Vengeance of the Zombies BIG BOX RELEASE Paul Naschy

Cast  (Cast overview, first billed only)
 Paul Naschy ...  Krisna / Kantaka / Satán
 Romy ...  Elvire Irving (as Rommy)
 Mirta Miller ...  Kala
 María Kosty ...  Elsie (as Maria Kosti)
 Aurora de Alba ...  Olivia
 Luis Ciges ...  MacMurdo (also as Louis Ciges)
 Pierre Besari ...  Ti Zachary

 Antonio Pica ...  Hawkins
 Elsa Zabala ...  Susan
 Montserrat Julió ...  Flora (as Monserrat Julió)
 Ramón Lillo ...  Basehart (as Ramon Lillo)
 Norma Kastel ...  Gloria Irving
 Ingrid Rabel ...  Muerta
 Asunción Molero ...  Muerta (as Asuncion Molero)
 Fernando Sánchez Polack ...  Augusto (also as Fernando S. Polack) (as Fernando S. Polak)

Also Known As:Vengeance of the Zombies (International: English title) (USA)
Revolt of the Dead Ones
The Rebellion of the Dead Women
Walk of the Dead (video title)

Entertaining Euro sleaze, 3 January 2008
Author: slayrrr66 from Los Angeles, Ca

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

"Vengeance of the Zombies" is one of the more enjoyable European horror films of the time.

**SPOILERS**

Speaking in London, cult leader Krisna, (Paul Naschy) performs with his companion, Kala, (Mirta Miller) their usual Middle Eastern philosophy. When Lawrence, (Victor Alcazar) and his girlfriend Elvira Irving, (Romy) attend one ceremony, she suddenly succumbs to weird visions of deceased relatives, and opts to take a trip away to clear herself at their house out in the countryside. While back in London, he stumbles upon a murder mystery while trying to study about cults where the victims are drained of blood and offered up as a sacrifice, allowing the deceased to come back as voodoo-driven zombies to do the bidding of their master. Racing to find the master, he tries to put a stop to it before an evil voodoo sorcerer uses them for his own nefarious plans.

The Good News: This here isn't all that bad, and certainly has some good points. The mix-mash of genres present in this one a strong point, which gets some points for it. The fact that it manages to do so offers up some creativity that might not be apparent to some. The supernatural elements brought on from the black mass rituals are really creepy and genuinely unnerving, helped in no small part by their attention to detail and authentic feel. The first one, where witnessing a participant dressed head-to-toe in gold paint with stoic figures around the back watching a Devil-figure drink blood from a horn shaped like a human leg, all set to a jazz score, is something to remember. The later scenes carry just as much impact, and a sequence in the morgue that features a wax voodoo doll filled with blood and set on fire where the dead sit up under the sheets behind them offers a great visual and the later mass ritual is something to behold in it's impressiveness. The slasher aspects here get the majority of the blood and gore in their kills, as a victim is forced to slit their throat, a hatchet is buried in the face, a bottle opens a big, bloody wound on the neck, a knife stabbed in the back and the film's big highlight, where an approached figure is revealed to have been decapitated upon touching. It's a nice shock and looks really impressive. Even the killer looks great, as the use of voodoo to do some of them is really original and adds a nice touch. The zombie plot allows for some nice make-up effects, as the zombies look suitably dead without the just-killed look. The fact that they're draped in gowns and come completely with demonic grins is even more appreciated, and a spectacular scene as they massacre a group in a cemetery at night is all Gothic brilliance. The several dreams are creepy as well, adding in another flavor to the film, and altogether, makes this one really interesting and watchable.

The Bad News: This one here does have a couple of mild flaws. The fact that it mixes everything together and uses so many different ideas and themes is something that can cause confusion and annoyance in some. The slasher story set inside the Devil-Worshiping cult story is one that stands out, mainly for being as confusing as it is hard to explain the need for it. It adds to the body count and provides some blood and gore to the film, but it really feels like it belongs in another film and really taken the time to be explored and thought out more. The zombie plot is the most puzzling, since they follow up on the more traditional version rather than the raging, flesh-eating kind more commonly known, and their appearance as that kind will no doubt be something that will be hard pressed to get over for some. The fight sequence is incredibly bad, looking too staged for it's own good and comes across as foolish. A couple of incidental scenes with no purpose being there, as the bicycle meet and the London walk-through, disrupt the fine pacing and serve no real purpose. Otherwise, this one here is pretty good.

The Final Verdict: One of the more interesting features abound, merely for it's creativity and passion, won't be something for all. Really only useful for those heavily interested in the occult, die-hard Naschy or European horror fanatics, while those with no interest in these won't find much here to enjoy.

ex-rental