Post by slayrrr666 on Feb 1, 2006 11:29:41 GMT -5
"The Dead Next Door" is a zombie classic.
**SPOILERS**
In Akron, Ohio, a virus spreads out that turns the population into flesh-eating zombies. In response to this, the government sets up a special task force known as the Zombie Squad, but they always arrive after the feasts. After losing one of theirs on a mission, Capt. Raimi (Pete Ferry) and his squad, Kuller, (Jolie Jackunas) Mercer, (Michael Grossi) and Capt. Klein, (Floyd Ewing Jr.) head back to base in Washington DC to recharge. After meeting with Dr. Moulsson, (Bogdan Pecic) about what to do with the virus, they decide to head back to Akron to find the original virus, but the original creator has long since died. Learning that a fanatical cult is nearby and trying to protect the zombies. After several skirmishes with the church and it's leader, (Robert Kokai) they have to fight their way out before total chaos is unleashed.
The Good News: This is one really gory zombie film, and it should definitely be one any gore-hound has in their collection. This one almost rivals "Dawn of the Dead" with the amount of gags in it. Some of them included a couple people getting run over and their heads caved in, one has his leg snapped at an impossible angle and then twisted off, fingers bitten off and spurting blood, and so much more. Most of everything results in blood-spurting here, so lots of blood shoots out here. In true zombie tradition, at least one person is pulled apart from the zombies on-screen, allowing for even more gore opportunities. In here, more than one person is ripped to pieces, which is pretty brutal. I also thought this was a pretty original way of treating the zombie threat. We had zombie protesters, who picketed the destruction of the zombies, the fact that they didn't die from a gunshot to the brain or removal of the head and the fact that some of the zombies actually talked in the movie, and made more than the normal grunting sounds we all know they make in every other movie about them. It was quite a surprise to seem them doing something different with the genre, and especially the last act of the film in particular. It is completely different from most other zombie movies to try something like that, and the fact that it comes off spectacular as well is a major plus. A little change was greatly needed, and this one works well. With more action-packed threat scenes than normal, the zombie apocalypse seems more believable as well. Also, these are some gruesome-looking zombies, and are far more influenced by the Italian style, that actually looked decayed and rotten, than the Romero ones that just look like Grey pancake mix was applied to the extras. Here, we get lots of different zombies with rotted out faces, arms with different kinds of spots and sores all over them, and various wounds over there bodies. One of the more impressive ones features his face melted in different areas, his jaw missing, one eye gone, and his chest completely melted away to reveal the interior organs dangling on his chest-plate. These are quickly becoming favorite zombies, as they are quite horrifying. It is also really short, so just when it gets interesting it just ends. Kinda a cop-out, but it still leaves with the impression that more could've been put in to beef it up.
The Bad News: Many of the effects pieces are pretty obviously cheesy and can be spotted as fake pretty quickly and obviously. To some, this may serve as a distraction to the movie as it takes them out of the reality of the movie. It doesn't bother me, but it can hinder other's when it looks completely fake. Also, one thing that was really aggravating was the continuous way the zombies kept popping out of hallways to attack their victim. They'd be standing on the side by a walkway, then suddenly the zombies would grab them. Works once, but every time is a little much.
The Final Verdict: Any zombie fan desperately needs this fan in their collection. It has everything: gore, shocks, zombies and a nice twist to the whole affair. Ignore the fact that it can be obvious that the make-up is pretty obvious and this is a solid film.
Rated R: Extreme Graphic Violence and Graphic Language