Erotic Nights of the Living Dead Review on DVD from Shriek Show!
A lot of people have such a negative opinion of Joe D’Amato films. Me? I’ve stated before, I love his films. Way, way back, my Dad borrowed a copied VHS of The Burning to watch. It was ok, I still enjoy that one now and then, however we fast forwarded after the credits and discovered the uncut freak out glory of Anthropophagus for the second half of the tape. My young jaw dropped. Incredible. Only once has a movie of Joe’s tested my patience — Porno Holocaust. Jesus, I know some of his movies were made on the quick, but that truly grinded me into pieces with the tedium.
Anyhow, Erotic Nights of the Living Dead isn’t that one — this is a good film. It’s not great by any stretch of the imagination, but it holds that grubby sleazy D’Amato look we all adore. I’ve watched it three times and it still makes me smile. I get sick and tired of wannabe big-idea self-made critics ripping into Joe for being dull, for being predictable, and so on. Most of his films aren’t dull. He chucks in a moist barrage of mucky blood and sex, or some vile death scenes, so he isn’t really predictable either. Acting skills vary, but doesn’t that become the case with most flicks?
I’m a fan of sleaze and trash — I have been from an early age (I grew up through the video nasty era in the UK and my disturbed mind witnessed such sights before the tapes were removed from shops). I say it as it is, and Joe D’Amato makes fun films that cannot be taken seriously!
I really have a funny relationship with pornographic films. I have never found standard ones, whether old school or modern, a turn on in any way (I have tastes in other fields, you see), but I adore ‘70s and early ‘80s low budget films that create a story of sorts, then throw in some hairy nude action for good measure and fast money. Take for instance, my recent review for Vinegar Syndrome’s Peekarama, Ray Dennis Steckler trilogy, Red Heat, Hot Love, and Peeping Tom (see review here), no matter how bad and mad things get in that genre, nothing can imitate the feeling you get of dirt. Dirt that gets right under your skin and makes you get a warm sense of belonging… plus they’re always a good chuckle.
Erotic Nights of the Living Dead was filmed back to back with Porno Holocaust, ironically. For this one, the legendary brute, George Eastman returned, and Joe brought in another regular face, Laura Gemser. The rest of the cast are from the other one as well as George.
I admit, I do have a thing for seeing big George on the screen. I kind of know, if a movie has him in it, he will perform. His acting range isn’t huge which is why he only plays certain characters, but he dominates those around him. He’s akin to Fred Williamson in that respect. You gather who he will be before even viewing and you’ll have a great time watching.
Opening with our main bloke, Larry (George Eastman) staring out beyond the fences of a psychiatric hospital whilst other patients wander around and gibber, the music instantly becomes a funky cheesy electric ‘70s movie hit. Like a sped-up version of Fabio Frizzi’s Zombie Flesh Eaters with a bit of gloomy disco. Awesome. Well done, Pluto Kennedy/ aka Marcello Giombini who also scored Porno Holocaust, Eyes Behind the Stars, Anthropophagus, and many more.
Larry and a female patient are soon in the laundry room doing the nasty (“Oh, Larry, Larry, give me it! More! More!”) as he snarls his teeth, she looks totally stoned and manages the infamous speaking through a closed mouth talent which many seem to have in these dubbed movies.
As another fella watches and masturbates, we flashback to what actually happened to put Larry in the place. He’s a sailor who is on hire with his boat for anyone who wants to pay him to go anywhere, so long as he has a chance to sneakily kiss the woman who is on board with the man that pays, of course. Our other main man is, John. John’s company has leased a desolate small island from a local government and he needs to get over there to have a look around.
John likes the women too, because he’s suddenly soaped-up nude in the shower with two soaped-up giggling women as smooth music plays. “Ahhh, why don’t you try that one for size?” Poor Joe D’Amato, he really believed he could handle erotic scenes, but for some reason each and every flesh-bumping moment I’ve seen via his direction is just plain ugly even if the players are stunners, they all look a bit awkward with one another like Joe is aiming a loaded gun at their heads.
After a random scene of a local being gobbled by a zombie, who spits the flesh out and walks off, they aren’t doing this for any sort of nourishment I guess. There’s some more gobbling going on as John waggles his silver tongue in a pubic bush, then his monstrous cock gets swallowed. Fucking hell, he’s a big boy!! If he penetrates these girls it’ll be similar to the impaled scene in Cannibal Holocaust. Oh, not that bad, he’s a bit limp and doesn’t go all the way in.
Meanwhile, Larry is getting it on at the boat and by contract keeps his clothes on. He has also drawn the short straw when it comes to sex soundtrack scores. Who in any realm of life or death considered the waubly plonky keyboard thing we have to endure at this point as something that would have the raincoat mob of 1980 sweating and pumping their red raw stinking sausages? Then John is at it again!!!! With the girl who’s staying in the hotel room next to him. He’s munching hairy lips whilst she’s properly yanking at his curly hair. His moustache screams “I’m a well hung porn star!”
Finally after all this fumbling, hair, and music, we can get on with the film. We have a nice scene of a doctor getting bitten, then we can see how it’s one of those Zombie Lake (see review here) kind of gems where the make-up isn’t used everywhere. Like the river corpse in this section, his ear and parts of his body are fine. He also looks into the camera for some irritating reason as well!
John and his new girlfriend, Fiona, decide to hire Larry and his boat to wander the island. Now this is where Joe D’Amato comes into his own. Abandoned islands are his thing. Wind swept desolation, trees, beaches, ruins. However, the place isn’t as vacant as you’d expect. Laura Gemser lives there with an old man. Upon approach, Larry senses something on the island, as a black cat watches. The ground is a mass of makeshift crosses in the soil. A lot of people have died.
John’s company plans to erect (ha-ha) a hotel and leisure complex exclusive and out of the way. They are met by Luna (Laura) and her grandfather. They explain the two of them are alone. Alone with the dead. John offers them money. “What do I need money for?” queries the old man.
After they walk away, Larry advises John to be careful how they treat them. John rounds on him, reminding him he is only on hire. John heads off to have a gander. Larry and Fiona relax. Fiona strips nude to sunbathe naturally as you would do in such circumstances. Suddenly an un-natural wind blasts the beach. This and sightings of a mysterious black cat doesn’t put them off a few more sex scenes, including a lengthy one between Luna and Fiona.
Larry decides to speak to Luna’s grandfather. The old man doesn’t answer any questions but does hand Larry a small carving (incidentally we saw one of at the beginning of the film) saying it may protect him from what is to come. That night, Larry meets with Luna and they kiss in the sea. As she writhes on him, he catches sight of a crowd of silent motionless people staring out at him. Looking to her, she has gone, but the dead are still there. The original population of the island have come back to protect what is theirs…
Erotic Nights of the Living Dead has some masterful moments to behold once you get through the sweaty pink limbs. For one, the distance shots of the zombies are truly eerie, almost on a par with Zombie Flesh Eaters when you see them shuffling in the background. Close-up though, most of these aren’t wearing any make-up or what-not. There’s a great and chuckle-filled part when John throws one of the carvings to the floor and it immediately changes into the black cat which jumps onto his face.
Overall, some of the final chapters are quite tense and moody. John’s battle with a horde (I use the term loosely, let’s say seven or eight) zombies is fun plus has its moments of gore. The ending is satisfying, and afterwards you hear why Larry is in the hospital. The cast do okay by Joe, considering he always calls them back, they’ve all been regular faces on his CV.
Shriek Show have done a brilliant job on this (fully uncut, I may add) release. The picture is clear, the sound crisp. Unfortunately the extras are as shallow as the sandy graves the dead rise from. Daylight scenes of the night films. I mean, why? Yeah, they have been filtered for the movie, we know that, why show us the sun light? I’m bewildered. Just for the banter I guess. Trailer and stills, nothing more. Either way, so what? We have the complete print of this gem to behold.
Love him or hate him, Joe D’Amato delivers what you imagine by his titles, and a whole gut munch of chuckles.
AKA: Demonia, Le notti erotiche dei morti viventi, Noites Eroticas dos Mortos Vivos, Sexy Nights of the Living Dead, La Regina degli Zombi, Notti erotiche, Queen of the Zombies, Nite of the Zombies, In der Gewalt der Zombies.
Directed by: Joe D’Amato | Written by: George Eastman | Produced by: Massimo Alberini | Cinematography by: Joe D’Amato | Editing by: Ornella Micheli | Music by: Marcello Giobini | Special Effects by: Massimo Camiletti, Maria Grazia Mazzolini | Cast: George Eastman, Laura Gemser, Mark Shannon, Dirce Funari, Lucia Ramirez, Chantel Kubel | Year: 1980 | Country: Italy | Language: English (Dubbed) | Color: Color |Runtime: 1h 52min
Distributor: Shriek Show
DVD SPECS:
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 16:9
Region: NTSC R1
Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL:
- Trailer
- Sunny Erotic Afternoons of the Living Dead (Alternative footage)
- Production stills
- Laura Gemser gallery
