Zombie Aftermath 1982
Movie - Review & Info

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Film Review:

The UK VHS title of this likeable little film is an abject lesson on misleading titling. Anyone expecting shambling legions of the living dead will be sorely disappointed in this film. The honest truth is there are no zombies in it. However, blink and you'll miss it and there are several bedraggled creatures who are affected by radiation, and could just about pass as zombies if you were really forgiving.

What you get here for you money is an entertaining little post-apocalyptic actioneer with some nasty horror overtones. The lazy titling was no doubt just a cynical ploy to get people hiring. So much so that at the end of the film, the original title of The Aftermath is still on the end credits.

The production values are pretty low, the dialogue and effects are in the main preposterous and the acting spirited rather than competent. The plot is a mixture of the Omega Man and Planet Of the Apes, and at times drags its heals before veering off drastically.

Despite all that, there's a lot to like about the film, and surprisingly still, it lingers in the mind long after you've finished with it. The central premise of astronauts returning to a devastated world and trying to save the last vestiges of innocence from the marauding bad guys is timeless and poignant. Its worth noting a lot of the film was shot on trash cinema veteran Ted Mikels Castle estate - and for some reason the homely set sticks in the mind. Keep an eye out for Forrest J Ackerman as the curator in the museum also.

Personally I enjoyed the cheapness of it all, and some other highpoints include some great set pieces, a nasty shotgun meets head scene and some wonderful psychedelic skies and matte paintings. The ending is also bleak, and unexpected.

For all the flaws, you can't help but get into it and feel a pang of regret come the end. Maybe its a pang of loss at the lack of zombies or a heartfelt whimper at the futility of it all. If you can be forgiving, the film can be very entertaining and enjoyable, but you would be within your rights to get onto the phone to speak to Trading Standards over the title.