Exhumed (2003) (V)

Director:

Brian Clement

Writer:

Brian Clement (writer)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

An epic anthology of the undead

Plot:

Three stories across the centuries of individuals given the power to raise the dead, set in feudal Japan, 1940s USA, and a post-apocalyptic future.

Plot Keywords:

Japan | 1940s | Post Apocalyptic | Samurai | Time Travel

Cast

Masahiro Oyake	...	Ryuzo
Hiroaki Itaya	...	Zentaro
Bettina May	...	Jane Decarlo (as Claire Westby)
Moira Thomas	...	Vivian Von Prowe
Chelsey Arentsen	...	Cherry
Chantelle Adamache	...	Zura
Chuck Depape	...	General Deus
Denys Melanson	...	Detective Frank Sterner
Rob Nesbitt	...	Dr. Farell
Scott Bisgrove	...	Mr. Grey
Kitten Coquette	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Morgan Alexander	...	Doorman
Craig Allen	...	Burlesque Patron
Scott Beaty	...	Chemical Suit Trooper / Sailor
Spencer Blochlinger	...	Chemical Suit Trooper
Mikel Boeur	...	Chemical Suit Trooper
Stephan Bourke	...	Johnny
Denise Brown	...	Corpse of the Russian Ambassador
Wendy Clarke	...	Burlesque Patron
Josh Clarkson	...	Undead
Brian Clement	...	Crying Fan
Chris Cowley	...	Merrick
Jeremy Deighton	...	Werewolf Rocker
Mark Hubber	...	Vampire Mod
Andrea Hume	...	Six-Gun Annie
Ira Hunter	...	Beat Cop / Drunk Bar Patron / Undead
Bryn Johnson	...	Undead
Rei Kido	...	Zentaro's Brother
Gerry Kramer	...	Gerald Norman
Sarah Kramer	...	Lorna Bainbrook
Dave Krawchuck	...	Officer / Chemical Suit Trooper / Undead (as Dave Krawchuk)
Brad Kurushima	...	Vampire Mod / Undead
Aaron Lachapelle	...	Chemical Suit Trooper
Bin Ling	...	Chemical Suit Trooper / Undead / Officer
Steve Migliarese	...	Undead
Stuart Palfrey	...	Burlesque Host
Josh Pasnak	...	Chemical Suit Trooper
Cam Pipes	...	Drunken Sailor
Dustan Roberts	...	Chemical Suit Trooper / El Diablo Azul
Mike Selman	...	Undead
Gina Sharma	...	Servant Girl
Hailey Shiels	...	Ticket Girl
Jay Stewart	...	Undead
Robin Thompson	...	Doctor
Chris Tihor	...	Jonesy
Troy Tompkins	...	Chemical Suit Trooper / Undead
Pati Tozer	...	Burlesque Patron
Theodore Trout	...	Kane
Martin Wales	...	Kabalan
Jay Walls	...	Undead
Yuichiro Yoshibe	...	Undead

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Black and White | Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Frontline Films

Trivia:

The character Zentaro is named after the director's great-grandfather, Zentaro Ono.

Movie Connections:

References Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

A lesbian sex scene between a vampire and a werewolf? What the....??

Exhumed is a great little discovery. One of those gems that you can't believe is not getting better distribution. It goes to show that you can still make a fun movie without all the big stars or budget, and not have the trappings of what's "marketable."

BUT....creator Brian Clement showed he had to bow to guys' base interests by figuring out a way to get a gratuitous lesbian scene worked into the plot during Exhumed's third story installment "Last Rumble." Sorry, but even if he didn't mean for it to be erotic and just for a giggle, a vampire and werewolf (well, as only indicated on the face) in a scene like that just had me sitting there going "huh?" Two points taken away for that one....I was thoroughly impressed with this project until Clement showed he had to do the typical guy thing ... films that resort to that element show a lack of confidence for the project so that guys will have something to be distracted by and drool a bit. Sure, the other brief nude scene was not necessary -- some of these film makers need to realize though that ONLY aiming to please men with naked women shows they don't really care about a wider audience. Give 'em some boobs and lesbian sex, and they seem to forget about the film's shortcomings and yak about the nudity level on online reviews. Apparently these comments didn't set too well with some of the folks associated with this project, thus at the time of this update this review has "1 out of 6" folks finding this review helpful. Everyone I know that has read this found the comments informative and clear... so to the filmmakers of Exhumed: Hey, it's just criticism. No need to punish me!

Having said that, Exhumed is otherwise a nifty showcase for indie talent. The premise of three stories that overlap at one point, all involving an object that raises the dead is quite clever. Technically it's quite good despite some faulty audio levels, and it looks great for its micro-budget sets and locations. A lot of care went into the samurai segment "Shi No Mori" with the language, and the costumes and hairstyles for "Shadow Of Tomorrow" were impressive. The outrageousness level of "Last Rumble" reminded me of Garrett White's video project NECROPOLIS AWAKENED, and lessened the charm of the trilogy of stories a bit for me. But as a whole, Exhumed still entertained and is a reason I love ultra-indie productions. I do hope to see more like this and ones like THE DIVIDING HOUR.

If Mr. Clement sticks to creative stories and doesn't go the "Troma" route of breast fests and lesbians, then he has a good future in making movies.