Death House (1987)

A renegade federal agent uses a new drug to create an army of unbeatable warriors.

Director:

John Saxon

Writers:

William Selby (screenplay), David S. Freeman (screenplay),

Stars:

Dennis Cole, Anthony Franciosa, Dino Paskas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Cole	...	Derek Keillor
Anthony Franciosa	...	Vic Moretti
Dino Paskas	...	Jimmy
Dana Lis Mason	...	Genelle Davis (as Dana Lis)
Ron O'Neal	...	Tom Boyle
Salvatore Richichi	...	Tony (as Sal Richichi)
Michael R. Long	...	First Lazzada Gangster
Rickey Pardon	...	Hector Morales (as Ricky Pardon)
Jim Golff	...	Hector's Bodyguard
Joe Zimmerman	...	2nd Lazzada Gangster (as Joseph Zimmerman)
Carl A. Watson	...	3rd Lazzada Gangster
Daniel Kong	...	Viet Nam Soldier
Frank Marino	...	Augie
Bill Brinsfield	...	John Lazzada
David Marriott	...	Lazzada Bodyguard

Storyline

A renegade federal agent uses a new drug to create an army of unbeatable warriors.

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Plot Keywords:

nude woman murdered | arm ripped off | prison | framed for murder | gangster | 

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Taglines:

No One Gets Out ... Alive

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1989 (France)

Also Known As:

Zombie Death House

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Heights Jail - 401 N. Avenue 19, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Double Helix Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature directorial debut for actor John Saxon.

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Connections

Referenced in Dead Men Walking (2005)

User Reviews

Yet another late 80s horror flick set in prison

If you made a genre flick in the late 80s, you basically had a 50/50 chance it would either be set underwater or in a prison (sadly, we never got an underwater prison flick). Framed for murder by mafia boss Moretti (Anthony Franciosa), Derek Keillor (Dennis Cole) ends up on death row, right alongside the mob boss' brother Frankie (Frank Sarcinello Jr.). But this is the least of Derek's problems as rogue government agent (and mob stoolie) Col. Burgess (John Saxon, who also directs) is using the prison as a testing ground for a new supervirus. This is the only flick Saxon directed during his storied career. For a guy who has worked with tons of directors, it appears the only ones he picked up any tips from were the cheap-o Italian ones. Sure, it is low budget, but that can't excuse the stilted staging, shooting gaffes, or clumsy exposition in the first 15 minutes. To his credit, Saxon did make it slightly gory and he works in a hilarious nude scene (our lead falls asleep during a prison riot only to fantasize about a female scientist). Cole, who looks like a more rugged Jan-Michael Vincent, is decent as the stoic lead and Franciosa - sporting a really bad rug - gives it his all as the cliché mob boss. The end takes place at Marty McKee's favorite location, Bronson Canyon. Retromedia released this on DVD as ZOMBIE DEATH HOUSE.