The dead walk, and they are
apparently hungry.
apparently hungry.
The Dead Next Door
Studio: Amsco Studios
Director: J.R. Bookwalter
Writer: J.R. Bookwalter
Release date: 1988 USA
Staring: Pete Ferry, Bogdan Pecic,
Michael Grossi
Running Time: 84 minutes
Rated: NR
Director: J.R. Bookwalter
Writer: J.R. Bookwalter
Release date: 1988 USA
Staring: Pete Ferry, Bogdan Pecic,
Michael Grossi
Running Time: 84 minutes
Rated: NR
Back of the box:
When a viral epidemic creates a nation full of zombies, it's up to a
government-run Zombie Squad to find a cure -- and keep Americans from
catching their death. But when the virus spreads to one of the squad
members, his team has to work twice as hard to keep him from
decomposing.
When a viral epidemic creates a nation full of zombies, it's up to a
government-run Zombie Squad to find a cure -- and keep Americans from
catching their death. But when the virus spreads to one of the squad
members, his team has to work twice as hard to keep him from
decomposing.
The Bloody Truth:
A complete joke of a film or a legendary independent blood bath zombie
flick? You decide. Good idea to have some zombie loving friends over
and create some sort of a drinking game to numb the film making pain.
This is a vary bad movie; understand that but if you're fan of zombie
movies I think you must see it. Sorry
A complete joke of a film or a legendary independent blood bath zombie
flick? You decide. Good idea to have some zombie loving friends over
and create some sort of a drinking game to numb the film making pain.
This is a vary bad movie; understand that but if you're fan of zombie
movies I think you must see it. Sorry
And the rest.....
Acting - 1 Cinematography - 2
Sound - 1 Music - 2
Story - 2 Reality - 1
Acting - 1 Cinematography - 2
Sound - 1 Music - 2
Story - 2 Reality - 1
7
4
4
1
3
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Fun with blood and zombie props
Horror fans! What can you do with an 8 millimeter camera a lot of extras and an endless supply of squirt bottles of blood? Well if you have just the
basic grasping of filmmaking you can shoot the next not so big zombie movie. At least that is what J. R. Bookwalter did in 1988.
The film is an homage to horror films in general. Characters in the film have reference names spanning from Carpenter and Raimi to Romero and
Savini. During the films first scene that begins in a Pick-A-Flick video store the director lets us know of his intentions as the first rental returned is R
omer’s Dawn of the Dead. Then in a quick take that caused me to laugh out loud, a stack of similar famous titles is returned. Who might rent a
whole stack of zombie flicks you ask? Flesh eating zombies of course. Like a bunch of third rate stage actors they leap dramatically at the camera
and so begins The Dead Next Door.
The film delivers as expected in most areas. The acting ranges from poor to horrible, the lighting and camera work is amateurish at best and the
reality of the film ranges from apocalyptic horror to second rate comedy and then back again.
As with all Zombie films this one pulls strongly from the Romero mythos. To give credit where credit is due the story in the film however unrealized
is a good one. They explain the zombie threat with a virus that seems to answer to all the undead behaviors. The social implications of a nation
over run with the dead peeks out its rotten head from time to time; but have little to no impact.
In every way The Dead Next Door has a look and feel of a community college film project, yet the scope of the film is vast incorporating many
extras, a large cast and a huge amount of gore based props. The film can easily rate as a blood bath so I would be the last person to say that it's
unwatchable. Just keep your expectations for the film about as low as can be managed and then, maybe you might even have fun watching it.
-Matt
Horror fans! What can you do with an 8 millimeter camera a lot of extras and an endless supply of squirt bottles of blood? Well if you have just the
basic grasping of filmmaking you can shoot the next not so big zombie movie. At least that is what J. R. Bookwalter did in 1988.
The film is an homage to horror films in general. Characters in the film have reference names spanning from Carpenter and Raimi to Romero and
Savini. During the films first scene that begins in a Pick-A-Flick video store the director lets us know of his intentions as the first rental returned is R
omer’s Dawn of the Dead. Then in a quick take that caused me to laugh out loud, a stack of similar famous titles is returned. Who might rent a
whole stack of zombie flicks you ask? Flesh eating zombies of course. Like a bunch of third rate stage actors they leap dramatically at the camera
and so begins The Dead Next Door.
The film delivers as expected in most areas. The acting ranges from poor to horrible, the lighting and camera work is amateurish at best and the
reality of the film ranges from apocalyptic horror to second rate comedy and then back again.
As with all Zombie films this one pulls strongly from the Romero mythos. To give credit where credit is due the story in the film however unrealized
is a good one. They explain the zombie threat with a virus that seems to answer to all the undead behaviors. The social implications of a nation
over run with the dead peeks out its rotten head from time to time; but have little to no impact.
In every way The Dead Next Door has a look and feel of a community college film project, yet the scope of the film is vast incorporating many
extras, a large cast and a huge amount of gore based props. The film can easily rate as a blood bath so I would be the last person to say that it's
unwatchable. Just keep your expectations for the film about as low as can be managed and then, maybe you might even have fun watching it.
-Matt