Zombies have taken over the world - run slowly with your arms outstretched going arrggg! for the shopping mall hills...

Our heroes (Stephen Andrews (David Emge), Peter Washington (Ken Foree), Roger DeMarco (Scott H. Reiniger) and Francine Parker (Gaylen Ross)) try to save themselves by taking over a shopping mall... but those darn zombies are outside... Then a Hell's Angels chapter want to get in...

"Has that look of an episode of Charlie's Angels but without that nice and comfortable sofa."

"Do the Zombies run when we can't see them? It's the only explanation how they can catch our heroes by surprise like they do."

"Everyone's nightmare. Loved the soda siphon in the face - I'll be adding a slapstick element to my nightmares next time they pop up, as I'm sure they will tonight... or in flashback form next time I go down to the Mall."

"There's nobody anywhere, no cars, nothing else in the skies, but our heroes still manage to set their helicopter down on a helipad. 10 out of 10 for neatness if nothing else."

"This movie made me want to join the National Rifle Association, does that make me a bad person?"

Hell's Angels invade the shopping mall and a gun battle (2 vs about 300 kicks off). Our heroes seem to have no chance, yet the Hell's Angels leave.

Our heroes (one less than at the beginning - don't worry he was only the annoying one - shot after becoming a zombie) find their helicopter and fly off into the sunset... Surely another 15 sequels are in prospect...

Let me start by saying that I have never found zombies scary in the slightest, just very annoying - as annoying as a typical old person in front of me in the queue at a typical supermarket. Sorry if that has just scared you from going shopping... actually I'm not.

This is a horribly eerie movie, if not totally devastatingly nerve shatteringly terrifying if you are scared of zombies. There are some brutal moments where zombies chew off limbs and look menacing... but why be scared? Zombies are a slow motion threat at worst, you will be able to see them coming a mile off, in spite of the fact that our heroes seem to be constantly being surprised from behind...

Most of the zombies are truly ugly, never more so when the blood covers their faces and they look, hungrily, into camera as if they want to have a nibble. They probably smell really badly too, thankfully this wasn't the Smelly Vision version being reviewed. The good thing with the casting is that, as they are all unknowns, it is impossible to guess who is going to die before the final credits roll.

A word of warning: The movie is a large employer of extras and it is probably not a good idea to sit next to one at a screening lest you will be regaled with an infinity of stories, or one story that lasts an infinity.

"We whipped them good."

"When there is no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth."

Any tie-in confection from the 1970's, such as Zombie bars, Zombie bones ('they crack in your mouth!'), bottles of Zombie blood (raspberry/strawberry flavours), Zombie ketchup, Zombie ice cream...

Sit with a clear line of sight to the door. Beware if anyone in your house sleepwalks during this movie - never watch this movie with guns or knives to hand just in case.

Those looking for brain exploding moments will not be disappointed, however some of the effects do not stand up to the video rewinding test. Take, for instance, the time when a Zombie is shot in the head: his brain explodes at the back because we can see the blood and giblets, however there is no hole at the front. Small gory disappointments like these pepper the movie. (For those looking for visible shots in the front of the scalp, never fear: there is one moment when a zombie is hit in the head (through the rifle sights)).

Only very slow dogs will like this movie. A walk with a zombie would be pretty boring, with limited chances of fetching sticks (although, on the positive side, there is a good chance that the zombie's arm would come off along with the stick... that makes up for a lot in in a dog's life.)

Cats like any human who falls over like that when punched in the head.

Piranha fish will enjoy the blood.

Slow moving people, if there are enough of them, can make your life into a living nightmare.

A small lorry filled with blood-red paint.

Yes, there are some very shocking moments. Perhaps particularly terrifying when you are younger, or have a victim complex.

The special effects are keen, if not very realistic at times, (like a shot to the groin is just a small pop under the trousers). It's fine if you just let it wash over you, rewind to have a closer look and it looses some of the terror (you are never left asking 'how did they do that').

Not used.

Has recently (2004) been remade. The movie is a genuine classic of its type, it's a zombie movie what more could you ask for?

Here's hoping they bring out a DVD of this version with original commentaries from the extras who get their heads blown off or shoulders chewed on... That would be unmissable.

April 9, 2004