Zombie-A-Go-Go: Burial Ground

The only thing more prevalent than zombies in horror cinema are vapid, busty blonds with no acting ability. While there are many famous films in the genre (Dawn of the Dead, White Zombie, etc.), there are also numerous obscure little gems in the bunch. For example, there are movies like today's subject...

Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror

I have to immediately take one issue with the title. The bulk of the movie takes place in one day and night. There is a technicality that could be involved though. I'll explain.

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The film begins with a professor who looks like the prospector from "The Final Sacrifice" wandering into a crypt and chipping away at a seal for no reason. Faster than you can say 'you are stupid for doing that,' zombies begin to wander towards him. As if this educated man did not seem dumb enough, he immediately drops his pick hammer. Yeah, he dies.

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Cut to the next day (that apparently being the first night of terror), a carpool of people is driving down a road, accompanied by the film's credits. We get three couples, one of whom has what we are told is a kid. Even a cursory look at him says that he is either a midget or has that disease from Jack. He's unsettling to say the least. The fact that he, along with everyone else, is dubbed, does not help.

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The couple's proceed to split up and attempt to have sex, leaving the one 'kid' alone to wander around. We basically cut from highly-edited make-out sessions to zombies wandering around. This allows you the chance to see that, as cool as the zombie masks look, they are clearly one-piece masks. Don't expect those mouths to open, people. A couple do come with maggots writhing around on the faces though. Gross, but clever, touch.

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The movie deftly mixes zombie cliches with some twists on the approach. For example, the zombies move with all the land-speed of one-legged sloths. However, the first guy to do is the guy with a gun. The scene where the zombie is set on fire after being doused with paint is so neat that they do it twice in a row. One of the most creative deaths involves the maid who is pinned to the window by a thrown nail through the hand. How the lethargic zombies did that is unknown. Once immobilized, they raise a sickle up and cut her head off. Implausible- yes. Cool- yes.

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Other than straight-forward zombie attacks, the movie does not have a lot more to offer. It is notable that these zombies pick up hand weapons, some ten plus years ahead of Land of the Dead, but roughly four years after Nightmare City. The creativity and mix of zombie masks is notable, although they all wear the same brown robes. Oh look, there are a bunch of mute men in brown, hooded robes. Why don't you go over and talk to them? They look ni-oops, they just ate you and attacked your friends. The film ends with a quotation, complete with a typo: 'nights' is spelled as 'nigths.' Good job, guys.

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That's enough zombie action for today. Next comes an explosive Italian import. Stay tuned...