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REVIEWS |
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Zombi 3 (1988)
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Zombi 3
falls way short of the flair of Lucio Fulci's original. In
actuality, except for the fact that both films contain zombies
eating people, this film bears very little resemblance to
Fulci's classic, Zombie. That's very unfortunate indeed.
While an ailing Fulci took all the directorial credit for
this zombie movie, not all of the blame for this film's downfall
should be shouldered by him. It should be noted that Fulci
was fighting an illness during filming. At least half the
blame should go to director Bruno Mattei, who took over after
Fulci turned in a 50-minute cut of the film, far too short
for producer Franco Gaudenzi's liking. Mattei worked closely
with writer Claudio Fragasso to add more substance to the
film, and has himself said that he shot approximately 40 percent
of the finished movie. His work on Zombi 3 includes
the entire beginning, the end, and all the scenes with the
soldiers in anti-contamination suits. Fragasso didn't want
to tread on Fulci's storyline, so the added filming was essentially
a separate storyline, but served to pull the whole thing together.
Zombi 3 may not have been a great film, but considering
how really awful this flick could have been under the circumstances,
I think Mattei pulled the movie from totally falling into
the abyss.
The film begins as some terrorists steal a biological toxin
from some scientists as they leave a secret military laboratory.
The toxin, created to bring the dead back to life, is conveniently
named "Death 1". The thieves successfully grab the goods,
but in the escape attempt they bungle the job and the toxin
gets released while the last terrorist evades a military helicopter.
He then bolts to a nearby motel where he rents a room. The
damage has been done, however, as the infected terrorist transforms
into a bloodthirsty zombie and starts spreading the contagion.
From there, the zombie plague is transmitted fast and furiously.
Two stories follow, one watching the military try to clean
up their mess, and the other one following a group of G.I.'s
and their companions fight their way through the zombies to
escape the mayhem.
There are several points in Zombi 3 when you think
that it's making a turn towards a respectable movie, but manages
to jerk the steering wheel and swerve into ridiculousness
every single time. The script doesn't bother to explain any
of it, and that's why the movie fails to convince the viewer.
The corny dialogue doesn't help matters much either.
This movie does provide a first for me, it marks the first
time I've seen a zombie bird in a film. Yes, I said "zombie
bird". Environmentalists will be in an uproar as they watch
the military burn infected bodies, the toxic fumes destroying
the atmosphere, not to mention leading to countless birds
inhaling the virus. Animal activists, however, will breathe
a sigh of relief knowing that no birds were harmed during
filming. I don't know that as a fact, but they looked so fake,
it has to be true. Waitaminut...doesn't the burning bodies
thing sound like Return of the Living Dead? Yeah, well,
it's not the only part of the movie that will conjure up memories
of zombie flicks that have come before.
I might have been able to look past the zombie birds, but
Zombi 3 just kept insulting my intelligence with other
bouts of extreme weirdness. I really lost it when the detached
zombie head came flying out of a refrigerator and attacking
the nearest warm body. How does a zombie head just fly around?
It defies physics as well as logic. It's also insulting when
the characters are graced with a conveniently placed box of
M16s, a grenade, and a helicopter at just the right times.
Fregasso churned out an incredibly lazy script.
Top it all off with a variety of zombies, some slow and shambling,
some fast as lightening. I can live with the differing zombie
types, but their antics often came off a bit comical. These
undead have a penchant for climbing to higher ground and pouncing
on their prey. They also like to hide and surprise their victims.
Of course others just creeped along attacking clumsily, so
you get all kinds in Zombi 3. The zombies looked about
as inconsistent as they acted. Some looked great, others were
dull and unimaginative.
If it hadn't been for all the major flaws of Zombi 3,
it would be an admirable entry into the zombie genre. As it
is though, it's well below average. There is, however, enough
flesh-chewing carnage to save it from joining the ranks of
the worst of the worst. Toss it beside the best of the bad.
| RATING |
(out of 5) |
| DVD
RELEASE DATE |
| September 24 2002 |
| DEAD KEV'S ADVICE |
| This is certainly one of the better of the bad movies. It's easily watchable, and even provides a few laughs. Just don't expect a work of art. And if you're a fan of Lucio Fulci's other work...try not to be too hard on the guy. |
| ZOMBIE LESSONS LEARNED |
1. If you happen across a flock of dead birds on the road, don't stop to take a look.
2. If a friend is bitten by a zombie (bird or otherwise) take them straight to a hospital...not to a motel, gas station, or other random location. |
| FAVORITE QUOTES |
- "I'm feeling better Patricia, but I'm thirsty...for your blood!"
- "...Once in awhile, I like to take a piss on a bush."
- "Sounds like someone being scalped."
- "Sure does."
- "I'll dedicate my next number to all the undead around the world." |
| DIRECTOR |
| Lucio Fulci (Zombie, The Beyond) |
| Bruno Mattei (uncredited) |
| WRITERS |
| Claudio Fragasso |
| PRODUCER |
| Franco Gaudenzi |
| CAST |
CHARACTER |
| Deran Sarafian |
Ken |
| Beatrice Ring |
Patricia |
| Ottaviano Dell'Acqua |
Roger |
| Massimo Vanni |
Bo |
| Ulli Reinthaler |
Nancy |
| Marina Loi |
Carole |
| Deborah Bergamini |
Lia |
| Luciano Pigozzi |
Head of the scientists |
| Claudio Fragasso |
Soldier at crematorium (uncredited) |
| Robert Marius |
Professor Holder (uncredited) |
| Bruno Mattei |
Soldier at crematorium (uncredited) |
| Michele Monti |
Commander Bryant (uncredited) |
| Mike Monty |
Military Commander (uncredited) |
| RUNNING TIME |
MPAA RATING |
| 95 Minutes |
Unrated |
| PRODUCTION COMPANY |
| Flora Film S.r.l. |
| STUDIO |
| Media
Blasters, Inc (DVD) |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN |
| Italy |
| RUNNING TIME |
MPAA RATING |
| 95 mins |
Unrated |
| INTERESTING TIDBITS |
| Romero's Dawn of the Dead was released in Italy
as Zombie. To capitalize on its success, Fulci
titled his 1979 undead film Zombi 2, while its
US title was Zombie. That explains why this one is a
supposed sequel to his 1979 film, but is named Zombi 3. |
| Filmed at the same village that was used in the movie
Apocalypse Now. |
| AKA : Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (2002 UK video);
Zombie 3 |
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| MORE
DATES |
|
03/03
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03/24
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04/14
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04/21
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05/19
See No Evil
06/06
Omen 666
08/11
The Visiting
08/18
The Messengers
08/18
Snakes On a Plane
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