City of the Living Dead (1980) Reviews

City of the Living Dead (1980)
Member Rating:  
This gruesome horror film from cult director Lucio Fulci posits a priest's suicide opening the gateway to Hell, freeing bloodthirsty zombies to roam the town of Dunwich. The main attractions are startlingly explicit special effects by Franco Rufino, including two of the horror genre's most memorable deaths. One involves perennial victim Giovanni Lombardo Radice (also known as John Morghen) having his head run through with a power-drill, and the second is the notorious scene of a woman vomiting up all of her internal organs in a nauseating torrent of blood and guts. Fulci does manage one nice moment of splatter-free horror, as hero Christopher George struggles to free a woman who has been buried alive. As his pick-axe enters the coffin repeatedly, it comes ever closer to her face, causing the audience to wince with each strike. Aside from these scenes, though, Fulci's direction is somewhat plodding, as he substitutes slow pacing and clouds of fog for real suspense. Horror fans will still want to seek this film out, however, if only for the effects work and a familiar cast including Catriona MacColl, Janet Agren, Carlo de Mejo, Antonella Interlenghi, and Daniela Doria. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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Starring:
Christopher George
Director(s):
Lucio Fulci
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray
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Average Ratings

(17 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Chris W.

While this is not Fulci's best horror movie, it still has what you'd expect from his Italian horror flicks. Some weird reactions by folks, not-so great acting, not the best dubbing, and some heavy gore. The zombies in this flick love to put the squeeze on the back of people's heads - haha. Not sure what Michael is talking about with no zombies being in the movie, but I think he may be used to watching Return/Night/Dawn/Land/whatever of the Living Dead where there's hundreds of zombies. There's only a couple of zombies throughout most the movie and they're not even really shown once they become zombies. The last 20 minutes of the movie shows a bunch of zombies.

Yes   |   No


Sabrina M.

I really enjoyed this movie. A few very classic gross scenes in it. It was slow at times, but I expected that.

Yes   |   No


Lindsay C.

Overall I enjoyed this movie. It is actually one of my favorite Fulci films. The acting may not be the best and the plot may be a bit silly and filled with holes, but the gore cannot be beat. There are a couple of infamous scenes in this movie, including one where a young woman vomits up her own digestive system, that even I had a hard time watching. I generally don't find Fulci's films scary, but this one had more than it's share of creepy moments. The atmosphere was great for creating a sense of fear and doom. I would highly recommend this film if you want over-the-top gore.

Yes   |   No


Kendrick F.

Let me just say.....I Love the Lucio Fulci !!!! This movie....Not so much. I found the gore to be top notch for its day, pioneering the art at its finest. This movie focuses more on the gore than the story and its characters. But I primarily love the gore anyway. You don't watch these films to see who's up for an oscar...Do You?

Yes   |   No


Devin S.

if you like night of the living dead and day of the dead youll hate this one. it has a week plot and crappy ending. The zombies can disappear and reappear and its really stupid. 7 mins after the zombies rise from their graves the movie is over. Way way too many facial shots. I think there was only 1 secene where zombies were eating people other wise they just killed them.

Yes   |   No


Joe B.

this one was boring. Gore was cool, but plot was crap.

Yes   |   No


Nicolas P.

Some good gore, but this movie is hard to follow and is very boring. Only worth watching for the scnes of people puking up there own guts. Otherwise, skip this film

Yes   |   No


MICHAEL D.

Dont give this one a try. I have heard people say this is a classic but really this is crap. The acting was horrible. The whole story line was just totally out of wack. I watched a near hour and a half of this movie an never once did i see any zombies. Now i would lie or even exaggerrate. I am a die-hard horror/zombie movie fan, an this movie is by far the worst i have ever seen. The dubbing stinks and the movie didnt live up to expectations. If i were you, id skip this flick!

Yes   |   No


Mindy L.

so gory & disgusting, bad acting, very creepy & eerie!!! one of the scenes is very intensely grotesque!!!! bad zombie movie!!

Yes   |   No


Stephen S.

WHAT ABOUT THE ENDING????

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Chris W.

    While this is not Fulci's best horror movie, it still has what you'd expect from his Italian horror flicks. Some weird reactions by folks, not-so great acting, not the best dubbing, and some heavy gore. The zombies in this flick love to put the squeeze on the back of people's heads - haha. Not sure what Michael is talking about with no zombies being in the movie, but I think he may be used to watching Return/Night/Dawn/Land/whatever of the Living Dead where there's hundreds of zombies. There's only a couple of zombies throughout most the movie and they're not even really shown once they become zombies. The last 20 minutes of the movie shows a bunch of zombies.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Sabrina M.

    I really enjoyed this movie. A few very classic gross scenes in it. It was slow at times, but I expected that.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Lindsay C.

    Overall I enjoyed this movie. It is actually one of my favorite Fulci films. The acting may not be the best and the plot may be a bit silly and filled with holes, but the gore cannot be beat. There are a couple of infamous scenes in this movie, including one where a young woman vomits up her own digestive system, that even I had a hard time watching. I generally don't find Fulci's films scary, but this one had more than it's share of creepy moments. The atmosphere was great for creating a sense of fear and doom. I would highly recommend this film if you want over-the-top gore.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 17 Reviews
       

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