Zombi 2 (1979)

Much better the second time around, 24 February 2006

I saw Fulci's Zombi 2 a number of years ago and didn't really care for it. I suppose that at the time I didn't quite understand Italian horror and its excesses. Having re-watched it last night at the insistence of an internet friend, I've done a 180 and completely changed my opinion. While I don't think it's one of the greatest horror movies ever made or even the best thing Fulci did, Zombi 2 accomplishes what it's intended to do – create a sense of real horror in the viewer. Zombi 2 has some of the most undeniable atmosphere I've seen. The atmosphere hangs on everything like the humidity of the movie's setting. There is a real sense of dread running throughout the movie that only grows with each passing frame. It's the kind of movie that you can feel deep down in your gut, twisting your insides with unrelenting horror. This is what a good horror movie is supposed to do – keep you on the edge of your seat, drawing you into the film, and making you want to look away at the same time. Very nicely done, Mr. Fulci!

So what affected me this time that didn't the first time I watched Zombi 2? I could give several answers, but I'll limit this to two key areas where this movie really excels. First, the special effects, as low-budget as they are, work almost flawlessly. I've always thought that for the make-up in something like Zombi 2, cheap effects generally work better than state-of-the-art CGI type effects. There's just something about seeing actual, real, physical hunks of flesh being ripped off of a victim or a zombie decomposing in front of your eyes. It has weight and substance – something lacking in modern day over-bloated special effects.

The second area where Zombi 2 really works is the score. Every note and every sound fits perfectly with the on-screen action. The music enhances the film's mood to perfection. Feelings of horror and terror on the part of the viewer are enhanced by the score. It's easily one of the most effective I've seen recently.

8/10