My quick rating - 5.2/10. You ever watch a movie that’s objectively not good but somehow still manages to be a blast? This flick is exactly that—a wild, low-budget, fan-made(?) love letter to all things zombie that feels like it was stitched together with duct tape, enthusiasm, and a whole lot of fake blood. The plot? Well, the government has had enough of this zombie nonsense and forms an elite Zombie Squad to clean up the undead mess. But instead of just dealing with your typical shambling flesh-eaters, they stumble upon a fanatical cult that believes zombies are part of God’s divine plan. (Look, I’m no theologian, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.) Things go south fast, and what follows is a glorious mishmash of practical gore effects, time-of-day continuity errors, and actors who are clearly having the time of their lives.
The movie practically winks at us horror fans from start to finish. The names alone are a dead giveaway—Officer Raimi? Doctor Savini? Romero getting taken out early? I see what you did there. Even the undead Mercer looks straight out of Evil Dead. And speaking of Evil Dead, there’s a scene where cops are literally watching it in the briefing room. No subtlety here, just pure, unapologetic fandom.
And somehow, Sam Raimi is listed as a producer, because of course he is. Did he fund this with loose change found in Bruce Campbell’s couch? We may never know.
Honestly, I’m kicking myself for missing this one back in the day because it’s exactly the kind of scrappy ‘80s horror flick I live for. It’s a mess, sure, but it’s my kind of mess. The restoration team did a great job preserving this obscure oddity, making it look as good as possible (which is to say, better than it probably deserves).
If you go in expecting a polished, well-paced, expertly crafted film, you’re in the wrong neighborhood. But if you want ridiculous gore, over-the-top fun, and a movie that loves zombies as much as you do, The Dead Next Door delivers. Grab a beer, turn off your brain (before the zombies do it for you), and enjoy!
Justwatch lists a few freebies and a couple of streamers to rent this remastered version.
https://jackmeat.com/the-dead-next-door-1989/
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