This week sees me tackle that perennial favorite, Dawn of the Mummy (1981), as well as nobody’s favorite, Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005). Of course, I might have a better opinion of the latter movie if my idea of a “party” included getting together with several hundred of my closest friends and jumping up and down to techno music in the first place. Also, all of you kids get off my lawn.
#1 by Blake Matthews on October 16, 2008 - 8:17 am
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Alright, for the Undead Phylum, we have the Zombie Class, of which mummies are an Order. We have the Vampire Class.. Are Ghosts, spectres, and poltergeists a Class in the same Phylum? If so, are spectres and poltergeists and wraiths an Order of Ghosts? Is that right? Are you all sufficiently confused?
#2 by KeithA on October 16, 2008 - 9:24 am
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Great review of Return of the Living Dead 5. Made me realize that, among other things, Ive never watched more than the first ten or so minutes. Man, if ever there was a series ripe for a reboot that pretends parts 2-5 never happened!
#3 by Nathan Shumate on October 16, 2008 - 9:29 am
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But really, do we need even that? Just watch a generic zombie flick and randomly shout “BRAINS!” at the screen, and you will have crafted all the sequel that Return of the Living Dead ever needed.
#4 by KeithA on October 16, 2008 - 11:40 am
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It’s interesting how, in non-horror fan pop culture, “Brains!” has pretty much become standard operating procedure for zombies, even though the RotLD zombies are the only ones who ever shouted it.
And in my reboot, I’m ignoring the fact that the reboot would likely be as bad or worse than all the sequels. I can’t believe Sci-Fi channel hasn’t made Mummy versus Zombies yet.
#5 by Nathan Shumate on October 16, 2008 - 11:49 am
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“Based on an original idea by Keith Allison.”
#6 by Blake Matthews on October 16, 2008 - 11:57 am
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“It’s interesting how, in non-horror fan pop culture, “Brains!” has pretty much become standard operating procedure for zombies, even though the RotLD zombies are the only ones who ever shouted it.”
You don’t count the ones from the Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror?
#7 by rjschwarz on October 16, 2008 - 2:44 pm
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I enjoyed Rave to the Grave much more than the episode before it.
KeithA makes a good point. I’ve noted that before. Everyone remembers brains even though in 99% of zombie movies the zombies don’t speak and they seem to prefer munching guts, not brains (skull’s kind of in the way there). It’s weird the influence that movie had.
#8 by Nathan Shumate on October 16, 2008 - 3:00 pm
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Probably because it’s the only catchphrase the zombie subgenre has. “UnnnnRRRRhhh!” just doesn’t have panache.
#9 by Blake Matthews on October 16, 2008 - 5:11 pm
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The Simpsons zombies ate brains.
#10 by Nathan Shumate on October 16, 2008 - 8:01 pm
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(Blake’s not flaky. His first comment got caught in the spam filter. Akismet hates him.)
I wouldn’t count The Simpsons as a primary source, though, since it’s part of the “non-horror fan pop culture” that Keith references.
#11 by KeithA on October 17, 2008 - 11:30 am
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I can’t believe you people still believe in skulls? Did City of the Living Dead teach you nothing? If a zombie grabs someone by the back of the head, it will instantly squish out their brains.