The trailer makes “Zombie 3” look like a dream-come-true film: flamethrower action, explosions, helicopters, keyboard soundtrack and hordes of zombies. However, the actual movie is quite slow-paced and underwhelming.
I had pretty much zero reaction when first watching "Zombie 3", but had returned to this odd film numerous times over the years. Sequences involving soldiers in contamination suits are by far the most exciting ones.
80’s fashions are abominable and there’s an air of poverty hanging over the locations. Zombies look like tramps, limping about with mud caked onto their faces.
“Zombie 3” is lacking the dynamics Bruno had previously managed to lend to his own uneven, but faster-paced films: “Emanuelle in Prison” and “SS Girls”.
The film’s biggest problem has to be the bunch of hateful lead characters whom it’s impossible to care for. Beatrice Ring has always seemed to me the most unbearable of the lot. Ring, a late-comer to the Italian horror industry has dubious honour of starring in perhaps the weakest horror-themed work to come out of Italy, Lamberto Bava’s tedious TV production “Graveyard Disturbance”.
Massimo Vanni has the best scene – fighting a load of zombies by the swimming pool.
Action sequences are plentiful, but what’s in between is such dreck!
“Military VS doctors” scenes in Romero’s “The Crazies” on which Mattei modelled his film are just as boring as their imitations in “Zombie 3”.
Yet something makes me revisit this film now and again. Perhaps, it’s the near-legendary "flying skull" scene. Or the occasionally atmospheric synth score by Stefano Mainetti.
No matter what you think of it, “Zombie 3” will remain a unique film in the history of the genre just by virtue of strange circumstances under which it was made.
LOL. Yeah it's a right mess that poor film. Still fun at times, but lost somewhere between two (or three if you take Fragasso in consideration too) directors not quite managing to get there. It possibly also suffers from being almost a decade too late. I Find that a lot of the films of that time have similar problems. Just passed their expiration date and pay the price in a hard way. Love that Russian cover by the way. It doesn't really scream Fast, violent zombie fare does it.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Alex.
J.
Flying head rules!
ReplyDeleteCheers, guys :)
ReplyDeleteTotally agreed on Zombie 3 being too late. Indeed, most Italian stuff after '85 shows clear signs of decline. I wish they could revive the indistry soon... I did pretty much choose this piece so I could share that Russian VHS cover with the world. I think it uses elements of Hooper's "Lifeforce" artwork as backgound image.