When there's no more room in hell (or outer space apparantly), the dead walk Austrailia.  And when the dead walk in any film, you know it is bound to have a horde of fans devoted to it (except maybe "House of the Dead").  Of course the case is no different for "Undead"... though maybe that is why I did not like this as much as I hoped I would.

"Undead"... you've got some splainin' to do!

We join the film in the midst of another peaceful day in the fishing town of Berkley, Austrailia.  Of course, the village is soon torn apart as meteors begin to pelt the Earth, turning anything it hits into... *duh-duh-duh*... the undead!  Very quickly the characters are thrown together in the house of a gun-wielding, country bumpkin known only as Marion.  Soon, the dead are invading the house and Marion and the survivors (a pregnant woman and her husband, a dick sheriff and his deputy, and a woman whose come back home after being gone for a long time) are thrust into the basement... then a sub-basement... and finally Marion's car.

The motley crue of undead fighting Austrailians are soon on the run while at the same time they try to escape the town (it seems that while they were in the house, a large, spike-covered wall was erected around the entire city).  Fortunately, this leads to plenty of fantastic gore effects.  Though, unfortuneatly, this also leads to a very complicated and confusing plot where there should be no complicated and confusing plot!

As stated above, the brothers Spierig (whom directed, wrote, produced, and edited this) know how to pull off some great effects of the macabre.  Everything from diced heads to exploding chests to torn limbs is covered throughout the film using both physical effects and digital effects (which is especially prominent considering this whole thing was developed exclusively with a home PC and the effects look great even by Hollywood standards).  Though, a few of the zombies have that K-Mart, "House of the Dead"-ish look which brings the fear-level down big time.

Where "Undead" begins to fumble is its execution of the somewhat boring script.  We've seen all of this before.  And when the brothers decide to get creative by adding an alien subplot, everything begins to go horribly awry.  By the third act of "Undead," you're head will be spinning with questions.  None of it makes any God damn sense!

Another complaint is the music.  While the use of the theme from "Jaws" is impressive (and I don't mean the Bum-Bum, Bum-Bum, but the Dum-Dum-Dum-Dum-Dum-Dee-Dum-Dee-Dum-Dum... sorry... forgot that you couldn't really describe orchestrated music through typing), the rest of the library tracks su-uu-uu-uu-uck!  I haven't heard such ill-fitting zombie music since the hardcore metal tracks used for "Resident Evil" or the horrible piano score used in that crappy, re-edited 30th Anniversary Edition DVD of "Night of the Living Dead."

Surprisingly, the acting is well done and the whole picture has a profesional shine to it.  Still, I just had too many problems with this one.  It was just so un-even that I couldn't really have a good time watching it.  For every running gag that works (Marion always having a special hiding spot somewhere on his body for his magical, spring-loaded handguns), there are tons that just don't work.  For every cool bloodbath (a scene involving a broom stick and a buzz saw blade comes to mind) there's a... well, no, they're all pretty cool.

Perhaps it was just the over-whelming hype that did this one in for me.  To be honest, I watched this last night and it took me this long to write a review.  It is just this close to being a "Thumbs Up" movie.  But, as it stands, I just can't do it.

** out of ****  

But in all it did wrong, it done so much right.  This is easily the best ZOMBIE movie to hit in the last 13 years. Easily!

This movie kills the DAWN REMAKE and it makes RESIDENT EVIL look like a super 8 home movie. Need I go into HOUSE OF THE DEAD or 28 DAYS LATER?

I think you did expect too much and that was kinda the wrong thing to do.  This is a ZOMBIE movie after all and that in its self is a misnomer.  They don't make'em like they use to and that is ever so present today, but you know what?  This movie tried to recreate the 70's and 80's feel to a T and damn near pulled it off.

While you give it a thumbs down... I have to give it a thumbs up, way up! Cause this is the 1st movie that had balls, attitude and direction all in one package and it kicks the DAWN REMAKE right in the nuts, spins it around and then kicks it out the door in its ass!  

If you like ZOMBIE movies, give it a go.  You can order it from some company who L.D.B's their DVD's and you can actually get a burnt copy of this movie on DVD and region 0 to boot.  I'll get back with you on the company who has it, as it has escaped me at the moment.

J.D.

You may find a DVD copy here:

http://www.revok.com/dvd.html

As far as your opinions go, I can understand that I probably should not have anticipated it as much as I did.  Then again, I thought the "Dawn" re-make was going to be utter shite... and than I thought it rocked (fast zombies are cool).  Anticipation, bad or good, can still sometimes help make a movie better (or worse).  

My main problem with "Undead" is that it is too much like zombie flicks from the 70's and 80's.  And when it does get original, it doesn't make any sense at all.  Perhaps I'm slow or perhaps it is because I watched this really late at night, but why the hell were all those people floating in the sky?  And I know certain films like to leave you with a mystery (like the fantastic "Dark City"), but in this, the loose-ends just left me feeling empty.

Say what you will, but at least the "Dawn" re-make and "28 days later..." added something new in the form of uber-fast zombies.  Most living dead fans hate whenever I say this, but fast zombies rule (of course, they're not always good... just look at "House of the Dead," the a**hole of great American zombie movies).

But when ZOMBIES move fast it's not original either.  RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 1,2 & 3, ZOMBIE 3 & 4, DEAD ALIVE were all movie that used this method.  Also, when a ZOMBIE movies and acts as he did in the DAWN REMAKE, they are no longer ZOMBIES, but infact DEMONS.

Now i'm not here to sway your opinion either way and I actually agree with your opinion on why you didn't like the film.  I'm just saying as far as my taste go, this is the best ZOMBIE movie you'll find in a long long long time.

And yeah, when you go into a movie, any movie, thinking it's gonna be the best movie of all time... 9 x our of 10 you're gonna be let down.  Again, back to my original thought... this is a ZOMBIE movie and all expectations should stay on the cutting room floor when it comes to them, cause 97 to 98% of all ZOMBIE movies are pure shit.

J.D.

they were floating above the clouds don't forget that, the area below it was still infected, the wall was alien to make sure nothing outside gets infected (but the airplane guy flies over it hence the outbreak again), they wanted everything and everyone up so they can remove the infection. The aliens were good guys..

but I didn't like it, shaun of the dead easily owns this one

Alright, here we go. I had to re-watch this movie as it's been almost a year since I last seen it. I recently picked it up on it's american release and thus I had to review it.

Undead-- The movie nobody seems to get or understand.

I love this flick. I do. It's the best new "not even a" zombie movie to be made, hands down. This movie has so much story and so much indepth commentary behind it, most people just can't seem to get it thru their heads that

A) it's a comedy  
B) it's not a run of the mill zombie movie cause it isn't really a zombie movie.

Everyone I've talked to and anyone who's ever posted a review of this movie always seem to say it sucks cause it's got aliens in it or it sucks cause it didn't make sense or it sucks cause they didn't have any black actors in it... < Yes even this came up online once. I couldn't believe it myself. >>

This movie is about a typical day in a small Australian town. Typical untill a freak metor shower rains down on the community and starts to rip holes thru the towns folk. It's very effective too.

This causes the bodies of the recently dead to rise from the grave and begin to hunger for Brains. It's got great effects, by the way. The zombies are also very well done. They don't run "thank god!" and they are all made up with care. By this I mean everyone looks very different than the next. Great make up effects!

The lives of 6 people cross paths at an old farm house where the lead "An over the top clint Eastwood" takes charge of the bumbling group of villiage idiots.

Soon they find out that the plauge is being caused by something greater than anyone can explain... But is this zombie outbreak a plauge??? Or is it justice and healing?

That is what makes this movie so damn original. It's got aliens and zombies but beyond that it's got a new hook all together.

"Spoilers"

The hook here is... the aliens are the good guys and they are clensing the town. Turning them into zombies is one thing, yeah, but... the meaning behind it is far greater than anything ROMERO has ever done. Trust me!

This movie ends on an incredible high note that'll leave you with something. It's hands down the best kind of a zombie flick I've seen in years.

Yes it blows Shaun of the dead a new ass hole. It's funnier, more gory, has more plot and substance and better make-up effects.

Yes, don't even try and ask if it's better than the pile of shit Dawn Remake...

This is worlds better than Land of the dead, too.

I simply cannot say enough good things about this down under horror flick. Who'd have thunk that the English and now the Australians both out did anything Hollywood could ever come up with in this genre?

Undead is an amazing movie with great acting. An incredible lead actress who doesn't get on your nerves and isn't a friggin' teen bop bitch. This girl can act.

I also can't tell you how impressive the lighting was on this movie. It was great! They had two looks the day -- yellowish brown tint and then the cold blue lunar tint. It's just so moody it brings you right into the picture. I believe this movie has the best lighting effects I've ever seen in a movie. I simply loved the lighting they had here.

Trust me, pick this movie up... give it a go and let this meaning sink in. I believe this is the kinda of movie Romero wishes Land of the Dead could've been.

4.5 out of 5 - A movie with deep meaning and killer zombies. A not so traditional zombie movie but one hell of an original plot backing it up. It's not gonna appeal to your new zombie fans, it won't. They are all too far gone... but if you like the good ol' lumbering zombies with a little si-fi twist in there... you'll eat it up.

Dead n Breakfast was good... Undead is brilliant!

Oh soo cool...someon is complimentng on AUssie films (im australian) did this release in America/or wwhere ever you are?

Yeah, finally... A friend DL'ed it a long time ago and we watched it off of E-donkey... I loved it then, but really couldn't get into it all. It came out Tuesday here so I had to lop it up.

The extra's are fantastic. They show you everything from how to make a Dolly to hold your camera to how to insert prostetics into fake skin to how an animated computer scene transitions into real time movie footage... plus a whole host of other things.

The dvd is loaded with killer extra stuff.

Undead is brilliant... the end just sits with you. It doesn't disappoint you in the least and that is what made the whole movie that much better.

I have to say, Marion has secured himself a spot damn near the top of my Favorite Zombie Busting Badasses list. Anyone who can strip nude and still manage to conceal two fully loaded pistols is okay in my books.

I just couldn't find myself liking this one for some reason.  It has so many cool parts, but an abundance of what I thought was crap too.  Just check out my earlier review (I just don't feel like re-typing it):

[url]http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?,b=movie,v=display,m=1094359585,s=4,highlight=Undead

{Don's note: I consolidated the two "Undead" reviews to one thread.}

Thanks, I wasn't sure how to do that.

Hey, I got this from Netflix yesterday and want to watch it with my kid, who digs this kind of stuff (just like Dad  ) and is bugging me to let him watch it.

Blood and language are OK, but his Mom gives me all kinds of sh*t if the movie has drugs or naked chicks, and I don't want to deal with that.

Can somebody who has seen this drop a quick note on here to let me know if this movie has any of that kind of stuff in it?  Thanks.

Nah, no drugs... a girl in her underwear for a few seconds, I believe... but that's it. She isn't even that hot. Great actress, but not hot. You might even be repulsed by it and cover your own eyes.

She's not that bad, but she's nothing to write home about either...

This movie is brilliant, though, if you ask me.

Thank you, sir.  I will tell the kid that Lord Baltis said it was OK for him to watch it and then just let him wonder what the hell I am talking about.

Yes, do that. I saw this last night, and I have to say it is a tad bit of a let down. It was a film that had the potenial to be very good, yet never quite acheived that level. It seemed to be more or less of a teaser. The characters were run of the mill, chocolate bunny story characters as Phil would say. It was halfway between good and shlock, and that cheesy score solidified it as a b-film.

I loved the first 20mins and hated the rest.

My thoughts exactly. The opening meteorite sequence and intial zombie scenes were good. Then it fell apart halfway through.

Nah... The ending was brilliant, I thought. This movie kicked Dawn remakes nuts up its throat. It was a very offbeat movie, with a lot of great overtones to it... it wasn't a blockbuster... but it managed to keep me interested and I'm one hard person to please. Believe me.

Dead Next Door is among what I'd rate Dawn remake too. If that says anything at all.

Undead is better than Dead alive and damn near in my top 5 zombie movies of all time... However... the 5th spot is being occupied by Burial Grounds right now

Watched it last night, and I can see where all of you guys are coming from.  It's like two movies that have been stapled together -- the first movie is so great that probably everyone who sees this film will think it's great -- and the second one is so odd that I can see how people might not warm up to it.

But this second storyline leads to a fantastic payoff involving a plane flying at night that was just stunning -- it damn near rescues the whole movie.

Marion is great, and the lead actress has big, weird google eyes that I never quite got used to.

Both me and the kid are giving a thumbs up, though.  It's unique, alright, and parts of it -- many parts, actually -- are excellent, with a good bit of comedy thrown in.  When Marion was fighting the zombie fish, the kid was laughing so hard he fell off the couch.

This was a good movie. Though I really didn't understand it until I had to go on IMDB and find out all the "FAQs" and so now I know what was going on in the movie.

Though it wasn't as good as "Dawn" remake, I still say it has some great death scenes in it. "If it has zombies in it, I'm watchin' it."

I'm still watching the DVD features but the film itself was just odd... It starts out really boring and should have picked up a lot more or at least have been comedic.

I have no real thoughts on the film as far as if it's good or bad because I have no clue what I just watched. It's like if you piss on your hand and go eat dinner without washing your hands. You know it's sick but it doesn't matter all that much as long as nobody else knows.

I thoughts the characters were a little unpolished and the films story was amateurish but I guess since it was a very low budget flick by amateurs I can let it go.

Overall I'm on the fence with this film.