Zombie (DVD, 2004, 2-Disc Set, 25th Anniversary Special Edition)

Okay, let's be brief: If you didn't grow up in the horror lovin' 80's or are not an established fan of Italian horror films, this movie probably won't work for you. This is the unofficial sequel to Romero's "Dawn Of The Dead" (the 1978 version of course) made primary for Italian audiences when Dawn was released there under the title of "Zombi". Even though this one doesn't take place in a mall or feature anything or anyone like the original storyline of Dawn, it does have almost the same feel. Eventually in America, this film came to us with English dubbed audio under the title of "Zombie". But now Shriek Show has finally released a remastered 2 disc set of this classic movie fully uncut for the first time in the states.

Or so I thought.

Ya see, when the movie starts, there's a brief scene set-up (as it always was), then it goes into the opening credits. I was expecting to see the original Italian credits showing it finally under it's original title "Zombi 2", like the box. But it isn't, it's the American version with the title "Zombie". Nitpicking, huh? But after a little searching I found an Easter Egg that shows that original title sequence that finally shows that this film was called "Zombi 2". Here's how to get to it (it's easy....):

On Disc One go to the "Features" section. In there, press the number "6" on your remote. It will activate a red skull button in the upper right on the screen (you CAN'T activate it by searching around the menu with your arrow buttons, very rare by Easter Egg standards!), and it will press the button automatically and take you to the original Italian opening credits and clearly show that this film was called "Zombi 2", logo and all. Also, after they're done, it will show an alternate end credits, but honestly I couldn't see any difference on them as opposed to the ones on the movie now.

All in all, this movie has never looked or sounded better ever. Some say it's looks too cleaned up now. They might have a point because the picture is so perfect now (colors bright, sharp image, brightness exact, sound crisp, etc) that it gives away the effects in the movie. Well, I'd rather have this movie perfect picture than a dark, grainy VHS anyday.

This movie is a classic piece of horror history and should be owned (especially the Shriek Show 25th Anniversary version...the extras here are superior....the making of documentary is as long as the movie itself!) by anyone with two or more "Living Dead/Zombie" DVD's already in their collection. I'm glad I got it, THIS is the way classic horror should be re-released.

P.S.: If you look hard enough (the DVD's trailer section has their previews), there is a "Zombi 3" and a "Zombie 4" movies out there too. Trust me, you don't need them or want them, as they don't have the same feel or quality of "Zombi 2" or "Dawn Of The Dead". Just be happy with their trailers. Enjoy!

Lucio Fulci's zombie epic all to often gets a bad rap as a Romero "Dawn of the Dead" rip-off. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a very diferent kind of zombie movie, witch borrows more from Val Lewtin's "I Walked With A Zombie" than Romero's dead films. The plot of this film is well known, so I wont go into that. I will however say that f you have never seen it do so as soon as possible. This shreek show - media blasters version is the best I have seen and has hours of special behind the scenes bonus features that are very interesting.
Again if you love realy dead looking zombies, tons of very realistic gore and that special feel that only the Italian zombie flicks have this is for you.
Marty~

I will not waste your time here. Read the product description to know what the movie plot is (plot?)....I'll just tell you this, if you've never seen this film, buy it now. Best zombie film ever...? I can't say that it is. What I can say, it's one of my favorite zombie films, no question as to the fact it's a classic! Lucio Fulci is at the hight of his powers here. If you are a fan of all things "zombie" you should've bought this title by now. C-L-A-S-S-I-C !
-Jonnie

AMAZING HORROR MOVIE. SIMPLE AS THAT. A MUST IN EVERY HORROR COLLECTION. ESPECIALLY ZOMBIE MOVIES. THE 25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2 DISC SET IS THE ONLY ONE TO GET. THE OTHERS ARE VERY POOR QUALITY.

Movie review courtesy of Deathgrind.com:
Zombie : Lucio Fulci : 1979 : 5/5 : My favourite zombie movie… Fulci’s best movie on the subject. A police officer is attacked by a strange man on a yacht. It turns out the yacht belongs to a doctor who was on a tropical island conducting some kind of experiment. His daughter and a journalist both set off for the island to find out the fate of the girl’s father, despite the warnings of the denizens of the nearby islands that the island is cursed.