Italian zombie movies are classic renditions of the intense blood that zombie movies are known for. In addition to this intense gore, these Italian films are also entertaining because they are so unconventional. They can often be very bizarre, in a good way, and peppered with comedy. Here is a compiled list of the best Italian zombie films that have succeeded in presenting the qualities of these Italian zombie films.
10 Nightmare City (1980)
nightmare cityAnd Also known as City of the Walking Dead In the United States, it is a science fiction film about the zombie apocalypse released in 1980. It was directed by Umberto Lenzi, who directed and wrote more than 20 different films. Despite the presence of zombies in it, Lenzi felt the film was more of a radiation sickness movie than a zombie movie. The movie follows an American TV reporter named Dean Miller, played by Hugo Stiglitz. Dean witnessed the fall of a city as it succumbed to the effects of a zombie outbreak after a nuclear accident. Infected zombies who are not affected by bullets attack an amphitheater and then a television station where Dean is trying to tell the public about the outbreak. The situation deteriorates as Dean flees the city by helicopter, leaving the characters he met along the way behind. However, at the end of the movie, it is revealed that it was only a dream. The film ends the way the film began, implying that the events of the film may actually be happening this time around.
The movie is unique to a zombie movie because zombies wield knives and axes and use tactics such as cutting phone lines. Zombies have a lust for blood, which leads to a movie that is a fun gore-fest. Complete with a great soundtrack and a well-built atmosphere.
9 Two Evil Eyes (1990)
Next on the list is the 1990 Italian horror film Two evil eyes. The film is based on the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, directed by Dario Argento and George A. Romero. The first story that was amended is titled “The Facts in the Case of Mr. Waldemar”. In this story, a woman named Jessica visits her husband’s lawyer and discovers that Jessica’s husband has a terminal illness. Jessica came to liquidate the assets of her husband, Ernst Waldemar. Mr. Waldemar dies suddenly, prompting Jessica to hide the body in the freezer. Unfortunately, Valdemar’s body becomes possessed by spirits, and he becomes a zombie bent on killing Jessica and her lover. “The Black Cat” follows a photographer who adopts a black cat, which leads to the ruin of his life. This team effort from two of the greatest horror directors of all time is a hugely entertaining horror experience. The movie features top-notch special effects for the time, too.
8 Hell of the Living Dead (1980)
Hell of the living dead An Italian horror film released in 1980. The film was directed by Bruno Matti. The movie was created to capitalize on popularity The dawn of the dead It features a similar premise. After a science experiment spins out of control at a chemical research facility, a mouse is infected with a virus that brings it back to life. The zombie rat kills a man and also revives and kills his co-workers. Eventually, the entire plant is infested with zombies and they take to the locals. A group of commandos are hired to stop some eco-terrorists but are soon drawn into their escape from a horde of zombies. The movie ends with the main characters dead and the virus spreading all over the world. This movie has a loud, noisy Italian charm that makes it a fun B movie watch. Despite the film’s production shortcomings, it comes through in the areas of violence, comedy, and gore, which are all top notch.
7 Beyond (1981)
Beyond It is an interesting horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. It was released in 1981 and follows a young woman named Lisa who inherits a hotel with a history of dark magic. Through the process of renovating it, I learned that it was built over one of the gates of hell. After a plumber accidentally opens a dead-end area, ghouls and zombies start attacking the people in the hotel. The movie ends with Liza being blinded, just like the old woman who warned her about the hotel, and disappearing.
Director Lucio Fulci excels at visceral gore and this movie makes great use of it. Every scene is tense, and the movie has compelling visuals that keep you on the edge of your seat. The movie is also held up by its stellar acting and brilliant performances that ground the current gritty realism.
6 Graveyard Man (1994)
next movie, a man’s cemetery, is kind of a change of pace. While it also features zombies like the other movies on this list, it is more of a comedy. The film was directed by Michel Soave and released in 1994. This is the story of a cemetery worker who must kill those he buries a second time because they often revive what bothers him. Shepherd goes through his life in search of love while also being interrupted by the undead, which causes various problems for his romantic exploits.
The film is surreal and punctuated by moments of humor, despite the seriousness and gore of the scenes. It’s a deeply bizarre yet rewarding film that blurs the lines between horror, romance, fairy tale, and comedy. This movie understands that it’s a schlock zombie flick and uses the foundation to be thought-provoking and clever when the opportunity arises. In an interview for the film, lead actor Rupert Everett notes how the film is a play about life and death, in which the world is dead, but the cemetery is alive.
5 Dead House (2014)
dead house It is a zombie horror movie released in 2014. It was directed by Brene Amerigo and stars Danny Cutler, Alex Lucchesi and Alex Southern. The film follows the story of a Pontecorvo family who become the victim of a home invasion by a group of thugs. These thugs break into the house and hold the family hostage, forcing them to do horrible things against their will. The stakes change when it is revealed that the father of the family has been studying zombies. When the basement is broken into, these zombies start to break free and attack the thugs and family.
Despite being released in 2014, the movie makes good use of seemingly believable practical effects. As a sort of mix of a zombie movie and a home invasion movie, it works surprisingly well. It has a pretty brutal opening but it’s a great setup to look forward to at the tables being played on thugs.
4 Let the sleeping corpses lie (1974)
Let the sleeping corpses lie It is a zombie movie with a touch of science fiction. This movie was released in 1974 and was directed by Jorge Grau. The plot follows two strangers who are harassed by the police in the English countryside. They implicate a detective in homicides in the local area. However, it turns out that these murders were committed by zombies who have been brought to life by a new farming tool intended to repel vermin. The movie ends with the heroes taking care of the zombies, but the police shoot them anyway. In the final scene, one of the heroes breaks into the police sergeant’s room, now as a zombie, as the cycle begins again.
The film stands up to its horrific and blood-curdling atmosphere. It also features a fair amount of humor that gets down to earth most of the time. It’s a well-made movie that takes the focus away from plot and more on action. It’s an elegant and fun horror masterpiece.
3 Killing Birds (1988)
the movie Kill the birds It is a 1988 zombie film directed by Aristide Massaccesi and Claudio Lattanzi. The film follows a Vietnam War veteran who murders his lover when he catches her in bed with another man, killing the entire family except for her newborn son. Years later, he is searching for a rare bird with a group when zombies attack him from home. The kid turns out to be a member of his party, and the party leaves the man to be killed by zombies. It is a fun movie that has fun bloody scenes and tense scenes.
2 Zombie Holocaust (1980)
Zombie crematoriumalso known as Zombie crematoriumis a zombie horror film directed by Marino Girolami and released in 1980. The film focuses on a team of scientists who investigate a series of strange corpses that leads them to find the mad doctor behind them. This doctor performs experiments to turn living people into cannibals and corpses into zombies. The team confronts the mad scientist’s army, eventually defeating it once they defeat the cannibals on the island.
1 Zombie (1978)
The classic horror movie tops the list zombieAnd Also known as The dawn of the dead. The film was made in Italian and American collaboration and has spawned several Italian sequels. The dawn of the dead It was re-edited by film director Dario Argento and released for European audiences and renamed Zombi. The story follows a group of four survivors in a shopping mall. While in the mall, they experience the joy of shopping while securing the location and killing zombies. Eventually, they were forced to flee, killing many of them.
The film is exceptional for its easy style and revolutionary effects. It has a sense of comedy to go along with its dramatic elements, with scenes like throwing pies at zombies’ faces. Argento said in an interview that the film exemplifies the way he approaches filmmaking. The worlds he creates are embellished yet contain a deep core of truth from his nightmares.
