Jun '18 *
I don't really like those movies too much. I figure Zombie 4 After Death might be a bit underrated, but I hated 3 and Killing Birds, and am not overly fond of the shark vs. zombie one, but I recently came across a list of what's supposedly the complete Zombi(e) series, and what I found was pretty surprising. So, yeah. I didn't write this.
1. Dawn Of The Dead (1978) - "Dario Argento was an admirer of George A. Romero's work, and vica versa. When Argento heard that Romero was contemplating a sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968) he insisted that Romero come out to Argento's native Rome to write the script without distractions. Romero knocked out the script in 3 weeks and, though Argento read the script as it came out, he left all the writing to Romero. Argento later assisted in raising funds for the film, provided most of the film's soundtrack and edited a slightly shortened cut of the film to be shown in non-English-speaking countries." The title was changed to Zombi and the rest is history.
2. Zombi 2 (1979) - Despite being called 'Zombi 2', the film is not a sequel to anything. When 'Dawn of the Dead (1978)' was released under the title 'Zombi' in Italy, this film was retitled 'Zombi 2' to cash in on the success of the American film." "The film was written before Dawn of the Dead (1978) was released in Italy, as an action/adventure thriller with no link to George A. Romero's films. The opening and closing scenes (which take place in New York) were added to the script later when the producers wanted to cash-in on the success of Dawn."
3. Zombi 3 (1988) - "Zombi 3 (known as Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 in the UK) is the in-name-only 1988 followup to Zombi 2, itself an unofficial sequel to 1978's Dawn of the Dead (released in Italy as Zombi). Beyond its title, Zombi 3 has little to no relation with the characters or plotlines of Zombi, Zombi 2 or in fact any subsequent "Zombi" films." "Lucio Fulci is asked to film a script for the sequel to Zombi 2. Fulci reportedly completed 70-or-so minutes of film before leaving due to health problems. Writer Fragasso's friend Bruno Mattei was brought on board to do reshoots, and to finish the film. The result was released to Italian theatres in July, and later to home video internationally."
4. Zombie 4 (1988) - "After Death is an Italian zombie movie made during the height of the zombie craze. Released in the United States under the title Zombie 4: After Death and in the United Kingdom as Zombie Flesh Eaters 3, the movie has no connections to the other official or unofficial Zombi films. It was directed by frequent zombie writer/director Claudio Fragasso under the pseudonym Clyde Anderson."
5. Zombie 5 (1987) - "Killing Birds (Italian: Uccelli assassini) is an Italian horror movie released in the United States under the title Zombie 5: Killing Birds. It was released in 1987, while After Death (Called Zombie 4: After Death in the United States) was released in 1988."
6. Day Of The Dead (1985) - In Germany this film is called "Zombie 2 - Das letzte Kapitel" and then it is followed by the Italian "Zombi 3
7. The Hanging Woman (1973) - In the late 90s in America this film was released by T-Z Video (aka Edde Entertainment) as "Zombie 3: Return of the Zombies." The first two in the series remained the same, however.
8. A Virgin Among The Living Dead (1973) - The was the follow-up released by T-Z, called "Zombie 4: A Virgin Among the Living Dead."
9. Revenge in the House of Usher (1983) - Released by T-Z as "Zombie 5: Revenge In the House of Usher."
10. Monster Hunter (1981) - Released by T-Z as "Zombie 6: Monster Hunter." The funny thing about this being that this is actually D'Amato's sequel to Antropophagus [Anthropophagus: The Grim Reaper], so it's a sequel to two completely different films.
11. Zombie Holocaust (1980) "Zombie Holocaust, also known as Doctor Butcher, M.D. has also been released as Zombie 3, and it stars Ian McCulloch, who appeared in Zombi 2."
12. Hell of The Living Dead (1980) AKA Virus. Funny thing about this film is it's been called "Zombi 4" in Italy and "Zombi 5: Ultimate Nightmare" in America. It also steals the Goblin score from "Zombi."
13. Burial Ground (1981) This film has also been released under the titled "Zombie 3."
14. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) - This is also known as "Zombi 3 - Da dove vieni?" in Italian and Greek territories.
15. Nightmare City (1981) - This too has been called "Zombi 3."
(I also noticed IMDb has Zombie '90 listed as aka Zombi 7. Guess they missed that one.)
Thoughts on the Zombi(e) series?
1. Dawn Of The Dead (1978) - "Dario Argento was an admirer of George A. Romero's work, and vica versa. When Argento heard that Romero was contemplating a sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968) he insisted that Romero come out to Argento's native Rome to write the script without distractions. Romero knocked out the script in 3 weeks and, though Argento read the script as it came out, he left all the writing to Romero. Argento later assisted in raising funds for the film, provided most of the film's soundtrack and edited a slightly shortened cut of the film to be shown in non-English-speaking countries." The title was changed to Zombi and the rest is history.
2. Zombi 2 (1979) - Despite being called 'Zombi 2', the film is not a sequel to anything. When 'Dawn of the Dead (1978)' was released under the title 'Zombi' in Italy, this film was retitled 'Zombi 2' to cash in on the success of the American film." "The film was written before Dawn of the Dead (1978) was released in Italy, as an action/adventure thriller with no link to George A. Romero's films. The opening and closing scenes (which take place in New York) were added to the script later when the producers wanted to cash-in on the success of Dawn."
3. Zombi 3 (1988) - "Zombi 3 (known as Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 in the UK) is the in-name-only 1988 followup to Zombi 2, itself an unofficial sequel to 1978's Dawn of the Dead (released in Italy as Zombi). Beyond its title, Zombi 3 has little to no relation with the characters or plotlines of Zombi, Zombi 2 or in fact any subsequent "Zombi" films." "Lucio Fulci is asked to film a script for the sequel to Zombi 2. Fulci reportedly completed 70-or-so minutes of film before leaving due to health problems. Writer Fragasso's friend Bruno Mattei was brought on board to do reshoots, and to finish the film. The result was released to Italian theatres in July, and later to home video internationally."
4. Zombie 4 (1988) - "After Death is an Italian zombie movie made during the height of the zombie craze. Released in the United States under the title Zombie 4: After Death and in the United Kingdom as Zombie Flesh Eaters 3, the movie has no connections to the other official or unofficial Zombi films. It was directed by frequent zombie writer/director Claudio Fragasso under the pseudonym Clyde Anderson."
5. Zombie 5 (1987) - "Killing Birds (Italian: Uccelli assassini) is an Italian horror movie released in the United States under the title Zombie 5: Killing Birds. It was released in 1987, while After Death (Called Zombie 4: After Death in the United States) was released in 1988."
6. Day Of The Dead (1985) - In Germany this film is called "Zombie 2 - Das letzte Kapitel" and then it is followed by the Italian "Zombi 3
7. The Hanging Woman (1973) - In the late 90s in America this film was released by T-Z Video (aka Edde Entertainment) as "Zombie 3: Return of the Zombies." The first two in the series remained the same, however.
8. A Virgin Among The Living Dead (1973) - The was the follow-up released by T-Z, called "Zombie 4: A Virgin Among the Living Dead."
9. Revenge in the House of Usher (1983) - Released by T-Z as "Zombie 5: Revenge In the House of Usher."
10. Monster Hunter (1981) - Released by T-Z as "Zombie 6: Monster Hunter." The funny thing about this being that this is actually D'Amato's sequel to Antropophagus [Anthropophagus: The Grim Reaper], so it's a sequel to two completely different films.
11. Zombie Holocaust (1980) "Zombie Holocaust, also known as Doctor Butcher, M.D. has also been released as Zombie 3, and it stars Ian McCulloch, who appeared in Zombi 2."
12. Hell of The Living Dead (1980) AKA Virus. Funny thing about this film is it's been called "Zombi 4" in Italy and "Zombi 5: Ultimate Nightmare" in America. It also steals the Goblin score from "Zombi."
13. Burial Ground (1981) This film has also been released under the titled "Zombie 3."
14. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) - This is also known as "Zombi 3 - Da dove vieni?" in Italian and Greek territories.
15. Nightmare City (1981) - This too has been called "Zombi 3."
(I also noticed IMDb has Zombie '90 listed as aka Zombi 7. Guess they missed that one.)
Thoughts on the Zombi(e) series?
4/10 Zombi 2 (1979)
3/10 Zombi 3 (1988)
4/10 Zombie 4 (1988)
3/10 Zombie 5 (1987)
8/10 Day Of The Dead (1985)
5/10 The Hanging Woman (1973)
3/10 A Virgin Among The Living Dead (1973)
NS Revenge in the House of Usher (1983)
3/10 Monster Hunter (1981)
2/10 Zombie Holocaust (1980)
2/10 Hell of The Living Dead (1980)
5/10 Burial Ground (1981)
9/10 Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974)
3/10 Nightmare City (1981)