Burial Ground (Film)

Overview

• Original Title: Le Notti del terrore
• Also Known As: Nights of Terror, Zombi Horror, The Zombie Dead
• Type: Italian exploitation zombie movie
• Director: Andrea Bianchi
• Writer: Piero Regnoli
• Producer: Gabriele Crisanti
• Cinematography: Gianfranco Maioletti
• Music: Elsio Mancuso, Burt Rexon
• Distributed by: Variety Distribution
• Release Date: 1981
• Running Time: 85 minutes
• Language: Italian (English dub)

Plot Summary

• A scientist studying an ancient crypt near a mansion unleashes a curse that reanimates the dead.
• The scientist is devoured by the zombies.
• Three jet-set couples and a woman's son arrive at the mansion, invited by the scientist.
• Zombies attack, and the group locks themselves in the mansion.
• Zombies exhibit intelligence, using tools to break in.
• The group makes a plan to distract zombies and escape, but it goes awry.
• The film ends with the prophecy appearing on the screen after a series of deaths.

Main Characters

• Janet: Played by Karin Well
• Mark: Played by Gianluigi Chirizzi
• James: Played by Simone Mattioli
• Leslie: Played by Antonella Antinori
• George: Played by Roberto Caporali
• Nicholas: Played by Claudio Zucchet
• Michael: Played by Pietro Barzocchini
• Kathryn: Played by Anna Valente
• Professor Ayers: Played by Benito Barbieri
• Evelyn: Played by Mariangela Giordano

Production

• Shot in four weeks at Villa Parisi, Frascati, near Rome.
• Special effects by Gino De Rossi and Rosario Prestopino were a major budget focus.
• Pietro Barzocchini (Peter Bark) was cast as the young Michael to circumvent child actor laws.

Release and Reception

• Limited U.S. release by Film Concept Group in 1985, grossing $542,501.
• Released on VHS by Vestron Video and in the UK with significant cuts.
• Uncut version released in the UK in 2002 by VIPCO.
• DVD released in the U.S in 2006 and Blu-ray in 2011 by Shriek Show.
• 2024 re-release on Blu-ray and 4K UHD by Severin Films.

Critical Reception

• Mixed reviews from critics:
  • Peter Dendle: Describes it as a high-impact film, although often seen as a clone of Zombi 2.
  • Marc Patterson: Rated 2/5, finds it uninteresting.
  • Sara Castillo: Notes the lack of plot and infamous zombie breastfeeding scene.
  • Danny Shipka: Blames it for harming the zombie film genre.
  • Peter Normanton: 5/5 stars, praises its pace but notes the effects are sometimes farcical.
  • Glenn Kay: Criticizes for lack of suspense and describes it as dull.

References

• Links to IMDb and Variety Distribution for further details.