Zombie (1979)    The Jerry Gross Organization/Horror    RT: 91 minutes    No MPAA Rating (graphic horror violence and gore, nudity)    Director: Lucio Fulci    Screenplay: Elisa Briganti    Music: Fabio Frizzi    Cinematography: Sergio Salvati    Release date: August 25, 1979 (Italy)/July 18, 1980 (US)    Cast: Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson, Al Cliver, Auretta Gay, Stefania D’Amario, Olga Karlatos.    Box Office: N/A    Body Count: 40 (humans AND zombies)   AKA: Zombi 2

Rating: ****

 It all began with the Italian release of George A. Romero’s zombie magnum opus Dawn of the Dead under the title Zombi. It was highly successful which meant many imitators were sure to follow. An Italian copyright law allows any film to be marketed as a sequel to another movie. So it is that Nightmare Island, the title under which Dardano Sacchetti wrote the original screenplay, became Zombi 2. That is, after a bit of script retooling by credited screenwriter Elisa Briganti. It was sold as a sequel to Dawn even though it had nothing at all to do with the Romero epic.

 Here in the US, it was released as Zombie. Directed by the great goremeister Lucio Fulci (The Beyond), I remember when it played in theaters. It came with a “No One Under 17 Admitted” policy in lieu of an MPAA rating. My 12YO self badly wanted to get a look at the carnage, but I knew it wouldn’t happen for at least a few years. It was five, to be exact. My local video store, the good old Video Den, got a copy in summer ’85. The manager, who knew of my fondness for blood and guts, immediately handed it to me when I walked into the store that Tuesday morning (2 for 1 Day). He said it was right up my alley. He wasn’t wrong. I thought it was cool! I was a little confused when the Zombi 2 title came up, but a quick phone call to the manager cleared it all up.

 The terror begins when a seemingly abandoned boat drifts into New York Harbor. A couple of uniformed policemen climb aboard to investigate only to find out there is indeed an occupant of the undead variety. One of them is attacked and killed by a zombie which is then immediately dispatched by the dead cop’s partner. Reporter Peter West (McCulloch, Doctor Butcher M.D.) is sent to cover the story. He teams up with the boat owner’s daughter Anne (Farrow, Fingers) after they learn her scientist father is gravely ill on the uncharted Caribbean island of Matul where he was conducting research. They decide to go there to check on him.

 Peter and Anne jump on a plane to the mainland where they hire a boat and two guides, husband and wife Brian (Cliver, The Beyond) and Susan (Gay, Ombre), to take them to Matul. That is, after they find it. Since it’s not on any map, it’s a little difficult to locate. Meanwhile on Matul, Dr. Menard (Johnson, The Haunting) is busy looking for a scientific explanation for the dead coming back to life on the island. The natives attribute it to voodoo, but Menard doesn’t buy it. There has to be a logical reason founded in reality, right? WRONG! DEAD WRONG! Or should I say UNDEAD WRONG! Eventually, Anne and company make it to Matul where they find themselves in the middle of a zombie invasion.

 I suppose it would be redundant to say Zombie is up to its neck in blood. It’s a Fulci flick, what did you expect? This one has a few great kill scenes, the most infamous of which involves a woman having her eye slowly gouged out by a piece of splintered wood. That’s the one everybody talks about when they discuss Zombie. We get to see graphic scenes of human victims being bitten by zombies. Two of them get it right in the neck. Lots of blood spurt! We also get to see zombies getting their heads smashed in or blown off. One has his head split open with a giant cross. Fulci lingers on the bloody violence thus allowing viewers to get a close-up, in-detail look at each killing. Some viewers would be well-advised to keep a barf bag within reach.

 There are times when Zombie crosses over into the realm of the ridiculous. That brings me to the other scene everybody talks about. If you ever wanted to see a zombie fight a killer shark, this is your chance. I kid you not, it actually happens. It’s witnessed by Susan who gives new meaning to skin diving by going scuba diving topless. Wait a minute! Flesh-eating zombie, killer shark, naked boobs…. hey, a trifecta! SWEET! There’s also a scene where 400YO Spanish conquistadors rise from their unmarked graves to wreak havoc with the recently deceased/reanimated. It makes no sense, but it’s FREAKING COOL!

 I enjoy Zombie very much despite its flaws. It has pacing issues. There’s a little too much dead time between the good scenes. I could have done with less talking and more carnage. The acting isn’t much to sing about either, but that’s par for the course in these Italian-made horror flicks. On the upside, we get to see some hilarious overacting from Olga Karlatos, best known as Prince’s abused mom in Purple Rain, as the hysterical wife of Dr. Menard. She’s the one that loses an eye. The zombie makeup is incredible. They have a dirty, decayed look to them and leave a bloody mess when they feast on the flesh of the living. Some have worms pouring from their eye sockets. The gore effects are nice and sloppy. Flesh gets bitten off and blood gushes from wounds. They’re well done in a low-budget kind of way. As usual, the score and cinematography are provided by Fulci regulars Fabio Frizzi and Sergio Salvati. As usual, both things are great.

 Although it occasionally stumbles, Zombie is great fun. It’s one of my favorite zombie movies. It’s not a game changer nor is it Fulci’s best work. It is, however, better than most of the Italian horror cheapies that followed in its wake.