Undead (2003)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Directors:

Michael Spierig
Peter Spierig

Writers:

Michael Spierig (writer)
Peter Spierig (writer)

Release Date:

4 September 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Prepare Yourself

Plot:

A quaint Australian fishing village is overcome by meteorites that turn its residents into the ravenous undead, leaving a small group of those unharmed to find a way out.

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Head | Fish | Killer Fish | Farmhouse | Basement

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Felicity Mason	...	Rene
Mungo McKay	...	Marion
Rob Jenkins	...	Wayne
Lisa Cunningham	...	Sallyanne
Dirk Hunter	...	Harrison
Emma Randall	...	Molly
Steve Grieg	...	Agent
Noel Sheridan	...	Chip
Gaynor Wensley	...	Aggie
Eleanor Stillman	...	Ruth
Robyn Moore	...	Officer in Locker Room
Robert Jozinovic	...	Man in Office
Peter Mensforth	...	Cricket Batsman
Jacob Andriolo	...	Yougn Cricketer
Michele Steel	...	Screamer
William John King	...	Angry Fater
Tim Dickenson	...	Fisherman #1
Brad Sheriff	...	Fisherman #2
Georgia Potter-Cowie	...	Young Zombie Girl
Francesca Arakelian	...	General Store Owner
Kyan Marie Salter	...	Baby in Crib
David Whitcomb	...	Newsreader
Paul Guthrie	...	Disco Zombie
Rob Doran	...	Bullet Wound Victim
Kristijana Maric	...	Marion's Ex-Wife
Kathleen McGowan	...	Featured Zombie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chintamani Aked	...	Zombie
Steven O'Donnell	...	Featured zombie

Directed by
Michael Spierig		(as The Spierig Brothers)
Peter Spierig		(as The Spierig Brothers)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Spierig		writer (as The Spierig Brothers)
Peter Spierig		writer (as The Spierig Brothers)

Produced by
Michael Spierig	....	producer
Peter Spierig	....	producer

Original Music by
Cliff Bradley

Cinematography by
Andrew Strahorn

Film Editing by
Michael Spierig
Peter Spierig

Casting by
Ben Parkinson

Production Design by
Matthew Putland

Art Direction by
Jane Culverhouse

Set Decoration by
Maxine Dennett

Costume Design by
Chintamani Aked

Makeup Department
Chintamani Aked	....	chief makeup artist
Chintamani Aked	....	special makeup effects artist
Toby Barron	....	special makeup effects artist
Tiffany Beckwith-Skinner	....	special makeup effects artist
Steven Boyle	....	special makeup effects artist
Lana Calnan	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
John Canniffe	....	unit manager
Kathryn Metcalfe	....	unit manager
Ben Parkinson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kim Cierpicki	....	second assistant director
Rob Doran	....	first assistant director
Phillip Hollingdale	....	second first assistant director
Kristijana Maric	....	second assistant director
Suzanne Mawer	....	second assistant director
Julie Trunkfield	....	second assistant director
Anne Winson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Marissa Bartolini	....	set dresser
Maria-Sol Mazar	....	set dresser (as Maria Sol Mazar)

Sound Department
Peter Spierig	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Michael Spierig	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Spierig	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Gulliver Page	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Broadbent	....	electrician
Liam Connor	....	grip
Paul Seipel	....	additional focus puller
Margaret Stancombe	....	clapper loader

Editorial Department
Eric Whipp	....	film colorist

Other crew
Kim Cierpicki	....	production coordinator
Jason King	....	combat choreographer
Gulliver Page	....	double: "Marion"
Justin Palazzo-Orr	....	combat choreographer
Emma Reynolds	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Spierigfilm

Distributors

• Art Port (Japan) (theatrical)
• CTV International (France)
• I-On New Media (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and gore, and for language.

Runtime:

USA:97 min | Australia:104 min | Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Company:

Spierigfilm

Trivia:

Over 600 liters of fake blood was used for special effects during filming.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the party enters the General Store, Marion walks in completely naked. In the next shot, inside the store, we can clearly see him wearing striped boxers.

Quotes:

Marion: ...time is short. So you gotta ask yourself: Are you a fighter, Fish Queen, or are you zombie food?

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The Matrix (1999)

Soundtrack:

Little Green Men

Yes!

Why didn't anyone tell me about this film? It is 3 years old by the time I first watched it, having spent my horror-watching hours on hateful crap like 'Saw' and the other torture flicks Hollywood has been churning out in that time. This is a funny and creative gore flick along the lines of early Peter Jackson and Sam Raimi: 'Bad Taste' comes to mind.

I can't say this is a great film- but it does show great promise for the writer/directors. The effects are cheap but decent. Flawed in many respects, the kitchy attitude helps to gloss over the faults allowing an enjoyable experience.

If you enjoy gooey gore, over-the-top dialog and craziness- and willing to look past a low budget ... add another 2 stars and WATCH THIS FLICK.