The Dead Hate the Living! (2000)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Dave Parker

Writer:

Dave Parker (writer)

Genre:

Horror | Comedy

Plot:

When a renegade band of young filmmakers break into an abandoned hospital to make their horror epic...

Plot Keywords:

Brother Sister Relationship | B Movie | Scientific Experiment | Blood | Movie Director

Cast

Eric Clawson	...	David Poe
Jamie Donahue	...	Topaz
Brett Beardslee	...	Paul
Wendy Speake	...	Shelly Poe
Benjamin P. Morris	...	Eric
Rick Irwin	...	Marcus
David Douglas	...	Chas
Matt Stephens	...	Dr. Eibon
Kimberly Pullis	...	Nina Poe
Andre 'Doc' Newman	...	Maggot
Matthew McGrory	...	Gaunt
Ariauna Albright	...	Ellie Eibon
Anthony C. Ferrante	...	Store Customer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brooke Bund	...	Zombie Corps (as Jeff and Brooke Bond)
Jeff Bund	...	Zombie Corps (as Jeff and Brooke Bond)
Mitch Persons	...	Zombie Corps
Melissa Pokorski	...	Zombie Corps
Oakley Stevenson	...	Zombie Corps

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence/gore, language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Germany:16 | UK:18 | USA:R

Trivia:

According to the director on the DVD commentary, the maggots that get rubbed onto the face of the bratty sister are real. However, they didn't tell her that. It was their way of getting back at her for not showing up for filming on the previous day, due to her booking a higher paying job on that day. This made them angry since the film was on an amazingly short 10-day shooting schedule.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Topaz is trying to find the videotape in the hospital room, her lighter shines on a corpse that she sees and reacts to. As the green light comes on in the room, the corpse's eye moves to look at her as she stands up.

Quotes:

Paul: You want me to throw a TV at them?!

Movie Connections:

References War of the Colossal Beast (1958)

Absolutely Horrible!

I really value the IMDB because its viewers comments have caused me to see (or not see) so many movies, it's an amazingly valuable tool. So if I can give back one thing to those who, like me, get a lot of info on films from this venue, it's to avoid Dead Hate the Living at all costs. I mean, even if you go to a video store that has a .50 cent movie night and this is the only film left. Even if they let you rent it for a week for free. Even if they pay you to take it. Don't rent this film.

The movie is just terrible on many levels. With acting worthy of a bad high school play and a script that I find it hard to believe was ever greenlighted by anyone; it seems more like they are making it up as they go along. I mean, this script is so bad, I could spend days writing about how bad it is. But since I gave two hours of my life to this pile of dog dung, I think I should keep the rest of my life to myself and not waste any more time on it. I'll just say a good game to play would be to decide what's worse: the acting or the script. There are more plot holes and stupid lines than anything Ed Wood ever did and my two year old nephew could act better than anyone in this "film." I can't remember seeing a film that takes itself so serious yet was so horrible.

But alas, there is one entertaining aspect. If you still don't take my advice and rent this box o' trash, at least watch the "making of" documentary at the end. It's classic. The way the "actors" talk, you'd think they had just made Citizen Kane or something: "Generally when I get a call back for an audition, I ask to see the whole script," which explains why you only have one credit. My favorite "I'm not used to working with bugs" which translates to "I'm a waiter in a good restaurant."

Be looking for the sequels, The Dead Are Really Mad at the Living, The Dead Think the Living Are Mean, and The Dead Write Bad Notes About the Living and Pass Them to Other Dead.

Avoid this movie.