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Zombie Bloodbath 3: Zombie Armageddon (2000)
Three Times The Thrills in Zombie Bloodbath 3
Just got my copy of this DVD two disc set and I am finally writing about the third epic in the Zombie Bloodbath Trilogy, I am talking Zombie Armageddon is here, folks! And what a major surprise this no budget gem of a title was to me! It's like two of my favorite movies slammed together. "Breakfast Club" and "Return Of The Living Dead." It's like Peanut Butter and Jelly. A perfect mix! One thing I was really blown away by was how different each film was in the trilogy and this one is no different. The first time around it was a total homage to Fulci, Romero, Raimi, Mattei, etc. Then part two was just off the wall, crazy and stylish as hell. But this one kind of had me on the edge, I couldn't wait to see what was next and it delivered everything that I could have possibly wanted. Hilarious dialog, great music, gore galore, and AFRO Zombie Kung Fu!!! This film is filled with zombie goodness that no self respecting fan of the undead would miss! You want award winning art, then go to France. This is raw, no buedget cinema at it's most creative. Sure, it's cheapo. Sure it lacks polish. but I seriously feel like not only did I get three great gore films, I got to watch a young director grow and evolve with each film to become a better artist. Beginning DV guys should check this out too! The Zombie Bloodbath Trilogy delivers.
Zombie Bloodbath 2 (1995)
More Gore in store with Zombie Bloodbath 2
OK, I got the DVD set last week and I am finally getting around to posting my reviews, but I sure liked this sequel in many ways.
Zombie Bloodbath 2: Rage of the Undead. OK. This one movies at a fast clip, has some really good gore effects and some really well done atmosphere and style. I would actually go on record as saying this may be one of the most stylish DV shot flicks that I have bought. Most of the time, I get rather angry at DV movies for being boring and looking like soap operas. Even a movie like Bone Sickness that I like, has incredible stretches of DULL. Not this movie. It never stops long enough to let you catch your breath. Although I wouldn't say I liked it better than the first film, I will say that Sheets certainly improved technically in the two years in between films. This one has better gore, the inevitable zombie feeding scenes, scumbag characters, and a few returning actors (although their roles are different) mainly Jerry Angell as a pretty good psychopath with a killer mullet from hell. The shots are more ambitious as well as the script this time around because you can tell Sheets is trying to pull a lot more off than he did in the first film. Some of it works and some of it doesn't, but I have to say that at least he wasn't just trying to do a larger version of the first film. There was no mention this time around of a power plant of chemical spillage, just Satanism and the occult that brings the undead back to life. So I say kudos to Mr. Sheets for trying to do something different with this one. I give this film two bloody thumbs up!
Catacombs (2000)
It's gross, it's shocking, it's one of my favorites!
I am a long time lover of trash movies, but this one actually had me raching down and picking up my jaw. There are moments in this film that are inspired, insane and just plain WRONG!
Some kids go to an old Haunted House attraction to learn about Fear and participate in a study. Once there, some crazy killer starts taking them out. This is the first time that this plot idea is actually used to GOOD effect. I have seen other "trapped in a commercial haunted house" movies that actually kind of sucked, but this one used the location to amazing effect. This place is creepy, scary, forboding, and it's really a character all on it's own. The killer is a pretty cool one actually and it's original.
let me say that the gore in this film is some of the best I have yet witnessed in a low budget b movie. And the ways these poor characters die is just over the top. No way to describe it other than that. Amazing death scenes, great set design, amazing lighting (very effective) and some pretty good actors (a few bad ones too - with even worse hair) make this one a really entertaining and gross movie.
I would say get it any way you can and save it for those special times when normal splatter just isn't good enough. This one will make your guests run out of the house!
Zombie Bloodbath (1993)
With a title like this what did you expect?
I collect Horror films from all over and I have seen the good and the very bad - Zombie Bloodbath is a low budget video. Sure, the acting is bad, the storyline is basically a mix of all zombie movies thrown together and the quality is low in some spots. The thing you seem to be missing is that it's still entertaining and really very fun. The effects range from, like someone on here has said, pasty-faced zombies that look like KISS rejects to really good ones with some amazing latex work. But the reason you buy a movie with a title like this is for the gore and this film is amazing in that area. The effects are very good for such a small film. Someone called it a Party movie and it is. 100% fun party movie. I have heard from various websites that this is actually a "rough cut" of the film that got general release but the actual "director's cut" is coming on DVD and it is very nice quality. I will buy it and judge for myself.
Story is basically a Nuclear power plant goes bad and makes zombies. The gov't closes it down, hides the story and sanctions houses to be built over it. Some of the plant is still underground and these undead come up and attack the area. A few actors do a great job, there's some pretty straight social commentary that is insightful and true, good music, great lighting, some effective suspense and tons of blood and sick gore. One guy gets attacked and ripped from the lower area all the way up, if you know what I mean. Then his guts are shoved out of his mouth. Another is torn in half like in Day Of The Dead and they did a great job of that effect. There are a million gore gags and it's almost ALL action. I say stop being a prude, enjoy life and get more movies like Zombie Bloodbath and Meat market. Two great undead epics.
OK - UPDATE!!! I just got the DVD set and here is what I thought:
MUCH better picture quality and for once I was able to see the actual DIRECTOR'S CUT of the film and it is a much better movie. I liked it before, but now I can see what Todd Sheets was actually trying to do with this one. And the commentary helps too, hearing Sheets talk about the film in detail, He knows it's a trashy zombie movie, but he does show respect to all people involved. Also, Sheets has a great sense of humor and some humble integrity that others could learn from in the movie field. The behind the scenes of Zombie Bloodbath is pretty fun as well. I felt it was almost as entertaining as the film it was made for. There are some great interviews and behind the scenes footage, mixed with news stories about the film from some major places like CNN, FOX and MTV. Over all, a fun little film that is VERY rough around the edges, but still had me laughing and enjoying the ride! I have seen many DV films, and some shot of video films, and many are quite dull, but this one really wasn't. While newer DV films are technically superior, they just aren't this much fun!
PS - I heard they are now remaking this on a big budget???