra
Vince Rossetti	....	pre-production assistant
Jay Shaffstall	....	pre-production assistant
Mike Shea	....	production coordinator (as Michael Shea)
Douglas Snauffer	....	pre-production assistant
Moses Stein	....	extra
James Stout	....	extra
R. Larry Stucky	....	locations: Mogadore High School
David A. Wagner	....	pre-production assistant
Fleet Woods	....	extra

Thanks
Ariauna Albright	....	special thanks
Pat Antonio	....	special thanks: The City of Akron, Ohio
Betty Ashcraft	....	special thanks
Jerry Berkebile	....	special thanks
Robert Bookwalter	....	special thanks
Tina M. Bookwalter	....	special thanks (as Tina Marie Gill-Bookwalter)
Daniel Greathouse	....	special thanks
David Kuehls	....	special thanks
J.L. Levy	....	special thanks
Steve McKelley	....	special thanks
Timothy O'Rawe	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Amsco Studios
• Suburban Tempe Company

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• E.I. Film & Video Communications (USA) (VHS)
• Electro Video (I) (II) (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Manga Films (1995) (Spain) (video)
• Maxim Media International (2001) (non-USA) (all media)
• Tempe Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• California Digital Post  post-production sound services

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:(Banned) (2002) | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18 | Spain:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Akron, Ohio, USA

Company:

Amsco Studios

Trivia:

Sam Raimi used his pay from Evil Dead II (1987) to fund this film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mysterious Skin (2004)

Soundtrack:

Death In My Closet

Pathetic

Back in the early to mid 1980s, word spread around horror fandom that an enterprising young filmmaker was putting together a low budget but ambitious zombie film in Ohio. Monetary setbacks kept the film from being completed for years but it finally saw the light of day on video late in the decade. The film that many thought would be another cult masterpeice like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Basket Case turned out to be a truly pathetic time waster that proves that anyone, no matter how untalented can make a movie and waste the veiwer's time. Yes, the film is quite ambitious but that means nothing if the filmmaker has no talent and Bookwalter has no talent in spades. The film seems to be a case of two ideas getting mashed together, the zombie plague and the Guyana like cult. But neither idea is very well meshed into the other and the result proved not to be worth the wait. Watch it for it's decent makeup effects. That's all that can really be praised. JR Bookwalter was once thought of as a great white hope who might put some gusto back into low budget genre films. How wrong we were.