The Apocalypse Has Never Looked Jazzier

Travis D. Roderi

If you've ever had trouble deciding between zombies and 50's-era jazz record styling (and let's face it, who hasn't?), well, fret no more! Etsy.com seller hen-n-chicks is offering this beatiful rendering of all your favorite Ghouls from the original Dawn of the Dead as an print, signed by artist Dave Perillo. Originally done for the 2008 Pittsburgh Comicon, the design features Hare Krishna Zombie, Hockey Player Zombie, Nurse Zombie and more, depicted in the classic style of acclaimed commercial and children's book artist James Flora. At only $10 plus $3 shipping (within the U.S.), it's both a unique yet still affordable holiday gift for your favorite zombie lover!

"Colin" Movie Review

It is safe to assume that everyone reading this blog has seen a zombie film. We can't assume that everyone has seen a zombie film told from the perspective of one particular zombie start to finish. We can argue that some films like Return of the Living Dead come close as we witness a character's change and continue to follow their story afterward. Colin is still different, however, as the film introduces us to one main character whom we learn and care about as we join him on his journey. The big difference (and I'm not spoiling anything) is that our hero is a zombie. This fact is not what made the film Colin so popular and newsworthy, however. What really put Colin on the map is the fact that it was made for under $80. This fact is not going to play a role in the review you are about to read and though it may be mentioned, will not be centered upon. The review will be based upon the merits of Colin as a film.

To be brief, the film is about Colin and his existence in a world after the zombie apocalypse. The obvious difference between this and other movies of the same type is that the center of our attention is a zombie. The movie opens with our introduction to Colin as a living person. We discover the cause of his infection and experience with him his transition into one of the walking dead. We then find a way to roam the world of the living.

Colin is an excellent film. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to see it to do so. If you live in Europe or have the ability to play a region 2 DVD this movie should be a no-brainer (pun intended). The story and character development are great. Like any movie where you follow the events of a living person, you begin to develop feelings and curiosities for the hero. Of course you want to know what caused his infection but you are also treated to the discovery of your new existence along with him. Where are you going, why are you going there, what influences your actions? We experience this transition much like watching an infant discover the world around him for the first time. We learn about Colin as a zombie and as a person and by the end of the movie we are treated to glimpses of the life he lived and his zombie instincts to remain there. This is not to say that Colin shambles to his favorite restaurant for a cup of tea. Think of Bub from Romero's Day of the Dead when he is handed the razor. In fact, the zombies seem to follow the rules defined by Romero's films which is not a bad thing.

The effects are not without flaw but are by far greater than many larger budget films I have seen. Fight scenes between survivors and undead are perfect for what the story requires and are shockingly believable. While you may spot an off effect or two, they by no means detract from the movie's experience or remove you from its grip. I was taken in from start to finish and only found myself distracted a few times by some of the actions of non-crucial living characters. The actions and reactions of all key players are believable and enjoyable. That's not to say the movie is entirely without flaws. Some of the scenes do tend to drag on a bit and the overall feel of the movie is of one that has a small budget. My only other complaints would be the 4:3 aspect ratio and the overall picture quality. I must quickly point out, however, that neither are distracting or took away from my overall enjoyment of the film.

While I am a fan of zombies and zombie films, I would say I dislike more zombie films than I enjoy. My short list of favorites include the original Romero trilogy, Shaun of the Dead, the debate-able as zombies 28 Days/Weeks, and even the Dawn remake among a few others. I can now say that Colin is a part of that too-slowly-increasing list. I am looking forward to watching Colin a few more times and the inclusion of the director's commentary will be the next run. Speaking of, if Marc Price is this capable with an $80 budget I can't wait to see what he is capable of with some rightfully-earned funding. My only hope is that it will be another zombie film.

Regardless of the costs to make this film, Colin delivers. Colin is a great film that gives zombie fans what they long for. It is a shame that the hype surrounding Colin has been focused on the small budget that was used to film it and not the quality zombie film that it is. But if that's what it takes for such a great movie to be noticed so be it.

"Zombi 2" Movie Review

I'm excited to bring you another guest post by Jason Stein of Jason Takes Portland. Jason recently had the opportunity to view Lucio Fulci's "Zombi" and is back to share with us a review.

I was finally able to see Italian gore master Lucio Fulci's "Zombi 2" at a monthly grindhouse night. Nothing makes a great movie better than experiencing it in the proper atmosphere. Just to be clear, there is no "Zombi part 1". "Zombi 2" is an indirect sequel to "Dawn of the Dead" which was huge in Europe and released as Zombi. The two movies have no connection other than zombies.

Fulci's film begins with a boat showing up in the Hudson harbor carrying a bloated zombie and a mysterious note. The note is written by Matool, a researcher on a tropical island, and intended to be a warning to his daughter, Anne. She meets a reporter who is investigating the boat and the two decide to go to the tropical island to figure out what happened. Upon arrival, they enlist the help of an American couple to find Matool. What they find is an island where no one stays dead and zombies literally pop up all over the place. Gory zombie fun ensues.

This is low budget, high gore film-making at its best. The girls are hot and take off their shirts randomly. The zombie effects are cheap and simple, yet gruesomely effective. The acting is lame and the sets are cardboard but this movie is too much fun to care. Fulci is a great director who turns budgetary obstacles into assets and gives the audience exactly what they want. There are numerous memorable scenes including a very disturbing eye puncturing and a stand-off in a burning church. The best of all is the infamous zombie versus shark sequence:

Let me recap what you just saw: A man in zombie make-up fighting/biting a real tiger shark. Awesome! This is one of the best zombie scenes ever filmed. It is funny, absurd, well executed and scary at the same time. Mention must be made of the final scene. I will not ruin it, but it is brilliant for its shock and low budget ingenuity. You will not find the social commentary of George Romero's "Living Dead" series here but you will find just pure zombie fun.

Dawn of the Dead Blu-ray

Just a quick follow-up to the post about the Day of the Dead blu-ray import. In case you weren't salty enough that we in the states were neglected (or happy that you live in the UK), I thought I'd share the previously released Dawn of the Dead blu-ray.

Of course, this edition is also available with several different covers, includes a poster, and is loaded with extras.

Disc One (Blu Ray)

* Theatrical cut of the feature in 1080p High Definition; DTS HD and Stereo audio options

* Audio commentary by director George A Romero, special effects artist Tom Savini and assistant director Chris Romero; audio commentary by producer Richard P. Rubinstein

* "Document of the Dead" documentary

* "Document of the Dead: The Lost Interview" and deleted scenes

* "Fan of the Dead" documentary.

Disc Two (DVD)

* Director's cut of the feature

* "The Dead Will Walk" documentary

Disc Three (DVD)

* Dario Argento's cut of the feature

* "Scream Greats" documentary

* Publicity Vault containing US and German trailers, TV and Radio spots, reviews

* Arrow Video's Giallo trailers ("Macabre", "Sleepless" and "The House by the Cemetery")

Also included: Exclusive, four artwork option packaging; double sided poster with all-new Rick Melton painting on one side and the original UK theatrical artwork on reverse; "For Every Night There is a Dawn" booklet written by Calum Waddell.

Dead Ringers - Custom Zombie Sculptures

It is finally time for my review of the appropriately named Dead Ringers I wrote about a few months back. Being a collector of statues and busts, I could not resist the opportunity to have a statue of myself as a zombie. They are not exactly cheap, but in my opinion are worth every penny. Is the final product worth your hard-earned change? Sit back as I discuss with you the pros and cons as well as offer some pointers in case you decide to take the plunge.

I will first start by admitting that my review may be overly-enthusiastic. Again, being a collector of statues and busts and an obvious fan of zombies, I was eager to have a Dead Ringer made. The process is simple: You email several pictures of yourself from different angles to the sculptor, Philip Hynes. Make sure to include any specific details you are looking to have done. What type of injuries do you have? Were you simply bitten or have you had an arm ripped off and half your face eaten? What skin color do you want? Bloodless and pale or Romero Dawn of the Dead blue? Maybe classic green? What about a pose? Would you be a shambling zombie with a blank stare or a fierce one lunging to attack?

My request was to be a freshly turned zombie. I wanted one eye removed and my cheek torn exposing my teeth. I included a picture of a zombie from Land of the Dead as my inspiration. I asked to have one arm out stretched slightly and the other dangling freely. In my mind, I envisioned the care-free dead from Romero's Dawn who just wandered around aimlessly, lazily, and effortlessly.

Now for the actual product... The good? Detail is aplenty and the sculptor is truly talented. You can view muscle fibers beneath the torn skin. There are tiny teeth visible where my cheek is missing. There is texture in the hair. Clothing has a natural flow. And while the statue as a whole is somewhat (and intentionally) caricature-ish, everything is proportioned well. More good? The painter, Martin Whitmore, is talented also. Skin tones look great. Colors are natural. And creative applications with a steady hand are apparent. The areas where skin is missing have a gloss finish making the wounds look realistic and wet. The shirt I wore had a white and gray coi fish that Marty was able to reproduce perfectly. He was even able to paint the tattoo that peaks out from under my shirt. As a whole, I received a statue that I am thoroughly impressed with.

So what about the bad? There's not much, really. The few things I will point out are really not all that important but I want to be thorough in case anyone reading decides to buy one. There are a few areas where it is apparent that this is hand made. The rare and slight "imperfections" are really not worth basing a decision on, though. It's no different than buying a hand-made vase or piece of glassware. It's art and it should be expected. I only mention it for anyone who would want to compare their sculpture to something produced by the likes of Gentle Giant or Bowen Designs. But then we're talking about companies who fine-tune items for editions of hundreds and even thousands so a completely flawless item is a bit more expected.

Pointers before contacting Marty to start your Dead Ringer? Think about what kind of zombie you want to be. Grab some inspiration from your favorite films, paintings, or zombie-walk participants. As goofy as you may feel, don't be afraid to be expressive in the pictures you send. I imagine it would make for a more fluid and believable pose to have a more animated facial expression. Choose to wear clothes that you don't mind looking at for a long, long time. Clothing is a small, yet obvious, detail that I did not consider when sending in my pictures. Another obvious one is to make sure you are having a good hair day and are wearing jewelry you don't mind having immortalized. Finally, make sure to send me some pictures so that I can feature you and your Ringer on ZT!

Thanks to Marty and Phil for an excellent addition to my toy collection and for providing me with what is now one of my favorite pieces. You can pick up your Dead Ringer 'Groaner' bust or 'Shambler' statue by visiting Marty's site. Prices range from $150 to $250 depending on what you want. As a zombie fan and toy collector I think it is money well-spent. In fact, after seeing mine, my son wants one! So who knows... you may see a second review in the future!

Marty and his Dead Ringer:

Dead Rising Movie Confirmed

So... a movie based on a video game that was based on a movie. Sounds about right. Dead Rising, a game based on George Romero's Dawn of the Dead is now getting a movie. The movie will be directed by Keiji Inafune who also created the original video game.

The movie will be available later this year through XBox Live and will follow two brothers who are trying to escape an area of Japan. Of course, they are escaping because of the zombie virus that has caused said area to be quarantined.

Those of you living in Japan can look to see this later in the year! Oh, yeah... did I forget to mention that it is being released only in Japan?

Find the official site and trailer here.

Dawn of the Dead Television Series

Here's some interesting news with pretty much no facts to support it:

MTV is reportedly discussing with George Romero the possibility of turning his classic Dawn of the Dead into a television series. As exciting as this news is, the leveling reality is that there are no real facts to support it. Rumours are flying and include: there will be both fast and slow zombies. Zach Snyder will not be involved. The entire series will take place in a mall.

Even with the news as vague as it is, I'm still excited. Though, I'm more excited about The Walking Dead series.

More news as I come across it.

More Zombie Artistry

A short while ago, I featured some bookmarks created by Colby Blair. Well, his talents don't end with his skills on a computer. Take a look at this video he has on YouTube. I wish I had a fraction of his talent. Witness from start to finish, the making of The Gray Suit Zombie from Dawn of the Dead!


The Gray Suit Zombie

Ebay Saturday!

Welcome to another edition of Ebay Saturday! This week's focus? Movies.

Zombie Strippers Film Prop

I Walked With A Zombie Original Film Poster

Shaun of the Dead - Ed's Screen Worn Shirt

George Romero Autographed Card

Dawn of the Dead Magnet Set

Dawn of the Dead - Free Download of Classic Board Game

This may not be new news, but it was just brought to my attention. Homepage Of The Dead has available for free download the original Dawn of the Dead board game. Available by clicking here. I'm probably late to the game, but homepage looks like an informative site that would be easy to kill some time on.