Zombi 2 is one of those movies with so many names it could make your head hurt. After the success of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, zombies were taken to new heights, and became the biggest thing in the horror genre. (I have no proof as to the validity of that statement) While today, zombies are one of the biggest staples in the horror genre, in the late 70's it was a new and wild success and failing director Lucio Fulci decided he would jump on the band wagon. Dawn of the Dead was being released in Italy under the name of Zombi, and so Fulci titled his movie, Zombi 2, suggesting it was a sequel to Romero's work. The two are unrelated however, and the movie was released in the UK under the name Zombie Flesh Eaters and in the U.S. as simply Zombie. While, Zombi 1 doesn't really exist, I still find the title Zombi 2 the easiest way to identify Fulci's movie.
While Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2 may have started by trying to ride on the coat-tails of Romero's success, there was really no need, as Zombi 2 stands strongly and proudly on it's own. While Fulci already had a large number of movies under his belt, Zombi 2 defined the horror master's style and trademarks for many years to come as he would continue to produce some of the best in Italian horror, with City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, The House by the Cemetery and even Zombi 3 still to come. All of them bare the marks of what Fulci established when he made Zombi 2, with it's hyper-realistic levels of gore, including the "eyeball gag" that marked Zombi 2 as a Video Nasty *.
 |
| You did forget to replace the ice-cube tray. |
So, how gory do you have to be classified as a "Video Nasty"? Well if Zombi 2 is any indication it can get rather nasty. While many films can suggest an excess of violence and gore, quick cuts tend to skip much of it actually happening, instead just showing the end result in buckets of blood. Fulci however, likes to give you a nice close up as rotting zombie flesh falls off, necks get bitten out and eyeballs are impaled. There are no cuts to a dozen different angles that skew and blur everything, Fulci just gives you one straight and close up shot of the gore which means that he is pretty confident in his special effects, or he just wants to see people squirm. I'd say it is both, as the special effects, while all practical, are impressive even if it is rather clear that most of it is make-up and fake blood. Hell, the trailer even stated that vomit bags were available for anyone who requested one.
Aside from blood and gore, Zombi 2 is the best of the European zombie genre. Set on a Caribbean island, a reporter and young woman search for her father after his boat drifts empty into a New York City harbour. Once on the island, they meet a doctor, who vainly struggles to cure an epidemic of the walking dead. While the movies plot is relatively simple, it plays out well with outstanding pacing, and the visual feel of a James Bond movie. Zombi 2 reminds me a lot of Dr. No, as it showcases the beautiful Caribbean islands and is only missing a few martini's and gadgets and features a few more zombies. Like any horror movie, Zombi 2 features it's fair share of mystery, nudity, blood and gore, and action but it is only because of Fulci's perfect pacing that Zombi 2 is amongst the greatest zombie movies of all time and earned him the title of horror icon. Every scene plays out perfectly, and the movie flows from scene to scene seamlessly as it builds to it's climax.
 |
| While titled Zombi 2, it is actually a sequel to Jaws. |
One of the big reasons that Zombi 2 triggered thought of James Bond aside from the Caribbean setting was the underwater fight scene. While it starts off sexily as our topless diver decides to snap some pictures of the reef or whatever, things take a turn for the worse as first a shark and then a zombie appear. The end result is probably the most memorable and talked about scene of the movie, as we watch the epic Shark Vs. Zombie fight. For those of you thinking it will be some lame fake shark, think again. The scene was shot in a saltwater tank with the shark well fed and mildly sedated at the time. It easily rivals anything scene in Jaws or on the Discovery channel's Shark Week.
 |
| The Matool vacation resort, where everyday you're shuffling. |
When compared to the rest of the zombie genre, Zombi 2 consistently ranks amongst the top, nestled amongst genre godfather George A. Romero's works. While Romero likes to mix the fun and horror of zombies with lots of social commentary, Fulci keeps things simpler and just amps up the gore and terror. That doesn't mean he isn't anywhere in Romero's field however, as Zombi 2 is not just a genre masterpiece, but an example for all aspiring filmmakers as to how much pacing can impact a movie. It is not just shark vs. zombie fights that make this film what it is.
Link:
Zombie IMDb
* Video Nasty is a label originating in the UK for those extremely violent and gory films that garnered a lot of attention from censors and concerned parties for their violent content. Mostly applied to low budget horror movies from Italy and the U.S., the British Board of Film Censorship imposed stricter censors on the violence in films released in the UK, forcing re-cuts, and even banning some movies from distribution. Many famous horror movies have gone through the process of being branded a "Video Nasty" throughout the years, including Zombi 2, The Evil Dead and Cannibal Holocaust. While censorship is still an issue today, many "Video Nasties" have been re-released since, with Zombi 2 being released uncut in 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment