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5 STAR FAB - 1 STAR RUBBISH

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Train
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Wrong Turn 3
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Drag Me to Hell
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Summer Moon
Driftwood
Messengers 2

 

Directed by Marvin Kren. StarringMichael Fuith, Theo Trebs, Anka Graczyk, Emily Cox, Andreas Schröders. Gre. Horror/Drama. 61 minutes.

Release Date : 25th October 2010.

One minute something is all the rage, the next it is totally outdated. But if there is one thing that doesn’t seem likely to fall out of fashion any time soon, it’s the good old zombie movie. Since Danny Boyle’s quasi-zombie hit 28 DAYS LATER and Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD revived interest in the undead, flesh-eating has been firmly back on the cinematic menu.

It’s not just US and UK filmmakers who have capitalised on the zombie craze. Spain, for example, has given fans of the walking dead something to scream about in recent years with the excellent [REC] and its decent follow-up [REC 2].

The zombie epidemic has taken hold throughout much of Europe; but you would be forgiven for thinking that Germany is the exception. Well, this looks set to change with the latest horror from Deutschland: SIEGE OF THE DEAD (aka RAMMBOCK).

Now, I know what you’re thinking: dear God, not another awful Romero rip-off! Well, I must admit that the same thought crossed my mind when the DVD landed on my door mat.

The film’s UK title, SIEGE OF THE DEAD, is clearly intended to evoke Romero’s groundbreaking series, which sent shivers down my spine for all the wrong reasons. If you have seen DAY OF THE DEAD 2: THE CONTAGIUM you will know just how bad a ‘homage’ to Romero can be.

Thankfully, SIEGE OF THE DEAD is a far more accomplished affair than its UK title and derivative artwork suggests.

The film centres on Michael, who is pining after his ex-girlfriend, Gabi. Desperate to see her, he comes to Berlin. But when he arrives at her apartment he finds only a few plumbers and their apprentice, Harper. And one of the plumbers is behaving rather strangely...

Soon enough the plumber transforms into a raging madman and attacks Harper. Michael helps the apprentice to bundle his crazed boss out into the stairwell, but it becomes clear that their troubles have only just begun. A virus has resulted in the city being overrun with bloodthirsty zombies; and the pair, along with the residents of the apartment block, find themselves under siege.

Having not heard anything about SIEGE OF THE DEAD, I was afraid that it would prove to be yet another dire, cheapo zombie flick the like of which seems to be flooding the market these days. Apologies to those who liked COLIN but I could barely keep my eyes open before the film’s halfway mark.

But SIEGE OF THE DEAD has restored a good deal of my faith in low-budget zombie fare, in spite of its brief running time (just over an hour). There’s nothing particularly new on offer but the film has enough frantic flesh-eating action to endear itself to any fan of the sub-genre. And did I mention that it features a touching moment of zombie romance? Sold!

No extras were included on the preview disc.

Ewin Cant.

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