Exhumed (2003)

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.

Director:

Brian Clement

Writer:

Brian Clement

Stars:

Masahiro Oyake, Hiroaki Itaya, Bettina May

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Masahiro Oyake	...	Ryuzo
Hiroaki Itaya	...	Zentaro
Bettina May	...	Jane Decarlo (as Claire Westby)
Moira Thomas	...	Vivian Von Prowe
Chelsey Arentsen	...	Cherry (as Chelsey 'Inika' Arentsen)
Chantelle Adamache	...	Zura
Chuck Depape	...	General Deus
Denys Melanson	...	Detective Frank Sterner
Robert J Nesbitt	...	Dr. Farell (as Rob Nesbitt)
Scott Bisgrove	...	Mr. Grey
Kitten Coquette	...	Herself
Rei Kido	...	Zentaro's Brother
Gerry Kramer	...	Gerald Norman
Morgan Alexander	...	Doorman
Cam Pipes	...	Drunken Sailor

Storyline

In three different time periods and three distinct cinematic styles, Exhumed tells the story of the corrupting otherworldly power to raise the dead as it falls into the hands of individuals across the world. The first, in feudal Japan, has a samurai and monk battling the living dead in the Forest of Death. The second, a film noir thriller, has a young detective woman investigating mysterious grave-robbings in 1940's America. The third, set in a post-apocalyptic future, has battling gangs of vampire mods and rockabilly werewolves captured and experimented on by a fanatical madman. All three stories tie together with a common plot thread of time travel and the object from which the power of resurrection is derived.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | 1940s | vampire | time travel | samurai | 

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Taglines:

An epic anthology of the undead

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Frontline Films

Country:

Canada

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

22 May 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frontline Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

As originally scripted, the movie has the "Last Rumble" segment in the middle, and the movie ends with the full "Shadow of Tomorrow" sequence, but during editing these were switched.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the disclaimer, there's a line: "But don't bring home any glowing objects you find in the Antarctic, OK?"

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Connections

References Murder, My Sweet (1944)

User Reviews

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.