Zombi: La creazione (2007) Reviews

• Bruno has risen from the grave!

  ultra_tippergore2009-06-19

  Zombies:The beginning is not a beginning in any way. In fact is a sequel to Island of the Living Dead and also is the last movie from Italian exploitation director Bruno Mattei. Mattei made a lot of movies, more than 100, and he was famous for using footage from other movies, music from other movies and also plots from other movies, he was a professional rip-off director, but he managed to made some really entertaining movies (zombie movies, WIP movies, erotic, gore, action, nun exploitation,etc) . Zombies The beginning is his last movie and, fortunately, it's a good end for Bruno. The movie delivers the goods, is a blood packed action zombie movie, with the usual stock stolen from other movies and the complete lack of originality, but its very good in his own way. Lots of action, lots of zombies, good fx and good costumes, lots of torched babies and atrocities. The movie is shot on digital video and that's the only reason this one is not as good as mattei 80s zombie movies, the film look. But in action, gore and entertainment this one is as good (in terms of entertainment that is what matters after all more than cinematography) as those ones. Bruno is dead. Long Live Bruno. 7/10

• With Zombies: The Beginning, you should know exactly what you're getting into.

  ElijahCSkuggs2008-12-09

  Bruno Mattei's latest and last flick brings more zombie madness to our bloodthirsty mitts. I for one am not the biggest fan of zombie flicks, but I respect a movie with loads of gore and with a high level of cheese. And yep, Zombies: The Beginning delivers just that. The story revolves around some cuteass Asian babe who plays a scientist of sorts. She's the lone survivor of a zombie rampage which left her entire crew/team dead. Events lead her back to the island where the zombies live...unlive. And as you can guess, loads of zombies and gore follow. Some weird turns in the story take place, but really, you're only really expecting the next scene of violence. Which basically, this film is fine for. Z:TB was pretty fun, but ultimately it was a tad too tedious, and just really amateurish. For example, in the first 20 minutes they show a nightmare our lead lady has been suffering from three times. No biggie if it's quick or cool, but nope. It's long and stupid....but understandable. Of course if you love cheesy, foreign zombie flicks, this shouldn't bother you in the slightest and you should feel right at home. If you're a die hard fan of Mattei or zombies, there's no reason not to check it out. It delivers the red stuff, the awful (good thing) dubbing, and a ridiculous story. Just don't expect our leading lady to shed any clothing. Even with those nice boobs....no nudity. Oh well, at least there were some zombie boobs.

• Ol' Bruno goes out with a BANG!

  udar552009-11-12

  Bruno Mattei's final film picks up directly after ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD with Sharon (Yvette Yzon), the lone survivor, being rescued at sea. Back on the mainland, Sharon is having nightmares and execs at Tyler, Inc. don't buy her story on how the ship and crew disappeared. Six months later, Sharon is a monk but is contacted by Tyler, Inc. to participate in a rescue mission after contact with a colony on a nearby island is lost. Sound familiar? Yup, ol' Bruno gets his James Cameron on in his pumped up sequel. Actually, I should say Mattei is getting his James Cameron on again as this is his second film to rip off ALIENS nearly scene-for-scene (after 1990's equally amazing SHOCKING DARK). This is truly a high note for Bruno to go out in for his long career of xerox cinema. Why? Is it a technical masterpiece? Does it contain amazing acting? Hell no! It is because Bruno has the gall to lift tons of scenes from CRIMSON TIDE and shamelessly steal the TERMINATOR 2 theme. There is also stolen footage of an oil plant blowing up, but I couldn't place it. I was equally disappointed and impressed that Mattei didn't steal anything in the previous ISLAND, so this was a welcome return. Plus, you have to love a direct sequel titled ZOMBIES: THE BEGINNING. What? The mimicking of the plot of ALIENS, 21 years after the fact, is just hilarious. Every major scene is here, just with 1/50th of the budget. Yzon gets all tough like Sigourney Weaver's Ripley and the film's bloody finale has her in a big breeding chamber where there is a huge talking brain (no, it is never explained). In terms of entertainment, I would rate this one above ISLAND, for the sheer ripoff factor. But they both need to be seen together. I did them back-to-back and that might be the best way as you feel like you are getting a 3-hour zombie mini-series. The flick ends with a short clip of Bruno saying something on the set and the words, "Ciao Bruno..." on screen. Indeed, many thanks for all of your fine films. And also many thanks to Cameron, Romero, Stallone, Spielberg and all of the other director's who have given Mattei "inspiration" over the years.

• Thought they didn't make 'em like this anymore...!

  noahbbrown2008-12-07

  Bruno Mattei's death really was a sad loss for lovers of exploitation. In the last few years of his life he churned out loads of shockers, including 'Snuff Trap' (which I really enjoyed) and that one that's a cross between Predator and Cannibal Holocaust...aye, 'Land Of Death', that's the one... This one here, though, is an absolute cracker and easily as 'good' as his 80s classic, 'Hell Of The Living Dead'/'Zombie Creeping Flesh'. It takes half an hour or so before it kicks off, but when it does, you will be incredulous that a film like this could still be made in 2007. Dialogue and dubbing are reliably hilarious, there's shedloads of gore and some very nasty and distasteful set-pieces. Plot is vague and gets mighty confused at the end, but you'd expect nothing less really. Cinematography looks nice and whilst I'm pretty sure this is SOV, it looks a lot better than 'Land Of Death' (which looked really CHEAP, but not in a good way). This movie gives you hope that this sort of thing can still be done - rip-roaring, action- packed brainless un-PC horror with not a shred of irony or post-modernism to be seen. All this needs is a score by Goblin or Fabio Frizzi and it would be pretty much perfect. Some brave director needs to pry the baton from Bruno's cold dead fingers and continue what he started...Highly Recommended!

• Craptastic

  artnude2008-12-12

  Wow, I don't know who the fanboy was that wrote the review that made me want to watch this but I feel I must warn everybody else what a stinking pile of poo this "movie" is. Let me start by saying I Love zombie movies. I also love the Alien series of movies. If you take the plot and characters and dialog of the Alien series, get a bunch of bad "actors" to recite the lines, replace aliens with zombies and great special effects with really crappy ones, that pretty much sums up this effort. I'm not saying they stole ideas from the Alien series, They literally stole entire scenes and dialog and just did it really crappy. There was not even an attempt to disguise the blatant thievery. Oh, they did replace the aliens with zombies. Did I mention that????????? Total crap, total waste of time and the worst effects I have seen since the 60's. If you love zombie movies, stay away from this one.