Chronicles of the Undead: A DVD Review Exploring the Depths of Zombie IV: After Death!

Zombie IV: After Death DVD cover artwork from NSM Records

In the lower levels of zombie flicks lays a chamber devoted to those so repulsive or mutated that the walking cadavers avoid them. Yeah, we all know of the higher-level hierarchy from Romero’s trilogy to Lucio’s merciless rampages, to Shaun of the Dead, etcetera. Then we head to the prized movies which are proper cult which many zombie gorehounds hold dear to their chests such as The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue, The Girl with all the Gifts, Train to Busan, Return of the Living Dead, Re-animator — that list is waaaaay toooo long.

Then there’s the cheeky trash ones, Zombie Lake (see review), Zombie Creeping Flesh (aka Hell of the Living Dead), Burial Ground, and so on. Note, they are three of my go to fun movies so I reckon you know where I’m going with this review.

Underneath those lieth the forgotten (or those everyone tries to forget) Oasis of the Zombies (see review), Zombi 3 (even I try to forget that), Zombie Apocalypse (hey I like that one as well), The Laughing Dead… fuck me, I can’t list anymore.

Last but not least there’s the chamber. This can only be unlocked by the most depraved of horror lovers for it can result in severe head shaking and sometimes boredom if you haven’t seen as many as you need to. Jay Creepy and his Partner in Gore, Willow, have messed their brains up so much over the years and far worse since they got together for their mission is to seek, locate and absorb the worst.

I reviewed a few of these years ago I found huddled next to Black Demons, both from Bruno Mattei. Zombies: the Beginning (see review) and Island of the Living Dead (see review). As a matter of fact, Zombie IV: After Death reminded me a lot of the latter. The thing with Zombie IV (which is so different it’s genuinely weird) is it needs to be seen uncut. There are versions all over the place that aren’t complete. The NSM Records version presented here is fully intact. I assume the Severin and 88 Films releases are also. It’s not so much chopped gore, it’s extra bits of story (what there is of it).

Okay, so director, Claudio Fragasso has a history of being part of unusual zombie films. He was part of the above mentioned Zombi 3 plus Zombie Creeping Flesh, and away from zomb’s he directed Beyond Darkness and… Troll 2. Yes indeed. Look, a director basically visualises a screenplay thus bringing it all to life in the best way possible. Writer Rossella Drudi wrote Strike Commando 2, Eleven Days Eleven Nights, Robowar, and… Troll 2. Let’s move onto the review itself.

Zombie IV: After Death has an eerie opener with wind sounds narrates how experts and students of all sciences, alchemy, and such, have all wanted the secrets (“…the mystery of mysteries…“) to conquering the oldest enemy of mankind: death. They set up on a tropical island and devoted their lives to this. Cue credits and one of the greatest ‘80s rock numbers we’d heard over a film in a while. I watched this years ago and I’d totally forgotten this, so we rocked along on the sofa. This flick was made in the later part of that decade so already it was out of date upon its release. This is beautiful!

Next, we have a voodoo priestess writhing around in a cavern as her hubby, a master of voodoo ceremonies reads from a book and opens a door to Hell which is kind of mandatory in films such as this. Meanwhile, we cut to a team of scientists racing to stop him and the woman dances like a speed freak on the dancefloor. James Edward Samson really chews the scenery as the high master. He reminded me a lot of William Marshall of Blacula for the booming commanding aura. What happens next is a cross between the finale of Raiders of the Lost Ark plus Bava’s Demons make up as the priestess transforms. The scientists are attacked. See the priest blames them for the death of his daughter, thus in retaliation he is going to raise an army of the dead.

The gore effects are brilliant at the budget allowed; nothing is spared. The first death has eye gouging then face tearing. The team behind the blood and such have a long history of violence within the golden era of Italian horror. This is cool. Next there’s a couple carrying their daughter across the island as we hear the screams of the dead approaching. The zombies run in this one, by the way, and act quite human apart from their looks and killing methods. The surviving scientists are running from tunnel to tunnel in a frenzy. “We’ll never get out of this place!” laments a woman. “Don’t worry, we will.” says her companion. If only it were that simple.

The outdoor couple are assaulted by black wearing snarling zombies. Giving her daughter an amulet for protection, the mother sends her off to trot unconvincingly to freedom as they fight off the hoards of maybe five or six. The music is schizophrenic. One moment it’s absolutely irritating, then it’s funky electric pounding, then brain annihilating again. We focused on the extreme blood to block out the bad vibes in the tunes.

After all that mayhem, we fast forward in time many years and welcome the ‘80s rock tune whilst a boat blasts along the river. Yep, our little girl, Jenny has grown, though she’s forgotten most of what she witnessed. She’s back and feeling some déjà vu. She’s with her pals and a group of ex-‘nam blokes, now mercenaries, are looking to travel near the island. For once the characters are rather likeable for a film like this. They’re running out of gas. Honestly, we weren’t too sure why they were passing by. I think it was a holiday and then the boat is fucked so they must set foot on it anyhow. Nice touch hearing the cries of the dead in the winds.

Three adventuring scientists (who haven’t done much research regarding the island since they’re surprised it’s so hot!!) are loose, seeking the caverns and what lies within, answers to what befell the teams all those years ago. As for Jenny and her gang, Tommy is the first to wander off and gets munched by a zombie wearing what looks like clingfilm and a bit of loose skin. Carrying the injured Tommy, they find a few buildings and empty graves. “They didn’t pay the rent. They got evicted.” I guess that was supposed to be funny.

Sheltering in the main building, Jenny comes across a circle of candles. It’s part of the gates to Hell, the candles must remain lit. She places her amulet in the centre. A mercenary loses his shit and blows out the candles of course. Dan discovers a box of M16’s and assorted weapons which cheers the lads up.

Our trio of clueless scientists finds the voodoo priest’s book. Why not read a few passages, mainly the lines which end with, “Zombi“? Valerie screams. Zombies attack. Only the muscular, Chuck escapes the caves.

The first attack wave of zombies hits our group just as Chuck runs up, these bastards jump and snarl, but of course bullets don’t keep ‘em down. Dan leaves Louise to tend to a very ill looking Tommy. Hmm, yep, we can see that going well. Chuck explains they must aim high, get in the head shots. So this is quite atmospheric, the dead are similar to the ones stood silently around in D’Amato’s Erotic Nights of the Living Dead (see review). Our heroes are constantly under siege. They set a fire at the doorway. One stunt man zombie runs off in flames. Gradually their numbers dwindle as one by one they’re bitten and turned — sometimes into talking zombies which isn’t as bad as it sounds.

There are so many nods to Zombie Flesh Eaters and Zombie Creeping Flesh that its head might fall off. To be honest, take away the goofiness, it could be seen as a semi-sequel to Fulci’s giant as it deals with voodoo and darkness. However, it has demons and shit so a big no!

Zombie IV: After Death has a lot of marvellous ideas, plus some of the action scenes are so brilliantly shot. Acting ranges from midway to over-the-top. There is no bad acting at least. Topped by a standard downbeat conclusion which was the normal way to go in many zombie flicks in the ‘80s, Zombie IV isn’t as ghastly as some reviewers make out whilst they try to be part of the in crowd. Use your own mind. You may hate it, but if you’re in the right mood, it’s hokey bloody entertainment. If you’re accustomed to the director’s other creations, then you know what to expect — as did the producers, I guess.

Jeff Stryker who played Chuck was a porno actor, starring in such Disney fare like Santa’s Cummin’ and Jamie Loves Jeff, whilst a few of the cast are still in movies, albeit as extras or small roles. As a bit of trivia, the actor behind the infamous Zombie Flesh Eaters, “We Are Going to Eat You” poster boy plays a scientist near the beginning. Oooooh.

I’m not going to discuss the DVD, it’s basic. There is an uncut or cut version selection, trailer, that kind of thing.

Macho posing with guns, the lighting, music, sets, and big haired women oozes mid-‘80s, but as I stated earlier, this was made in the late ‘80s. It’s not a dull film, that much can be said. Unless you watch it twice, you’ll miss bits and wonder what the hell is going on, so be aware, or beware. Hahaha.

AKA: After Death (Oltre la morte), Das Böse ist wieder da, A Terceira Porta do Inferno, Zombie Flesh Eaters: After Death, Au-delà de la Mort, Zombie 4, Ζόμπι 4: Μετά θάνατον, After Death – L’isola maledetta, Hitokui jigoku: Zonbi Fukkatsu, Zonbi 4, La isla de la Muerte, Return of the Living Dead Part 3, Zombie – pożeracze mięsa 3, Zombie 4 – O Pesadelo dos Mortos-Vivos, Зомби 4, После смерти, Zombie Flesh Eaters 3

Directed by: Claudio Fragasso
Written by: Rossella Drudi
Produced by: Franco Gaudenzi, Mimmo Scavia
Cinematography by: Luigi Ciccarese
Edited by: Maurizio Baglivo
Music by: Al Festa
Special Effects by: Franco Di Girolamo, Rodolfo Torrente, Francesco Paolocci
Cast: Candice Daly, Jeff Stryker, Jim Gaines, Donald Wilson, Nick Nicholson, Jim Moss, James Edward Sampson
Year: 1988
Country: Italy
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 28 min

Studio: Flora Film
Distributor: NSM Records