kapelusznik18 ***SPOILERS**** After it's huge success with former 1930's horror films about Frankenstein & Dracula Hammer Films took a crack at Zombie movies with "Plague of the Zombies" that predated the far more popular "Night of the Living Dead" by some two years. The movie takes place in a Cornish village circa 1860 where a number of villagers died of a mysterious illness and were buried without even having been examined-autopsy-to find out what killed them. With the village boss or Squire Clive Hamilton, John Carson, refusing to have Dr. Peter Thompson,Brook Williams, check out what was the cause of the villagers strange deaths he gets in touch with his former medical teacher Sir James Forbes, Andre Morell, to help him out in finding what killed the villagers. Only to have the local police, on orders From Clive Hamilton, to have them both arrested for body snatching.With the graves of those who died opened and finding them empty it becomes apparent even to the police that something fishy is going on and that Clive Hamilton is behind it. It's when Hamilton overreaches himself in trying to make or turn Thompson's wife, whom he seems to have the hots for, Sylvia, Diane Clare, into a member of his Zombie slave work force. That's working around the clock in 24 hour shifts-at minimum wage-at his deserted salt mine outside of town that things really start to heat up.***SPOILERS*** The end for Clive Hamilton couldn't have come soon enough when the zombies under his control started getting hot in the pants as well as their entire bodies. Learning about the black arts as well as voodoo while on a trip to the Caribbean island of Hyatiee, or Haite, Hamilton became obsessed with the thought of creating a Zombie workforce as well as army to do his evil bidding. That with the help of a number Haitians that he brought back to England as well as local villagers to fill its ranks. With Sir James Forbes uncovering William's sinister plan he had Williams' entire Zonmbie army let loose on him. That only to have them together with Williams go up in flames when the salt mine was set on fire during a life and death struggle between Forbes & Williams. That put an end to Williams plans that went up in flames as well as Williams and his entire Zombie workforce .

poe-48833 As it turns out, THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES is an exceptional entry in the genre: part Monster Movie and part Social Commentary (worker rights are touched on- like the right not to be worked to death after Death...), it boasts a solid cast working from a sound script, with some taut direction and some suitably icky makeups (I've always liked the "soulless" look white contacts give Supernatural characters; Sam Raimi nailed the look in THE EVIL DEAD). The direct lineal descendant of movies like WHITE ZOMBIE and I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE, THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES can be viewed as the last of that particular line: within a year or two, George Romero would redefine the Zombie in Fright Films (for better or for worse) for Generations to come.

Theo Robertson Sylvia Forbes receives a letter from her school friend Alice who lives in a village in Cornwall , a village that has been struck by a mysterious illness that is killing the inhabitants . Since her father is the eminent doctor Sir John Forbes she suggests they visit the village to get to the bottom of this mystery If you've been brought up on the post Danny Boyle super fast zombie era then don't build your hopes up . In fact if you're ages with me and remember catching all these George A Romero movies on home video in the 1980s where a zombie sinks its teeth in to someone and bite a chunk out of someone , again don't expect any gore . In fact don't expect any zombies because its not that type of movie . In many ways it plays out like a period mystery set in the late 19th Century and uses most of the sets used from the other Hammer movie from 1966 THE REPTILE one of the best most atmospheric films the studio produced . If you're expecting something along the lines of THE REPTILE again you're going to be disappointed The problem lies in the way the story is told . We're shown a scene where black extras thump on some bongo drums ( Films in those days did play up to stereotypes a bit too much and Hammer were worse than most at it ) where a Shaman gives an incantation . If you've no knowledge as to what might be happening here the title of the film gives a very big clue . What this means is that the audience are one step ahead of Sir John Forbes as he tries to solve the mystery , a mystery that is rendered redundant to the audience . The Shaman's plan for the undead when it is revealed is faintly ridiculous when given any thought , but I guess those nasty mine owners don't believe in a ( Pun alert ) paying their employees a living wage Not to be totally negative there is a plus point in the film's favour and that is the casting of Andre Morell as Forbes . Morell is best known for his portrayal as the eponymous Professor in the original BBC production of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT . Every time I give a loan of my DVD of that show to anyone vaguely interested in television science fiction they always comment that one of the best things about the show is Morell's performance . He effectively plays the same character in exactly the same way which is in no way a criticism . Forbes is an intellectual studious man with a hint of both arrogance and open mindedness and he's very easy to buy in to as being a real person who is on a mission to solve something which makes the film slightly better than it possibly deserved to be

pegstermm i remember seeing this movie when i was only 8 yrs old. scared the crap out of me. my dad had to come to the theater and get me. i never forgot this movie. cant wait to see it again. i remember this movie had the whole place screaming. very graphic for its time. i found this movie when i was looking for other movies done back in the 1960's. I'm so glad i found it and for a real good price. it will a gem in my DVD collection. i will be making a big bowl of popcorn for this one!! i often tried to find this movie but was not sure of the title. i like the old thrillers as i remember sneaking off to the movies. i used to take money from my grandmothers purse, and sneak off with my friend. dad would get so mad when he had to drag a terrified child home and then try and convince me it was just a movie. oh the good times!!