Review - Zombi 2 (Zombie)

Take a little zombie, a little voodoo and a little crazy . . .

. . . add it all together and what do you get - Lucio Fulci’s Zombi 2 (also known as Zombie) that’s what. It was a very gritty and gory zombie flick with a killer ending which I really wasn’t expecting.

The movie began with a shot (literally) of someone who was wrapped in a white sheet being shot in the head. A pretty gruesome beginning to what would turn out to be an extremely gruesome and hopeless situation.

We then flash forward to a boat which seems to be unmanned, floating in the New York waters. However when the port authority boards this “ghost ship” we find out that it is not unmanned at all (well I guess that all depends on your definition of a man is - does he have to be alive?). It seems that there was a stow-away (Captain Haggerty) that is not quite alive - but not quite dead either - and he proceeds to take a bite out of one of the officers before he is shot to death (again - he was already kinda dead so not sure if that is an accurate statement) and falls into the waters never to be seen again - at least not in this film.

Anne Bowles (Tisa Farrow) finds herself confused and scared as she is being barraged by several questions about her father’s (Ugo Bologna) whereabouts as it was his boat they found in the water. Determined to find out what has happened to her dad, Anne joins up with journalist, Peter West (Ian McCulloch) who has been sent out to cover this story. Together they make their way to Matul Island which was the last known whereabouts of her father. On the way they seek the help of another couple Brian Hull (Al Cliver) and Susan Barrett (Auretta Gay), who happen to be vacationing in the area and agree to transport them to Matul Island - even though the natives say that there is some sort of curse on the island.

Once there the group is greeted by Dr. David Menard (Richard Johnson) who is battling a severe disease on the island that most contribute to voodoo. He, of course, as a man of science does not believe in such rubbish and asks the group to call on his wife while he attends to some sick in the hospital. Sadly, all is not well for Mrs. Menard (Olga Karlatos) who has already been called upon by some of the island undead. As they try to make their way back to the hospital the group is attacked by zombies at every turn and they do lose one of their own. When they finally make it back to the hospital they find that they are being bombarded by these decaying living dead freaks in droves. It’s a battle for life and death and some do not make it. Once on the open seas the group gets some disturbing news about home that may make them wonder if their survival was the better fate.

A truly gruesome zombie gorefest as only the Italian seem able to do it. Full of odd camera shots, awesome makeup effects (thank you Gianetto de Rossi) and heaps of creepy atmosphere (not to mention the music, very eerie and foreboding) - a definite recommend if you are a fan of this genre.

Directed by
Lucio Fulci

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Elisa Briganti
Dardano Sacchetti uncredited

Cast (in credits order)verified as complete
Tisa Farrow .... Anne Bowles
Ian McCulloch .... Peter West
Richard Johnson .... Dr. David Menard
Al Cliver .... Brian Hull
Auretta Gay .... Susan Barrett
Stefania D'Amario .... Missey, the Nurse
Olga Karlatos .... Paola Menard

rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ugo Bologna .... Ann's Father (uncredited)
Dakkar .... Lucas (uncredited)
Alberto Dell'Acqua .... Zombie (uncredited)
Arnaldo Dell'Acqua .... Zombie (uncredited)
Ottaviano Dell'Acqua .... Worm-eyed Zombie (uncredited)
Roberto Dell'Acqua .... Zombie (uncredited)
Franco Fantasia .... Matthias (uncredited)
Lucio Fulci .... Newspaper Editor-in-Chief (uncredited)
Leo Gavero .... Fritz (uncredited)
Captain Haggerty .... Fat Zombie aboard boat (uncredited)