Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Zombie’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​The late 1970's were a fantastic time to be a horror fan. Revolutionary films were hitting the screens left and right and for the zombie fans out there, one particular motion picture changed the landscape for years to come.  

This was of course Dawn of the Dead, which proved to be one of the smartest zombie films of all time, and in Europe, the film was known as Zombie: Dawn of the Dead and well...much of the story we knew and loved was removed in favor of the incredible splatter. This cut of the film was of course a rousing success overseas, so it only made sense that a European sequel was to come, and boy did it manage to impress when Lucio Fulci stepped behind the camera to direct Zombi 2, a.k.a. Zombie. 

Something horrible is happening on the island of Matool. The dead are returning to life and attacking the living and Doctor Menard is doing his best to discover the cause and reverse it before this nightmare escapes the island. But he may be too late, for a boat carrying a zombie has made its way to the New York Harbor, forcing outsiders to investigate the island further and they are ill prepared for the horrors that await them. 

So, what separates this particular film from other zombie films of the era? The fact that it is hands down one of the goriest films I have ever seen. No joke, the blood flows and flows in this particular movie and the kills are top notch. In fact, the eyeball scene is one that will haunt you for years to come, and if you’ve seen this movie, you know what I’m talking about and if not, when it happens, you’ll know. Now, normally one would expect the gore to numb you after a certain point yet that is not the case when it comes to Zombie simply because the kills are so quick and so violent and well...so gooey that you never get the chance to let it all sink in and you're never quite sure what kind of horrible thing is waiting for you next.

But the film is more than just blood and guts, Zombie is an entertaining ride as well. I mean, what other zombie film features a walking corpse battling a shark underwater? The answer is none. Yes, not only is Zombie over the top when it comes to gore, but also in its story telling and that makes it a pure polar opposite to Dawn of the Dead. This one is just a fun ride, full of splatter and wild moments that keep you captivated through and through. If anything, die-hard horror and zombie fans need this one on their shelf, and for everyone else it needs to be seen, if only for the fact that a zombie fights a shark.  

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