Joan Bechtel Movies
- 1990
It is uncertain whether the futuristic thriller Split, which first saw the light of day at the 1989 Berlin Film Festival, was ever released. Reviewers who saw it at the time referred to it as a rough draft rather than a finished film. Clearly the independent work of one man, Chris Shaw, who wrote, directed, did the camera work and wrote at least some of the music, as well as acting in a key role as the film's villain, it offers some intriguing material in its storyline and special effects. The film concerns a visionary man named Starker (Tim Dwight), who has a message designed to counter the oppressive junk put out by "Big Brother's" media. He is perceived as a danger by the powers that be, and to escape surveillance, he goes on the run, pusued by an evil genius Chris Shaw. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chris Shaw, Timothy Dwight, (more)
Zombies rise up from a terrifying pit beneath a notorious mental asylum to do the bidding of the evil Dr. Ramzi, the crazed doctor who twenty years before was walled up alive in the crazy house after someone discovered his horrific experiments involving formaldehyde and illegal lobotomies. Following each experiment, the doctor would casually toss the dead victims into the pit. While his captor slowly bricks him up, Ramzi swears that he will have revenge. When enigmatic Jane Doe is admitted into the asylum for severe amnesia and she turns out to have amazing subconscious psychic power that wakens Ramzi from his hellish sleep, he gets his revenge. Jane and Ramzi seem to be psychically linked and he draws his power from her as he begins to resurrect his former victims. He then sends his small zombie army out into the hospital to find new recruits. Gory, creative killing occurs, for Ramzi's zombies are not only quick, they are also semi-intelligent. Now only Jane, the doctor who originally killed Ramzi, a psychotic demolitions expert and a lunatic zombified nun can stop them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jeremy Slate, Danny Gochnauer, (more)
