Midnight Movies Vol 9: Zombie Double Feature (Hell of the Living Dead/Nightmare City)

Even though I already own a copy of Raro Video's release of Nightmare City and Blue Underground's Hell of the Living Dead/Rats, I just had to get my hands on this set. Both these Italian-Spanish, truly groundbreaking films belong in one and the same set for several reasons! Even though this is a DVD release, I don't know how Blue Underground manages to do so, but they look and sound a whole lot better than most other outings of these old films on Blu ray format. Still, nobody comes close to the level of quality and care they invest in this kind of title. Both these movies are what made the year 1980 such a special one in world cinema!Hell of the Living Dead or Virus, the title under which I fell in love with it back when I first rented it on VHS format in the mid-80s in Ciudad Juárez, MX, despite the innumerable trademark "flaws" of Bruno "Vincent Dawn" Mattei and Claudio "Troll 2" Fragasso, is and will be cherished long after I write this review. It really is not about the small details, but the big picture, just as Ed Wood's doctrine goes. Maybe it's the fact that I grew up watching Mexican movies and "novelas" where they would reuse music and sound effects across several different titles, but I fail to see what the big deal about Luis Bacalov and Goblin's music is. It does suit the film. I will go as far as saying that it's put to better use than in George A. Romero's cut of Dawn of the Dead. Most definitely, it’s taken better advantage of than in Fernando DiLeo’s Diamanti Sporci di Sangue. Other than that, every time I watch the eco-terrorist embassy sequence, I think more of the Iranian Embassy siege back in that same year than Romero's "model" sequence (the forced eviction of a project building inhabited by puertorricans). You can also tell that the idea was a whole lot bigger in scope. In fact, I firmly believe all the credit World War Z was ever given belongs to this movie instead. I still find some of the sequences real scary. My favorite one is accomplished to such effect by great character actor Victor Israel, a very creepy kid and Mattei’s expertise with cutting and splicing film...Nightmare City, La invasión de los zombies atómicos, by the much better VHS cereal box title by long defunct Videovisa under which I got forever hooked to it, despite the exploding TVs and wound make up applied before zombies touch their victims, is an experience which will never be outdone or even replicated. Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later may have fast running zombies, but this is still the only one where you get to see not only quick-paced, but several zombie killings in a single frame, depending on how deep you are willing to look. Supposedly there's a remake of this in the works. However, just to cite and example, there are too many parallels with The Strain by overrated Guillermo Del Toro to be dismissed as just a coincidence. Taking into consideration that the camera does play a big part in Virus, here it becomes the main character, just like in [REC], only nobody takes notice of that. In fact, the photography was done by a Hans Burmann, best known for his work with Alejandro Amenábar. In spite of what Umberto Lenzi says, Mexican star Hugo Stiglitz was born and raised for this role, just like there was no better choice than Jorge Rivero for Mace in Lucio Fulci's Conquest. As for Umberto Lenzi, he made countless important contributions to "genre" cinema, especially poliziotteschi and Giallo, to be disregarded as just a hack. Maybe his association with "Make them die slowly" or "Eaten alive" makes people forget about the rest of his work. He may have done the utterly exploitative and excruciating Cannibal Ferox, but also Almost Human, Man from Deep River, Eyeball, Seven Bloodstained Orchids and countless others. Stelvio Cipriani also contributed one of his most memorable and best-loved scores, among a body of work maybe only comparable to the likes of Ennio Morricone, Pino Donaggio and, of course, Goblin (which he collaborated with).The only thing that could have made this a better set is the addition of Cannibal Apocalypse by Antonio Margheritti, but I would have had a heart attack or something. These Italo-Spanish joint efforts from the memorable year of 1980 are truly movie events with no possible match in the history of world cinema. My set was only $10 bucks. Worth it down to the last penny!

Sly Hondo's Video Nasties Review ... A double helping of depressing yet somewhat entertaining zombie-like shlock from the 1980's! Both are filled with absolutely no likeable characters and finish on a depressing ending. Hell of the Living Dead is a little better in story and effects. Directors Bruno Mattei and Claudio Fragasso have a bit more of an understandable story to work with. As a evil corporation unleashes chemical gas in the wilds of New Guinea that turn employees and natives into flesh eating zombies. None of our main characters are at all likeable and you really sort of root for them to die. The special effects are low budget but gruesome as to be expected in an Itailian/Spanish release of that time. While this film includes a rare child zombie, it is filled with charcaters who just keep doing incredible stupid things. This one would be a 2-1/2 to 3 star rating. Unfortunately, it is paired up with 1980's Nightmare City. Our second feature on this DVD has even less to work with even if it has famed Umberto Lenzi in the director's chair. Again we have a multi-national production filled with unlikable people who can't stop doing the most stupid things. This one suffers from very little backstory and a totally different take on the zombie premise. This time the "zombies" are actually humans that are being affected by radiation which causes lumpy oatmeal globs to form on their faces and drive them to drink unradiated human blood. While they (like real zombies) can only be killed by a shot to the head, they can drive cars, shoot guns, run fast, climb ladders, etc. The radiation plot can only really be determined by reading the back of the DVD cover and the need for human blood makes no sense. With multiple interludes featuring different sets of characters throughout the movie, if you manage to watch this through you'll be left confused and annoyed. At least until the surprize ending which will completely piss you off. Don't believe the hype or the classic zombie poster art on the cover. We have some language and nudity in both but it really doesn't help.

Hell of the Living Dead, and Nightmare City are zombies movies directed by notable 80's italian directors. So when you pop one of these films into your DVD player expect the following: Badly dubbed actors, lots of cheezy gore, gratuitous nudity, nonsensical storylines, and over all, prepare to have a fun time watching these movies. They are the kind of films you watch with friends just to make fun of it, and have a good time. You won't be scared (unless perhaps your a child, who shouldn't be watching this anyway) so don't expect any sort of jump scares. Just enjoy them!Out of the two films, I think Nightmare City is the best of them both. Enjoyed the silly things that happened, and the ending was pretty cool. It's ten minutes shorter than Hell of the Living Dead (which seems to drag a little bit) so there aren't scenes that feel like they are going anywhere.Two dvds come in the case (one for each film). When I got mine from the mail, Hell of the Living Dead got loose and got a bit scratched up but it played fine, I think it's because when inspecting the dvd case, the dvd case plastic actually feels a bit cheaper than most dvd releases. If you have ever bought a Full Moon dvd directly from them, you'd understand what kind of cheap dvd case it is.Still a good value, 10 dollars for two fun cheezy horror movies. Happy I got it.

This was perfect for a horror film collector like me to have. I remember watching Hell of the Living Dead with a friend but was not too impressed with the whole feel. For one recycled Goblin music from Zombi (Dawn of the Dead) and the script was so bland. Gore is decent but that's about it. Nightmare City is out there too that's all I'll say LOL!If you love your horror zombie films these are worth a look I think you'll find Hell of the Living Dead to your opinion as well as Nightmare City.

Those movies are really bad that's why they are good!