Summary
According to the box, this movie "follows in the infamous tradition of Night of the Living Dead." I can't argue with that, in that this movie also concerns the antics of a small group of people, trapped in an isolated house, besieged by zombies. You can't get much more traditional than that. In fact, the only major way in which this movie deviates from the mold defined by "Night of the Living Dead" is that this movie is awful. The script is ridiculous, the plot barely exists, I think the sound effects came from one of those toys that imitate barnyard animals, and the only people stupider than the characters are the actors who play them. But, wow, is it fun to watch!
Warning! Spoilers ahead!
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Barbara's Rant
The most striking things about this movie are Alan's pants. Seriously. Whenever they're on screen those stripes focus your attention right on his crotch, which is really not where I want to be looking. Really makes you believe in the power of composition in art. See what you can learn from horror movies? And you thought I was wasting my time.
Seriously though, what is the deal with this theater troupe? A) What play are they rehearsing for that Alan has convinced them that this exercise will enhance their performance? Granted, they're all imbeciles, but still. B) I'm supposed to believe that these people make their livings doing this? That this theater provides them with a steady paycheck? A paycheck good enough that the threat of losing it convinces them to go to this island and dig up corpses? I work in the theater and PLEASE! This theater is lucky if it can afford to pay its electric bill. C) These people are stupid enough to believe that working for this company is their big break? Terry believes it firmly enough that she humiliates herself in front of Alan (and Orville) in order to keep her job. I've never been accused of overestimating humanity's average intelligence, but no one is that stupid! On the other hand, I bet there were people who thought that this movie was their big break. D) Alan is a dynamic enough leader that his followers abandon all morals when he wiggles his little finger? You're digging up a dead body! And tying up an innocent man! And worshipping Satan! I would never even consider doing that, not even when I was in junior high and, like so many other socially isolated pre-teen girls, dabbled in witchcraft. Alan is just a fop in a poorly made purple cape! Grave robbing! You're grave robbing for God's sake! There's a taboo that goes back pretty much to the dawn of human civilization, but Alan says to dig up the body, so whoosh, there it goes, out the window. Bye! It's all just too silly. I can't take it any more. Grave robbing!!! What is the matter with you people! And, no, it doesn't make it any better that Terry objects to taking Orville back to the house after they've dug him up, tied him to a cross, and used him in a Satanic ritual.
Man, this movie is funny, though. Not when it's trying to be funny, that's just dumb, but when it was trying to be scary, we were rolling in the aisles. Barbara May and I both think that we're getting way wittier in our movie commentary since we developed our obsession with MST3K. (It's really Barbara May's obsession; I just borrow it.) Normally, we still can't hold a candle to the ëbots, but this movie was just made to be mocked. I can't think of a movie I've had more fun, or more success, making fun of. Watch it with friends; build up those wise-crackin' muscles together!
BARBARA JO
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