By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; whether it’s American made horror or horror made anywhere else in the world, the 70s delivered the best productions.
I came across this movie accidentally. I had been looking up different horror films online and this one was suggested to me. I checked the trailer and thought that it looked alright. The reviews were stellar and it appeared to get high ratings all around.
Though recent zombie films leave much to be desired, the ones from the 80s and before were generally well done. Night of the Living Dead (1968), Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1973), and Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) are just a few of the best.
Unfortunately, nowadays zombie movies look a lot different. Rarely, does anything with promise get released. Everyone loved Shaun of the Dead (2004) but the countless awful rip-offs that followed were painful to say the least. To make a horror comedy one must be able to find the line between comedy and horror. The masterminds behind Shaun of the Dead did so wonderfully. The films that followed by wannabes were neither funny nor scary. They were just sad, stupid and nearly impossible to get through.
Then there are the zombie flicks that only rely on gore. Gore is an element to horror but it cannot be the backbone of the film. There needs to be more. There needs to be a compelling story, intriguing characters and powerful dialogue. Otherwise, one could just watch clips of their favorite gory scenes from their favorite films. I was so disgusted with the zombie genre and it had been so long since I had seen a really good one.
I’m happy to say that I was able to get my zombie fix albeit from a film made nearly 40 years ago. The film follows Edna (Christina Galbo) who accidentally hits George’s (Ray Lovelock) motorcycle while getting gas. The two decide to drive together to their destination as George’s bike is not in any shape to be driven. Soon, murders begin to take place and the head officer (Arthur Kennedy) immediately suspects George of the crimes.
When Edna is attacked by a man who is soak and wet she tells George. While in a small store, she sees the man in a newspaper. He drowned just a few days ago. George believes her to be in shock, but Edna becomes convinced that the dead are walking the earth.
As George slowly comes around to the idea, he begins investigating a pesticide used by area farmers. The workers swear there are no side effects but the connection seems like an obvious one.
While Edna and George work together to try and stop the zombies, the cops work hard to put them away.
Everything about this movie is well done. The setting is beautiful and there are moments when the scenes appear so pleasant and peaceful. When that is interrupted by the walking dead, it adds a certain intensity lost in today’s films. It’s the same sort of intensity created by the first The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) when the viewers would see a lovely day with sunshine and then shift to a woman on a meat hook. Contrasting images so quickly linked make an excellent atmosphere definitely pulls the audience into the production.
The acting is fantastic. The cop is hilarious in his indignation and contempt for the hippies. The movie properly uses all of the elements of horror to create something special. Simple shots like the dead emerging through a dark foggy night still strikes a chord.
Fans of gore will be satisfied as well. Though it is not the gore-porn that modern horror tends to push out, it definitely doesn’t back down from showing blood filled scenes when the plot calls for it.
The ending is fantastic. There are several twists that will shock and entertain.
I cannot suggest Let Sleeping Corpses Lie enough. For those with Amazon Prime it is currently free with your subscription. One can also find this film under the title, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10
