|
|
Zeder
AKA Revenge Of The Dead
Directed By Pupi Avati
Released: 1983
Starring: Gabriele Lavia, Anne Canovas, Paola Tanziani, and Cesare Barbetti
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Released By 20th Century Fox
Region 2 PAL
----------------------------------------------------------
After receiving a used typewriter for an anniversary
present, Stefano (Gabriele Lavia) discovers a bizarre treatise on raising
the dead imprinted on the ribbon. He convinces his wife, Alessandra (Anne
Canovas), and his best friend, Guido (Alessandro Partexano), to aid him in
his search for the “K Zones”, areas where the dead return to life.
Meanwhile, a group of scientists are conducting their own research in this
phenomenon with deadly results. As Stefano gets closer to finding the truth,
he uncovers a conspiracy which someone is willing to kill in order to keep
hidden.
Pupi Avati (The
House With The Laughing Windows) directs this superb and
very odd little horror film. The eccentricities of
Zeder come mainly
from how the film never really moves when and in what direction you expect
it to. Even the brilliant (though wholly bizarre) soundtrack by Riz Ortolani
(Seven Deaths In The Cat’s Eye)
defies expectations by laying out a Goblin-like bass riff that gives way to
a seriously maladjusted string arrangement.
The plot gets shaky as the scenes with the scientists don’t quite gel with
those of Stefano. I think the problem lies in the amount of mystery
surrounding their research. I’m glad the film doesn’t go too far explaining
every little detail but I’m just left wanting more. I like it when movies do
that.
Gabriele Lavia (Deep Red,
Beyond The Door)
plays Stefano, another one of Avati’s damned heroes (see
Laughing Windows), perfectly. It is amazing to watch
Lavia as Stefano, this obsessive character who becomes intrigued by a
mystery only to be totally consumed by it. Another doomed individual is Dr.
Goodman, played by Paola Tanziani, whose contact with the undead left her
physically and emotionally scarred. I really dig this actress and it
astounds me that didn’t make anymore films after this one.
Wow, Zeder
has slowly crawled its way into my top ten favorite Italian horror films of
all time. I rented this film under the misleading
Revenge Of The Dead
title at my local video store when I was a kid and it really didn’t sit well
with me. Aside from disappointment of the zombie onslaught the VHS cover art
promised, I was genuinely creeped out by this one.
Zeder
managed to stay with me years after watching it. The idea that death is a
patient creature willing to let you sprint ahead only to catch you the
moment you collapse combined with its amusement at humankind’s futile
attempts to escape the inevitable is some dang creepy shit.
What we’ve got here is Zeder, an atypical zombie film. Sure, there’s a couple
of undead
creatures wreaking havoc in Bologna but don’t expect any brain-eating,
flesh-eating, or gunshots to the head. Like I said before, this film does
not behave in a normal horror movie manner but that is exactly what makes it
so awesome. Patient viewers will be rewarded with a sense of dread that only
the Italians know how to deliver. Nice job, Pupi.
----------------------------------------------------------
DVD Stuff:
The
Zeder
DVD sports an awesome anamorphic widescreen presentation. The option of
Italian or English language with removable English or Italian subtitles is
a great! I prefer the Italian audio with English subs since the English
dub has some dialogue that is difficult to understand. There is a 15
minute featurette on the DVD (but it is only in Italian audio with no
English subtitle options) and trailers for
Zeder
and
The House With The Laughing Windows.
----------------------------------------------------------
Links:
Get Zeder
on DVD from
Xploited Cinema.
|
