Zombie (1979)

Strangers searching for a young woman's missing father arrive at a tropical island where a doctor desperately searches for the cause and cure of a recent epidemic of the undead.

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writer:

Elisa Briganti

Stars:

Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tisa Farrow	...	Anne Bowles
Ian McCulloch	...	Peter West (as Ian Mc Culloch)
Richard Johnson	...	Dr. Menard
Al Cliver	...	Brian Hull
Auretta Gay	...	Susan Barrett
Stefania D'Amario	...	Nurse Clara - Menard's Assistant
Olga Karlatos	...	Mrs. Menard

Storyline

A zombie is found aboard a boat off the New York coast which belongs to do a famous scientist. Peter West, a journalist, travels to the Antilles with Ann, the daughter of the scientist. On the way, they meet with with Brian, a ethnologist, and Susan. When they arrive at Matul Island, they find Dr. Menard, and discover a terrifying disease which is turning the islanders into horrifying zombies which devour human flesh and seem indestructible....

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Plot Keywords:

tropical island | zombie | zombie outbreak | virus | end of the world | 

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Taglines:

New York has a new problem

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence/gore and nudity

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English Spanish Italian

Release Date:

18 July 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zombie

Filming Locations:

Studio Mafera, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

ITL 410,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Variety Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 89 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While shooting on location in New York City, Captain Haggerty, who plays the large bald zombie who attacks the harbor patrol at the beginning of the film, walked into CBGB's (a tiny Bowery bar which was a flourishing punk rock venue at the time) in full zombie makeup complete with splattered fake blood and mud caked all over his face and body. Due to the outrageous punk styles in those days of the other bar patrons, he was barely noticed. Even the bartender never looked twice at him.

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Goofs

In the final scene, it is revealed that the zombies are causing havoc in New York City. A large horde of them are shown shambling across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan on the walkway designed for pedestrians, but below the civilian cars are shown calmly and orderly driving across the bridge in both directions. This makes no sense:

1. Traffic on a bridge like that can be heavy during rush hour. During a zombie apocalypse, traffic would likely come to a halt due to a few crashes and the falling apart of towing companies/authorities, not to mention everyone frantically trying to leave.

2. Why would regular civilians be going into and from the zombie war zone in an orderly fashion?

Depending on the direction of traffic, it should either be totally chaotic or nonexistent. Obviously the director reserved the top of the bridge for the zombie extras without restricting access to the roadway below.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[repeated line]
Dr. Menard: The boat can leave now. Tell the crew.

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Connections

References The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974)

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Soundtracks

There's No Matter
(uncredited)
Composed by Fabio Frizzi, Franco Bixio, Vince Tempera, Vittorio Pezzolla
Performed by Linda Lee

User Reviews

Weak story-line, but superior Zombie action.

'Zombie Flesh-Eaters' is the movie that put Lucio Fulci on the map, after a career of over twenty years. Initially presented as a sequel to Romero's (superior) 'Dawn Of The Dead' there is actually no connection between the two, and is best regarded as a stand alone horror movie. Unfortunately I watched the Australian cut from several years back which is missing a lot of the most explicit violence and gore, but even so I recommend this for lovers of Zombie movies.

The plot here is pretty simplistic, the acting variable but usually above average (including a few familiar horror veterans and Tisa Farrow of 'Fingers'), but after a fairly dull first half hour it picks up the pace. Fulci and his special effects crew must be congratulated for creating such realistic and repulsive looking zombies on such a low budget. They really are something to see, and arguably better than Romero's. And 'Zombie Flesh-Eaters' features an extraordinary sequence involving an underwater zombie/shark fight, which must be one of the highlights of any zombie movie, Romero or otherwise. Fulci went on to more spectacular and original movies ('The Beyond' is highly recommended), but this is still a very credible effort, and essential viewing for horror fans.