AKA Zombi 2, Zombie Flesh Eaters, Island of the Living Dead

1979, Directed by Lucio Fulci

This trailer’s soundtrack screams “Early eighties!” even louder than fluorescent socks.

Italian gore master Lucio Fulci throws more blood around in this movie than most horror directors manage in a lifetime. Not that you’d know from the trailer, which appears to be a failed attempt at ‘arty’.

This was one of the infamous ‘video nasties’ banned by on VHS by the UK in the mid-eighties. It was massively popular, however, and as such home-copied tapes were passed around so everyone could see the cool underwater bit where a zombie fights a shark. It was eventually released uncut on DVD a few years ago under the ‘Zombie Flesh Eaters’ title, showing the entirety of the infamous scene where a woman has her eye slowly gouged out by a bit of wood.

This movie isn’t a sequel to anything but was apparently released as “Zombi 2″ as an attempt to cash-in on the success of Dawn of the Dead, which was released as “Zombi” in Italy. Despite Zombie being written before Dawn of the Dead. Confusing.

Favourite bit: “Barf Bag”

IMDB LINK

AKA 2000 Maniacs

1964, Directed by Herschell G. Lewis

Whichever way you cut it, that’s a whole lot of maniacs.

A kind of psychotic Brigadoon, Two Thousand Maniacs! features a town of ghosts which appear every 100 years in order to slaughter passers-by. And very inventive methods of slaughter they use too – one poor chap is sealed in a nail-lined barrel and rolled down a hill.

This movie gives further proof that old horror film makers didn’t know what colour blood is. It also features the world’s most unconvincing large rock.

Favourite bit: The old man in the hat (The Mayor?) joyously burning a piece of paper in a lamp, with no explanation given whatsoever.

IMDB LINK

1972, Directed by John Cardos

An early attempt at comedy horror! Although there isn’t much comedy evident in the trailer. Does the shocked photo of a sailor count?

Presumably the titular Undertaker tries to drum up business by sending out his “Pals” to murder people. I can’t imagine dipping people in acid and sticking corpses through a meat grinder did much to promote a positive image of his business, however.

In the unlikely event that you want to get hold of this film on DVD I strongly recommend you get it as part of the “Flesh Feast” set which features four movies and, bizarrely, sells for eight times less than The Undertaker… on it’s own.

Favourite bit: The voice-over from the “Producer”.

IMDB LINK