7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Two traveling companions, George and Edna, come across a small town infested with the “living dead” that are satisfying their cannibalistic hunger on anyone they come across. Discovering that an agricultural machine using radiation waves is at the root of all the havoc, George and Edna fight for survival and their innocence as they are pursued by a relentless detective who is convinced they are responsible for the ghoulish acts of violence plaguing the countryside.
Starring: Cristina Galbó, Ray Lovelock, Arthur Kennedy, Aldo Massasso, Giorgio TrestiniHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 31% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (640 kbps)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (256 kbps)
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The dead don't walk around except in very bad paperback novels.
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, a.k.a. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, a.k.a.
Don't Open the Window, a.k.a. Weekend With the Dead, a.k.a. Brunch With
the Dead a.k.a. No Profanen el Sueño de los Muertos, a.k.a. Fin de Semana Para
los Muertos, a.k.a. ad infinitum, might not enjoy the same mainstream recognition as the
standard-bearers of the Zombie genre -- George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, its
remake, Shaun of the Dead,
or
even the brand new Zombieland -- but it's every bit as chilling, influential, and grotesque
as the best the genre has to offer. This is straight Zombie goodness; it lacks the humor of a
Shaun of the Dead but it does feature social commentary on the balance of power
between man and nature and the generational gap that defined the era in which it was made,
but it's not quite as overt as the commentary found in Romero's Dead
films. Generally, however, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue goes straight for the
jugular -- or the brains or the intestines -- and delivers a
heavily atmospheric, deliberately-paced, deliciously gruesome Zombie experience that, no matter
what title it's going by today, remains a favorite of genre aficionados.
George the Zombie slayer.
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is revived on Blu-ray with a good 1080p, 1.85:1 transfer. It's important to note that this isn't the stuff of eye candy, but the film's intended tone is wonderfully realized here, particularly considering the era from which the film hails. The transfer is generally clear, nicely detailed, and appropriately grainy to lend to it that wonderful cinematic look. Much of the action takes place during daylight hours and around a lush English countryside. The many greens are richly colored, though some longer-distance backgrounds tend to look a bit smeared and indistinct. However, appropriately up-close objects, including pebbles and rocks on a pathway, are nicely rendered and sharp. Fine detail elsewhere is about as good as one might expect of a low budget film that's more than three decades old; stone and brick exterior walls are nicely textured, and various indoor shots showcase a nice array of wonderfully-detailed objects. Flesh tones are presented naturally and blacks are never overtly problematic. All in all, this is another splendid transfer from Blue Underground.
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue delivers a serviceable DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Despite the 7.1 monicker, listeners shouldn't expect the next whiz-bang surround sound extravaganza with this one. It's limited to the source (and the original monaural track is included) so it's generally front- and center-channel heavy. Several high-pitched screeches in the film do threaten to scatter the pets and pop the eardrums, but there are very few other instances of loud and discrete sound effects. Atmospherics are limited to the front half of the soundstage, too, and as a rule the back channels remain virtually silent throughout. The undead moan and groan with a hint of bass in accompaniment, and there are several low-end beats to the score that aren't particularly clear or robust but do help to set the tone of the film and prove somewhat unnerving. Dialogue is often problematic; there are obvious lip synch issues and a lot of dubbing, but no particularly distracting issues relating to dialogue discernment. All said, however, this is a basic sort of soundtrack but it's about all one could -- and should -- expect of a low budget, mid-70s Zombie flick.
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue scares up a nice selection of extra materials. Back to the Morgue: On Location With Director Jorge Grau (480p, 44:51) features the director revisiting the shooting locations and describing the action that occurred at each place. He also discusses the film's ecological themes, its many titles, props, the script, and more, all intermixed with corresponding scenes from the film. The piece is presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Zombie Fighter -- Interview With Star Ray Lovelock (480p, 15:41) features the actor who portrayed "George" recalling his career with special emphasis on The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue. The piece is presented in Italian with forced English subtitles. Next is Zombie Maker -- Interview With Special Effects Artist Giannetto De Rossi (480p, 16:05). Again presented in Italian with English subtitles, the effects guru speaks extensively on his work in The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue; this proves to be the most interesting supplement on the disc. 2000 Interview With Director Jorge Grau (480p, 20:27) is a solid retrospective piece that features the director reflecting on several aspects of the film a quarter-century after the fact, including the performances of the actors, the development of the sound effects and music, the special effects, and more. Also included is the film's international trailer (1080p, 3:51), U.S. trailer advertising the film as Don't Open the Window (480p, 0:27), a TV spot (480p, 0:32), several radio spots accompanied by a poster gallery (480p, 2:08), and a separate poster and still gallery (480p, 2:53).
Though best known around circles populated by genre aficionados, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue -- or whatever one might choose to call it -- comes close to matching the superiority of the best of the mainstream Zombie pictures that have made the genre popular and accessible to more general audiences. Though the film starts off rather slowly, its deliberate pace allows for the crafting of a superior story that makes the film's bloody third act all the more intense and gratifying. Supported by strong effects and a wonderfully chilling atmosphere, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is a bona-fide classic of its genre, and this Blue Underground release will hopefully allow the film to gain a new following from viewers that might only now be taking an interest in Zombie pictures thanks to the recent influx of superb mainstream efforts. Boasting a strong 1080p transfer, a passable lossless soundtrack, and a fine helping of extra materials, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue, a.k.a. A Must Own Blu-ray comes highly recommended.
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie / Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti - 6,000 units
1974
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie / Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti
1974
Paura nella città dei morti viventi | Standard Edition
1980
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
Zombi 2 / Zombie Flesh Eaters
1979
E tu vivrai nel terrore - L'aldilà | Glow in the Dark Cover | Limited Edition to 3000
1981
Virus / Apocalipsis Caníbal / Zombie Creeping Flesh / Night of the Zombies
1980
1980
Le notti del terrore
1981
Lo squartatore di New York
1982
Incubo sulla città contaminata
1980
1980
Standard Edition
1981
Standard Edition
1985
Dèmoni 2... l'incubo ritorna | Standard Edition
1986
Rosso Sangue
1981
Un gatto nel cervello | Glow in the Dark Cover & Mini Portrait of Lucio Fulci Limited Edition to 3000
1990
1990
4K Remaster / Due occhi diabolici
1990
1972
1979
1967