Zombi series
Encyclopedia
The Zombi series refers to a set of horror films that have been marketed, in various territories, as sequels to either George A. Romero
's Dawn of the Dead
(1978) or Lucio Fulci
's Zombi 2
(1979). It has a confusing history of release, with entries in the series varying by different regions in the world. The British releases of the same movies are known as the Zombie Flesh Eaters series and the American releases, while not having a consistent name, could be known as simply the Zombie series.
The Zombi series started with George A. Romero
's Dawn of the Dead
. The European release of that movie was re-edited and re-scored by Italians Dario Argento
and Goblin
, and released as Zombi. Because of its success, a zombie film by Lucio Fulci
(already in production) was retitled Zombi 2
to appear as if it were a sequel. This was the first in a run of increasingly tenuous attempts by different producers to capitalize on the Zombi name.
Even further confusion exists in the American series as in the late 1990s several unrelated titles were released as Zombie sequels by T-Z Video (aka Edde Entertainment)
TZ titles were as follows:
1. Lucio Fulci's The Beyond (L'aldilà) (1981)
2. Lucio Fulci's City of the Living Dead (Paura nella città dei morti viventi) (1980)
3. Lucio Fulci's Zombie Flesh Eaters (Zombi 2) (1979)
4. Marino Girolami's Zombie Holocaust (Zombi holocaust) (1980)
5. Lucio Fulci's Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (Zombi 3) (1988)
6. Umberto Lenzi's Nightmare City (Incubo sulla città contaminata) (1980)
7. Bruno Mattei's Hell of the Living Dead (Virus) (1980)
8. Andrea Bianchi's Burial Ground (aka Night of Terror) (Le notti del terrore) (1981)
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Dawn of the Dead
Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 zombie film, written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's Living Dead series, but contains no characters or settings from Night of the Living Dead, and shows in larger scale a zombie epidemic's apocalyptic effects on society...
(1978) or Lucio Fulci
Lucio Fulci
Lucio Fulci was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his directorial work on gore films, including Zombie and The Beyond , although he made films in genres as diverse as giallo, western, and comedy...
's Zombi 2
Zombi 2
Zombi 2 is a 1979 zombie horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. It is the best-known of Fulci's films and made him a horror icon. Though the title suggests this is a sequel to Zombi Zombi 2 (also known as Zombie, Island of the Living Dead, Zombie Island, Zombie Flesh Eaters and Woodoo) is a 1979...
(1979). It has a confusing history of release, with entries in the series varying by different regions in the world. The British releases of the same movies are known as the Zombie Flesh Eaters series and the American releases, while not having a consistent name, could be known as simply the Zombie series.
The Zombi series started with George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Dawn of the Dead
Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 1978 zombie film, written and directed by George A. Romero. It was the second film made in Romero's Living Dead series, but contains no characters or settings from Night of the Living Dead, and shows in larger scale a zombie epidemic's apocalyptic effects on society...
. The European release of that movie was re-edited and re-scored by Italians Dario Argento
Dario Argento
Dario Argento is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies....
and Goblin
Goblin (band)
Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films ....
, and released as Zombi. Because of its success, a zombie film by Lucio Fulci
Lucio Fulci
Lucio Fulci was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his directorial work on gore films, including Zombie and The Beyond , although he made films in genres as diverse as giallo, western, and comedy...
(already in production) was retitled Zombi 2
Zombi 2
Zombi 2 is a 1979 zombie horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. It is the best-known of Fulci's films and made him a horror icon. Though the title suggests this is a sequel to Zombi Zombi 2 (also known as Zombie, Island of the Living Dead, Zombie Island, Zombie Flesh Eaters and Woodoo) is a 1979...
to appear as if it were a sequel. This was the first in a run of increasingly tenuous attempts by different producers to capitalize on the Zombi name.
Official (Italian) Series
The Italian series starts with Dawn of the Dead and is followed by Zombi II and its officially released sequel- Zombi (American Title: Dawn of the Dead) (1978)
- Zombi 2Zombi 2Zombi 2 is a 1979 zombie horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. It is the best-known of Fulci's films and made him a horror icon. Though the title suggests this is a sequel to Zombi Zombi 2 (also known as Zombie, Island of the Living Dead, Zombie Island, Zombie Flesh Eaters and Woodoo) is a 1979...
(1979) - Zombi 3Zombi 3Zombi 3 is the 1988 followup to Zombi 2, itself an unofficial sequel to 1978's Dawn of the Dead . 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...
(1988)
British Series
In the UK the series is known as Zombie Flesh Eaters. While it follows the Italian series in proper order, it ignores Dawn of the Dead as the first entry, and instead starts with Zombi 2, adding the unrelated film Oltre la morte as a third installment.- Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979) (Italian Title: Zombi 2)
- Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (1988) (Italian Title: Zombi 3)
- Zombie Flesh Eaters 3 (1988) (Italian Title: Oltre la morte)
German Series
The German series, like the Italian series, starts off with Dawn of the Dead, but ignores Fulci's Zombi 2 (which was released separately as Woodoo), and instead properly follows up with Day of the Dead, but then follows after that with the Italian Zombi 3.- Zombie (1979) (American Title: Dawn of the Dead)
- Zombie 2: Das Letzte Kapitel (1985) (American Title: Day of the Dead)
- Zombie IIIZombi 3Zombi 3 is the 1988 followup to Zombi 2, itself an unofficial sequel to 1978's Dawn of the Dead . 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...
(1988) (Italian Title: Zombi 3)
American Series
The American series is the most confusing. Although it includes the original Italian series starting with Zombi 2 in order, the titles did not directly follow each other. Zombi II was renamed Zombie, but Zombi 3 kept its appropriate title. Then, Zombi 4 was released with the American title Zombie 4: After Death. To further confusion, two films were released on home video with titles that would imply they were sequels, but they had nothing to do with the Italian series.- ZombieZombi 2Zombi 2 is a 1979 zombie horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. It is the best-known of Fulci's films and made him a horror icon. Though the title suggests this is a sequel to Zombi Zombi 2 (also known as Zombie, Island of the Living Dead, Zombie Island, Zombie Flesh Eaters and Woodoo) is a 1979...
aka Night of the Zombies (1979) (Italian Title: Zombi 2) - Zombie 3 (1988) (Italian Title: Zombi 3)
- Zombie 4: After Death (1988) (Italian Title: Oltre la morte)
- Zombie 5: Killing BirdsKilling BirdsKilling Birds is a 1988 Italian horror movie released in the United States under the title Zombie 5: Killing Birds. Despite this title, zombies only feature in the last few minutes of the movie, and only one character is attacked by birds....
(1987) (Italian Title: Uccelli assassini)
Even further confusion exists in the American series as in the late 1990s several unrelated titles were released as Zombie sequels by T-Z Video (aka Edde Entertainment)
TZ titles were as follows:
- Zombie (1979)
- Zombie 2 (the same film as Zombie)
- Zombie 3: Return of the ZombiesHanging WomanThe Hanging Woman is a 1973 horror film directed by José Luis Merino and distributed by Troma Entertainment.- Plot :A ghostly murder after another occurs on the castle of Count Mihajli after his death...
(1973) (original Spanish title: La orgía de los muertos) (starring Paul NaschyPaul NaschyPaul Naschy was a Spanish movie actor, screenwriter, and director working primarily in horror films. His portrayals of numerous classic horror figures—the wolfman, the hunchback, Count Dracula, the mummy—have earned him recognition as the Spanish Lon Chaney...
, directed by José Luis Merino) - Zombie 4: A Virgin Among the Living Dead (1973) (original French title Christina, princesse de l'érotisme, directed by Jess Franco)
- Zombie 5: Revenge in the House of Usher (1982) (original title: Revenge in the House of Usher, directed by Jess Franco)
- Zombie 6: Monster HunterAbsurd (film)Absurd is a 1981 Italian horror film, an unofficial sequel to Antropophagus...
(1981) (which is itself a pseudo-sequel to Joe D'AmatoJoe D'AmatoJoe D'Amato, was a prolific Italian filmmaker who directed roughly 200 films, usually at the same time acting as producer and cinematographer, and sometimes providing the script as well...
's Anthropophagus)
Other Films
- Zombi 1 (1995), also known as Zombie 1, is a short film by Dutch director Richard Raaphorst available on the film anthology Nether Horror Collection.
- Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974) has also been released as Zombi 3 - Da dove vieni?.
- Zombie HolocaustZombie HolocaustZombie Holocaust, also known as Zombie 3 and Doctor Butcher, M.D., is a 1979 Italian zombie movie, directed by Marino Girolami.-Plot:...
(1980), also known as Doctor Butcher, M.D. has also been released as Zombie 3, and it stars Ian McCullochIan McCulloch (actor)Ian McCulloch is a Scottish actor.He is best known for his role as Greg Preston in Survivors. Though he debuted in the second episode, "Genesis", Greg would become the male lead for the first series, and got to show off his singing and guitar playing in several episodes...
, who appeared in Zombi 2. - Another film to bear the name Zombie 3 is Andrea BianchiAndrea BianchiAndrea Bianchi is an Italian film director and writer.-Filmography:* Diabólica malicia * Treasure Island...
's Le notti del terroreBurial Ground: The Nights of TerrorBurial Ground: Nights of Terror is an Italian grindhouse zombie movie directed by Andrea Bianchi with cult status, primarily due to its low production values and the casting of a middle aged dwarf as a child in an incestuous relationship with his mother.It is one of a substantially large amount of...
(1981). - Zombie '90: Extreme Pestilence (1991), also known as Zombie 2001: Battle Royale, has also been released as Zombi 7 and is directed by German director Andreas SchnaasAndreas SchnaasAndreas Schnaas is a German director and actor, working exclusively in the horror genre. Since he first appeared on the film scene in 1989, Schnaas has become a leader in Germany's ultra-violent low-budget horror film industry.- Early years :Andreas Schnaas was born in Hamburg and embraced cinema...
. - Amando de OssorioAmando de OssorioAmando de Ossorio was one of the foremost Spanish horror film directors during the European horror film surge in the 1970s, known especially for his "Blind Dead" tetralogy....
's The Blind Dead 4: Night of the SeagullsNight of the SeagullsNight of the Seagulls is a Spanish horror film written and directed by Amando de Ossorio. The film appears to have been inspired by the work of American author H.P. Lovecraft; in particular, the ominous inhabitants of an isolated fishing village, where an ancient fish-god is worshipped, suggest...
(1975) has also been released as Zombi 8. - Joe D'AmatoJoe D'AmatoJoe D'Amato, was a prolific Italian filmmaker who directed roughly 200 films, usually at the same time acting as producer and cinematographer, and sometimes providing the script as well...
's Antropophagus (1980) has been released as Zombie 7: Grim Reaper after the release of AbsurdAbsurdAbsurd or The Absurd may refer to:* Absurdity, general and technical usage - associated with extremely poor reasoning, the ridiculous, or nonsense....
(1981), a loose sequel to Anthropophagus.
Danish Series
The Danish distributor company Another World Entertainment, formed in 2006, has issued a numbered "Zombie series" with Italian zombie movies on DVD, which so far includes:1. Lucio Fulci's The Beyond (L'aldilà) (1981)
2. Lucio Fulci's City of the Living Dead (Paura nella città dei morti viventi) (1980)
3. Lucio Fulci's Zombie Flesh Eaters (Zombi 2) (1979)
4. Marino Girolami's Zombie Holocaust (Zombi holocaust) (1980)
5. Lucio Fulci's Zombie Flesh Eaters 2 (Zombi 3) (1988)
6. Umberto Lenzi's Nightmare City (Incubo sulla città contaminata) (1980)
7. Bruno Mattei's Hell of the Living Dead (Virus) (1980)
8. Andrea Bianchi's Burial Ground (aka Night of Terror) (Le notti del terrore) (1981)