For the Squeamish … Keep Repeating … It Can’t Be True … It Can’t Be True … It Can’t Be True … It Can’t Be True … It Can’t Be True …
Directed by José Luis Merino
Reviewed by Deep Red
Aka Dracula, the Terror of the Living Dead aka Beyond the Living Dead aka Return of the Zombies aka The Hanging Women (title at beginning) aka Beyond the Evil Dead.
Nothing to do with Dracula despite the alternate title.
Spanish/Italian film distributed by Troma Entertainment. A man, Serge Chekov (Stelvio Rosi), on his way to a village takes the cemetery road on foot when no transport is available. Shortly after he sees a woman hanging from a tree and runs to the village for help. He reaches his destination, his uncle’s house, and tells them what happened, Countess Nadia Mihaly (Maria Pia Conte) tells him the hanging woman was her stepdaughter, Mary (Aurora de Alba).
Chekov’s uncle, Count Mihaly, is recently deceased and Chekov was sent a telegram from a solicitior asking him to attend the reading of Count Mihaly’s will. When he inherits his uncle’s estate, the Countess summons Igor (Paul Naschy). Igor’s a grave robber and a necrophiliac. The detective (Pasquale Basile) doesn’t trust Igor and when he searches Igor’s house he finds pictures of dead women. The dirty bastard! Igor legs it.
After being seduced by the Countess, Chekov finds out from Professor Leon Droila (Gérard Tichy) that he and the Count were partners in experiments to bring the dead back to life.
Chekov and the professor’s daughter, Doris (Dyanik Zurakowska), find Mary’s diary and Chekov realises why she went to the cemetery. When Chekov goes to the tomb, his uncle’s body is gone….
There’s a brief autopsy scene in this which I’m fairly sure was real footage – zoinks! It’s a good film, I really enjoyed it. It’s got a great atmosphere thanks to decent cinematography and a good Hammer-esque score. It also has some nice makeup effects that add a real creepiness. I was pleasantly surprised by how involving it was. The cast are very good too. I say check it out.
Also stars Carlos Quiney as Ivan the butler and Isarco Ravaioli as Town’s Mayor.
