CASE NUMBER: #107

First, technically no zombies exist in the overall concept of the film, I know it says zombie and massacre, these words merely used out of context, for example while the movie shows one undead creature its quickly disposed of thereby ending the attack. The zombie in this flick relates to the voodoo ritual which occurs early in the first act, if one recalls White Zombie [1932] also about voodoo, and not zombies, therefore this falls more as a misrepresentation rather outright fraud as some harsh critics claimed. Speaking of fake outs, fans used to cover art not clearly showing precise details of the actual film, however this time actress Denise Texeira featured on the artwork does not appear in the movie. Director John N. Carter never made another contribution the cinematic world, and he’s not alone, screenwriter William Stoddard, this film marks his only credit, and originators of the story Logan O’Neill and David Broadnax (RIP 2000) only have this as their credit.

Welcome to my Voodoo ritual!

AUTOPSY OF THE FILM:

It all starts at a Caribbean luxury hotel on a fake island, with a bus trip carrying Western tourists further into the jungle, more cut-off from civilization. How hard to choose a real island name, just look at map? The viewers learn about the group quickly in typical slasher fashion, a retired loving couple, fakest drug influenced individual, along with other couples, as well as a photographer, you get the point. YAWN. While witnessing the stereotypical voodoo ritual and killing a zombie, two lovers wander off, clearly their time die, upon entering the bus, the driver vanished as well as parts for the engine. The group struggles what to do, stay or go, who cares, oh wait there’s a spooky old mansion a few miles off the beaten path. Nowhere have the horror fans heard this one before, countless clichés but all treated seriously. One by one the group falls victim to odd killings, and thoroughly unconvincingly, the film clearly unsure of the genre or intended plot lines, drug dealers, voodoo, slasher, and a mystery. UGH. The film makes sure to include actress Rita Jenrette (Sandy) as much as possible, who’s real life swarmed around a scandal involving her then husband a congressman and earned her fame from later posing in Playboy’s April 1981 issue, hence exposing very little flesh in the movie. It didn’t work in the film gaining more attention. David Broadnax (Paul) serves the hero, but doesn’t make it to the production’s end, one of the better characters.

“I’m happy my character dies… who wants to be a hero.” David

This movie tries to hide the essence of the storyline double crossing drug dealers, as more of a slasher flick. Still unsure of slasher a group of people (ages unimportant) venture to some location, whether invited or trespassing, and killed by unknown assistant, for an unknown reason, usually a mommy issue. Then adding in the silly banter of dialogue, go or stay, find the missing, wait until morning, do some drugs, have some T&A, and more killing. However, this film doesn’t cover any of this well.

CAUSES OF DEATH:

Aside from the misinterpretation of the zombies, the gut munching ones, and truly isn’t a horror film, it suffers from concrete acting, while lacking the cheese-factors often found with a Troma Films release. The writing of the script lacks conviction on the screen, and poor dialogue, all of it translating to slasher drivel, strangest the writer who stars as the lead writes himself out the film with his own death. In addition, the movie uses music eerily similar to Harry Manfredini’s Friday the 13th (1980) and very poor special effects, of which most of the kills occur off-screen. While a body count mounts, it appears more in the shadows, and shoddy camera work, revealing that the budget almost nonexistent.

A head splitting headache

SUMMARY FROM INVESTIGATOR:

Perhaps if the film contained a different title and plot, it could find some entertainment, but the 80s decade there where slashers, ghosts and real zombie movies which existed, and this voodoo covering holds no interest to anyone. A true voodoo film didn’t grace the screens until The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) from director Wes Craven, and that’s definably worth viewing unlike this one.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088454/

IMDb Rating: 2.8/10

Baron’s Rating: 2/10