City of the Living Dead [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray]

Overview

A loose sequel to Zombie, this Italian horror film has developed a cult following, mainly for its extremely graphic scenes of gore and violence. The terror begins when a priest's suicide somehow triggers the resurrection of countless hungry zombies, who embark on the mandatory flesh-eating rampage.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/29/2023
UPC:	0656382093057
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	NR
Source:	Cauldron Films
Language:	English
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	9,758

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Christopher George	Peter Bell
Michele Soavi	Tommy Fisher
Antonella Interlenghi	Emily Robbins
Giovanni Lombardo Radice	Bob
Janet Agren	Sandra
Luciano Rossi	Policeman in apartment
Venantino Venantini	Mr. Ross
Fabrizio Jobine	Actor
Carlo De Mejo	Jerry
Daniela Doria	Rosie Kelvin
Robert Sampson	Sheriff Russell
Lucio Fulci	Pathologist
Katherine Maccoll	Mary
John Morghen	Actor
Fabio Frizzi	Composer

Technical Credits

Lucio Fulci

Dardano Sacchetti

Robert Warner	Executive Producer,Producer
Lucio Fulci	Director,Screenwriter
Dardano Sacchetti	Screenwriter
Gino De Rossi	Special Effects
de Gino Rossi	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

This Italian horror film, also released on video as The Gates of Hell, is a dry run for the blend of graphic shocks and surrealism atmosphere that Lucio Fulci would perfect with The Beyond. Patience and a strong stomach are prerequisites for viewing City of the Living Dead because it suffers from the same shortcomings present in much of Fulci's other horror films. Its narrative is loose, the pacing often lags, and the film relies on stomach-churning gore effects in place of suspense. Despite these problems, City of the Living Dead benefits from Fulci's ability to create and sustain an intensely creepy atmosphere. The patient viewer will be rewarded with a handful of intense sequences guaranteed to stick in the memory; Mary's vision of the priest's graveyard suicide and the sequence where Peter struggles to free Mary from her premature grave are two of the most memorable highlights. The film's feel of skin-crawling dread is further aided by Sergio Salvati's lush photography and Fabio Frizzi's Goblin-ish prog rock musical score. City of the Living Dead also benefits from solid performances by the leads. Christopher George is likable as the gruff reporter and Fulci stalwart Catriona MacColl acquits herself well in a potentially campy role by playing it straight. Ultimately, City of the Living Dead is too uneven and unfocused to rate as a solid horror film, but its singular combination of deep-dish atmosphere and visceral shocks will appeal to horror fans who enjoyed The Beyond.