City of the Living Dead...

[Spider]

I like it but not as much as The Beyond and Zombi 2. It's been a few years since I've seen it so I need to get it a rewatch sometime soon.

[MissJacksonCA]

A quick note to bring this thread back... COTL is going to be avail on Netflix starting next week for those who haven't seen it!

[fulci fan]

Damn. I just wrote a huge wall of text saying how great Fulci was and how great Gates was but I hit spell check and it got erased. Bottom line: Fulci is an underrated filmmaker and never got the praise he diserved. I can say that fulcifan and I are the biggest fans of Fulci's work in the United States. Barely anyone sees Fulci's films for what they are. They go in expecting cheesball Romero zombie antics and don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I love Romero. The problem is that many fans of Romero are too immature to apperciate Fulci or Italian zombie films. The thing is, Fulci could direct any genre and he did. Romero is only good at Making zombie films and he isn't even good at that anymore. Gates of Hell is a great film and is one of the best films ever made. It is very inspired by the works of H.P Lovecraft because the writer, Dardando Sacchetti was a big fan. Some of Fulci's strongest films were written by Dardando Sacchetti and were very Lovecaftian. I can't tell you people how much of a God Fulci was when he was alive but now he is more than a god; he makes gods. Italian horror films are not "cheesy" or "fun"; they are works of art. Let Romero deal with fun and cheese. BTW, I was the other spfx makeup artist on Gary's Deadlands movies. Gary, you can check out our latest work on Fearnet. It is called "Fear Clinic". Rob Hall directed it. FULCI LIVES!

[krakenslayer]

Don't get me wrong, I quite liked it, but the ending just really frustrated the hell out of me. I don't personally have a problem with films that prioritise style and artistry over narrative and traditional character development. However, my issue with Fulci has always been that he build just enough narrative and character development in the early parts of the film to make me interested in the fates of the characters and the outcome of the story, and then a few minutes from the end (or five seconds from the end in City) he completely disposes with these elements and just ends the film, leaving me feeling a little dissatisfied. If his films were just surreal imagery with less plot and characterisation then it would be easier to take, IMO.

[capncnut]

However, my issue with Fulci has always been that he build just enough narrative and character development in the early parts of the film to make me interested in the fates of the characters and the outcome of the story, and then a few minutes from the end (or five seconds from the end in City) he completely disposes with these elements and just ends the film, leaving me feeling a little dissatisfied. The ending of City made no sense whatsoever and completely destroyed what was built up in the first hour. I remember me and a couple of buds were having a drink and watching it some time ago on cable and just as the last image dissolves and the credits roll, we were all straight-faced and looking at each other like, "wot?" But I do love Lucio's work. Some of that stuff back in the eighties used to make people's stomachs turn proper.

[fulci fan]

The endings are left open for your interpretation. As for the ending of "City"; It could mean a lot of things. If you actually pay attention, "Mary" played by Catriona Mccoll mentions that it is already all saint's day right before the characters enter Father William Thomas' tomb. So that means that whatever they do, Hell has still merged with earth; it doesn't matter that they kill the priest. I think that Mary Woodhouse and Gerry are seeing John John Robbins as a zombie coming after them and then the screen breaks like glass. Gentlemen, it takes years of watching these movies to interpret what they might or might not mean. If you want expert analysis on all of Fulci's films, get the book "Beyond Terror: the films of Lucio Fulci".

[krakenslayer]

The endings are left open for your interpretation. As for the ending of "City"; It could mean a lot of things. If you actually pay attention, "Mary" played by Catriona Mccoll mentions that it is already all saint's day right before the characters enter Father William Thomas' tomb. So that means that whatever they do, Hell has still merged with earth; it doesn't matter that they kill the priest. I think that Mary Woodhouse and Gerry are seeing John John Robbins as a zombie coming after them and then the screen breaks like glass. Gentlemen, it takes years of watching these movies to interpret what they might or might not mean. If you want expert analysis on all of Fulci's films, get the book "Beyond Terror: the films of Lucio Fulci". Unfortunately I don't trust my own interpretations to not be complete bullshit. I prefer a few more clues to point me in the right direction(s). I don't mind an ending having several possible interpretations, and using my imagination, but where it's completely wide open and could mean absolutely anything... well, that's annoying to me. If I wanted free reign to make up my own ending then I'd be just as well lying on the sofa, letting my imagination wander aimlessly, dreaming up stories and images for myself, and not even bothering to watch the movie. I know everyone is different though, I understand that some people get great satisfaction from these films. I'm not denigrating his films or Fulci as a director, I'm just explaining why some of them don't work for me.

[MissJacksonCA]

I was completely dissappointed by this flick. I felt like it should be on a list on when good zombie films go horribly wrong. Like they started off with a great idea and then they added too many differing ideas. There was a serious lack of consistency on the part of the zombies. It had a bizarre feeling like a melange of Phantasm (awesome movie) and The Fog (another awesome flick) and a hint of zombies. It had typical Fulci gore which is great and all but I had to stretch out watching this over two days because I couldn't bear the boredom for more than an hour at a time. And it was boring to me. Characters dont get developed and what they do only makes sense in a highly contrived zombie film. I suppose I exptected too much... bottom line.... not seeing it again wont bother me one bit.

[Eyebiter]

I'm sure some of you guys have seen "City of the Living Dead." What are your thoughts on that one? I thought it was a steaming pile, but it had some cool moments like the drill scene. Do any of you consider it a classic? Gates of Hell literally changed my life. Rented this movie in junior high school with a bunch of friends. Mom made us a huge bowl of popcorn. After the scene in the jeep it sat untouched. To this day I've never been able to eat popcorn without remembering that movie.

[fulci fan]

It is not a true zombie film. Fulci only made two true zombie films and those are Zombi 2 and Zombi 3 (Fulci did not direct all of Zombi 3). I can't see why anyone would think this is a boring film... Then again, If you like American horror, I can see why you couldn't appreciate Italian cinema.

[thxleo]

The Gates of Hell a.k.a. City of the living dead was filmed in my hometown of Savannah, Ga. Of course, I was too young to even know about it being shot at the time. BTW, I thought it was garbage.

[fulci fan]

Coming from a Steelers fan... Go Ravens.

[krakenslayer]

Then again, If you like American horror, I can see why you couldn't appreciate Italian cinema. I'm a BIG fan of spaghetti cinema - but I just can't get into three out of Fulci's "big four". That said, some of his less well known films I really really liked - like that crazy futuristic gladiator movie... whatsitsname?

[EvilNed]

I'm kinda with kraken here. I love italian horror, but I'm not all to crazy about The Beyond and City of the Living Dead. I pop them in once and again, but as frequently as some other italian flicks.

[krakenslayer]

The soundtrack kicks ass though: