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City of the Living Dead

Original title: Paura nella città dei morti viventi
  • 19801980
  • 16+16+
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
City of the Living Dead (1980)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer3:02
1 Video
86 Photos
Horror

A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lucio Fulci
  • Writers
    • Lucio Fulci
    • Dardano Sacchetti
    • H.P. Lovecraft
  • Stars
    • Christopher George
    • Catriona MacColl
    • Carlo De Mejo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lucio Fulci
  • Writers
    • Lucio Fulci
    • Dardano Sacchetti
    • H.P. Lovecraft
  • Stars
    • Christopher George
    • Catriona MacColl
    • Carlo De Mejo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 244User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    City of the Living Dead
    Trailer 3:02
    City of the Living Dead

    Photos86

    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice in City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Christopher George, Catriona MacColl, and Adelaide Aste in City of the Living Dead (1980)
    Catriona MacColl in City of the Living Dead (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher George
    Christopher George
    • Peter Bellas Peter Bell
    Catriona MacColl
    Catriona MacColl
    • Mary Woodhouseas Mary Woodhouse
    Carlo De Mejo
    Carlo De Mejo
    • Gerryas Gerry
    Antonella Interlenghi
    • Emily Robbinsas Emily Robbins
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    Giovanni Lombardo Radice
    • Bobas Bob
    Daniela Doria
    Daniela Doria
    • Rosie Kelvinas Rosie Kelvin
    Fabrizio Jovine
    Fabrizio Jovine
    • Father William Thomasas Father William Thomas
    Luca Venantini
    Luca Venantini
    • John-John Robbinsas John-John Robbins
    • (as Luca Paisner)
    Michele Soavi
    Michele Soavi
    • Tommy Fisheras Tommy Fisher
    Venantino Venantini
    Venantino Venantini
    • Mr. Rossas Mr. Ross
    Enzo D'Ausilio
    • Deputy Sheriffas Deputy Sheriff
    Adelaide Aste
    • Theresaas Theresa
    Luciano Rossi
    Luciano Rossi
    • Policeman in Apartmentas Policeman in Apartment
    Robert Sampson
    Robert Sampson
    • Sheriff Russellas Sheriff Russell
    Janet Agren
    Janet Agren
    • Sandraas Sandra
    Nat Bush
    • Sgt. Clayas Sgt. Clay
    • (uncredited)
    Omero Capanna
    Omero Capanna
    • Burning Zombieas Burning Zombie
    • (uncredited)
    Lucio Fulci
    Lucio Fulci
    • Dr. Joe Thompsonas Dr. Joe Thompson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lucio Fulci
    • Writers
      • Lucio Fulci(story) (screenplay)
      • Dardano Sacchetti(story) (screenplay)
      • H.P. Lovecraft(inspiration) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In the small New England town of Dunwich, a priest commits suicide by hanging himself in the church cemetery which somehow opens the gates of hell allowing the dead to rise. Peter, a New York City reporter, teams up with a young psychic, named Mary, to travel to the town where they team up with another couple, psychiatrist Jerry and patient Sandra, to find a way to close the gates before All Saints Day or the dead all over the world will rise up and kill the living. —matt-282
    drill through headbleeding from the eyeszombiesuicidesex doll122 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "The Dead Shall Rise And Walk The Earth"
    • Genre
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • 16+
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Lucio Fulci always carried around a bag with his trademark pipe and tobacco. One day on set, he reached into his bag and found a handful of maggots (which had been used earlier to film the scene in which maggots blow in through a window). The perpetrator of this prank is rumored to be Christopher George, the film's lead actor, who did not get along well with Fulci.
    • Goofs
      The people of Dunwich are said to be descended from "Salem witch burners", although no accused "witches" were ever burned in Salem (most were hanged).
    • Quotes

      [examining the dead body of Emily Robbins]

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Well, she certainly wasn't strangled. There doesn't seem to be any kind of physical abuse.

      Sheriff Russell: Well, what was the cause of her death then?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Some kind of cardiac arrest. Only that expression on her face is like pure fear, like something scared her to death.

      Sheriff Russell: Scared her?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: [to Emily's father] Excuse me, Mr. Robbins, do you know if your daughter had a heart condition?

      Mr. Robbins: No... no...

      Sheriff Russell: Well, what's our procedure?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: Sit tight. Everything depends on the autopsy.

      Sheriff Russell: All right, I'll sit tight. But what am I supposed to do in the meantime?

      Dr. Joe Thompson: You'll get your orders after that from the D.A.

      [exits]

      Sheriff Russell: All right, but let me hear from you first, Joe.

    • Alternate versions
      The British Cinema version was cut by around 1 minute to remove the drill sequence. This version was released on video in the UK before 1984, after which all videos were required to be submitted to the British Board of Film Classification. When it was finally given a video certificate by the BBFC, further cuts were made to remove the intestinal vomit scene, and the brain squashing scenes. The UK video has a total of 2m 21s of cuts.
    • Connections
      Edited into Cent une tueries de zombies (2012)

    User reviews244

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Vivid and ironic zombie movie.
    This is a much cleverer film than its reputation , and the chortling audience, might suggest. Fulci's use of space is always impressive, the way he opens out a flat composition at the approach of menace. Alternately, the claustrophobic scenes in the catacombs (which really smell like death!), and the premature burial is horribly vivid. The Gothic decay of the content is contained by Fulci's form, his neo-classical use of symmetry, mirrorings, patterns, echoes, fooling his audience into a false sense of reassurance. Shame about his storytelling abilities.
    helpful•14
    11
    • the red duchess
    • Dec 22, 2000

    FAQ3

    • How did they do the special effects for the scene where the woman vomits up her intestines?
    • How did they do the zombies teleporting?
    • What are the differences between the old BBFC 18 Version and the Uncut Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 11, 1980 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Frayeurs
    • Filming locations
      • Nyack, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Dania Film
      • Medusa Distribuzione
      • National Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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