Blind Dead Series

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Has anyone seen the movies in this saga? They sound interesting, but I've seen mixed reviews, and the IMDB rating hovers around five or six stars. I'd like to get an opinion on how atmospheric it is, scary, cool, well-made, and on what level of gratiuitious italian b-movie sexual content I might need to worry about (Not really that keen on rape and sex scenes). How do the four movies compare in quality? Is it important or helpful to watch them in any particular order, or are they more akin to remakes or variations on the theme devoid of a linear connecting thread? Is it better to start with Tombs of the Blind Dead/The Eyeless Dead or Return of the Evil Dead/Attack of the Evil Dead/Blind Dead 2? Is Blind Dead 3/The Ghost Galleon really as stupid as it sounds? Which releases of the DVDs are best in terms of editing and sub/dubs?

[Bob]

Embarassingly enough I DO own "Tombs of the Blind Dead and Return of the Blind Dead".

I dont recall any nudity in them, but I may have nodded off!

They are dull, dull, dull.   Having the Blind dead ride in super slow motion does not an action sequence make.   All they do is ride horses in slow motion.   

I dont think there is any really connecting story line in the movies, so it would not matter what order you watch them in.   

Even though I did not like the movies, I DO have this really cool German poster for it.

Cool website for German movie posters.   http://www.filmposter.net/home.html

[Rude]

...

I own all of the films, and really enjoy them. Of course they're basically B-movies, and foreign horror films at that... so their appeal is limited. Although they do manage to create an amazing sense of atmosphere throughout the first few films. Both the lighting and the cinematography add to the overall feeling of the film. And i really thought that the Templar Knights themselves looked pretty cool... especially when riding menacingly in slow motion atop their dead horses!

The special effects aren't so special, and occasionally you may laugh at the clawing skeleton hands as they reach for their victims. But overall the films are very well made. They do eventually start to lack in quality as the series went on... exchanging an atmosphere of dread for a straight horror film where the bad guys stalk their victims in creepy locations. But even the Ghost Galleon is a lot of fun!

The sex scenes aren't too intense or graphic... as far as i can remember. If you're embarrassed while watching that kind of stuff in front of other people though, it could get uncomfortable. But what little there is will be done and over within the first half hour of the film. Unless you're in the living room with your mom, i wouldn't worry about it.

I'd recommend seeing all the films in order, even though there isn't much linking them thematically except the Knights themselves. However, the first film is considered the classic Blind Dead film, and it is probably the best made film. The second is just a variation on a theme, but i think it was actually the first to be dubbed in English. Seagulls is like a prequel of sorts, and shows you the story of the Knights... While Ghost Galleon is basically about swimsuit models trapped on an evil boat.

All of the DVDs have been remastered and rereleased in the last few years, both as an awesome coffin boxset (which i have) and as individual DVDs. So the picture and sound quality have never been better. The only thing that separates them visually is the style in which they were shot. Which changes over the course of the series from an artistic low-budget sort of thing... to a more common, commercially acceptable style.

Anyway... in the end, they're all movies about Blind skeletons trying to kill people.
So if you're into that sort of thing i think that you'll like them... all of them.

-Rude

[Bob]

Okay, maybe I was a bit harsh on my initial review.

They are not bad...... I just wish there was more to them.

[gbeenie]

Tombs of The Blind Dead freaked me right the hell out.

[Rude]

...

Definately freaky, for sure. Especially that first one... Like i said, the atmosphere carried the film and created an awesome mood for such a low-budget horror movie. But the Templar Knights just looked so damned cool too! I'm surprised that no one has picked up the series, continued the story or even carried The Blind Dead into any modern horror films. They're ripe for another return...



-Rude

[mrbasehart]

Hm...Don't think I've seen any of these.  Though when you're talking Italian Zombie movies, the field is pretty wide

A film I always quite liked was The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (one of its many titles).  Nicely atmospheric with a couple of splatter moments that are quite well done for a limited budget.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I really don't think you should call it a zombie film. The Blind Dead, according the descriptions I read and the film's creator, are more akin to mummies or vampires than zombies. Free-willed, sentient undead, rather than mindless slaves/flesheaters, rising from their necrotic dormancy to ravage the world.

[Sharktopus]

I really don't think you should call it a zombie film. The Blind Dead, according the descriptions I read and the film's creator, are more akin to mummies or vampires than zombies. Free-willed, sentient undead, rather than mindless slaves/flesheaters, rising from their necrotic dormancy to ravage the world.

Well, as a necromancer, you would be the authority.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Thanks. =)

I actually dislike zombies, as they tend to take up space that would otherwise be occupied by more worth and interesting undead.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I was one of the Blind Dead for halloween this year. Will post pics later.

W00tedness.