Zombi 3
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Zombi 3 | |
---|---|
Directed by | Lucio Fulci Bruno Mattei (uncredited) |
Produced by | Franco Gaudenzi |
Written by | Rossella Drudi (uncredited) Claudio Fragasso |
Starring | Deran Sarafian Beatrice Ring Ottaviano Dell'Acqua Mike Monty |
Music by | Stefano Mainetti |
Cinematography | Richard Grassetti |
Editing by | Alberto Moriani |
Distributed by | Shriek Show (DVD) |
Release date(s) | July 29, 1987 |
Running time | 85 min |
Language | Italian, German, English (English dub) |
Preceded by | Zombi 2 |
Followed by | Zombi 4 (aka Oltre la Morte or After Death) |
All Movie Guide profile | |
IMDb profile |
Zombi 3 (known as Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 in the UK) is the in-name-only 1988 followup to Zombi 2, itself an unofficial sequel to 1979's Dawn of the Dead (released in Italy as Zombi). Beyond its title, Zombi 3 has little to no relation with the characters or plotlines of Zombi, Zombi 2 or in fact any subsequent "Zombi" films. Its only major similarity is in that it is another zombie horror film. It is also a much less revered film than its predecessor was, generally hailed only for being "so bad it's good".
Contents |
[edit] Plotline
The theft of a biological weapon from a tropical military base leads to the transformation many of the island's inhabitants into flesh eating zombies.
[edit] Production problems
Though Lucio Fulci is cited as director in the film's opening credits, Fulci really only directed portions of the film, bowing out after a few weeks of filming. This has been largely attributed to an illness that was aggravated by the Philippines filming location. The footage amounted to approximately 70 minutes worth and was found wanting.
Bruno Mattei was asked to step in and the resultant film, with its running zombies and a more sci-fi/action-oriented story, ended up resembling Mattei's films much more closely than anything Fulci had done up until then. In a filmed interview found on the Shriek Show DVD release, Mattei estimated that Fulci's surviving contributions constitute approximately 50 minutes of the finished film.
[edit] Theatrical release
Zombi 3 was released to theatres on July 29, 1988. Although it has gained some notoriety over the years, it has never received an official theatrical release outside of Italy.
[edit] VHS/DVD releases
With the rising popularity of special DVD editions for b-grade horror films, on September 24, 2002, Zombi 3 received the "special" treatment from Media Blasters' Shriek Show division, who remastered the uncut version of the film. It also features trailers and interviews, as well as a commentary track.
- Older versions of the Shreik Show edition of Zombi 3 do not have the commentary track.
[edit] Zombi 3's place in the "Zombi" films
1979
- Lucio Fulci begins to film an original zombie film with a mystic, voodoo-oriented script written by Dardano Sacchetti.
- During filming, Dario Argento's cut of George A. Romero's film Dawn of the Dead is released to theatres in Italy under the title Zombi. The film is a huge worldwide success.
- Fulci is instructed by his producers to film some new script changes which serve to unofficially connect it to Romero's film. Fulci's film was retitled Zombi 2 in Italy, but is released as Zombie in the US, Zombie Flesh Eaters in the UK and "Woodoo-Schreckensinsel der Zombies" in Germany.
1988
- Lucio Fulci is asked to film a script for the sequel to Zombi 2. Fulci reportedly completed 70-or-so minutes of film before leaving due to health problems.
- Writer Fragasso's friend Bruno Mattei was brought on board to do reshoots, and to finish the film. The result was released to italian theatres in July, and later to home video internationally.
Official Romero directed films: Night of the Living Dead • Dawn of the Dead • Day of the Dead • Land of the Dead • Diary of the Dead
Zombi series: Zombi 2 • Zombi 3 • Zombi 4 (aka Oltre la Morte or After Death)
Remakes: Night of the Living Dead (1990) • Dawn of the Dead (2004) • Night of the Living Dead 3-D • Day of the Dead (2007)
Russo's Living Dead films: The Return of the Living Dead • Return of the Living Dead Part II • Return of the Living Dead 3 •
Children of the Living Dead • Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis • Return of the Living Dead: Rave from the Grave
Notable spoofs/parodies: Night of the Living Bread • Shaun of the Dead
Other films: Day of the Dead 2: Contagium
[edit] External links
- Zombi 3 at the Internet Movie Database