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I’m about half way through a British film called The Zombie Diaries.  It’s all first person camera work about a group of people living in the British countryside after the Zombiepocalypse hits.  While it’s not great, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far.

I am a big fan of this movie!  When I reviewed it on the show, I gave it the highest rating possible - 5 Headshots out of 5.  I know it’s getting the same love from other critics, but I really appreciated everything the filmmakers were trying to do with this movie.

The ending, I found, was particularly chilling, and for some reason, reminded me of Cannibal Holocaust a little bit!

With as many zombie movies as I’ve seen, it takes a lot to scare me, and The Zombie Diaries managed to accomplish that!

Per your recommendation, I will give this another shot BrotherD.  If my opinion changes, I’ll update my listeners.

I felt that the end of the film was pretty well executed and I dug the first story.  It’s the filler that tasted like sour meat to me.  I did not enjoy this sandwich.

Admittedly, the middle story does seem to have the hardest part fitting into the rest of the movie, but ultimately, it was important, I felt, because it helps to lead us into what happens in the third seciton of the movie.

You made a comment over on your show (that everyone should be listening to, by the way!) that you had a hard time accepting that everyone had a video camera.  You know, growing up, nearly every one of my friends or friends’ families owned a camcorder.  Just sayin’ . . . :)

True.

However, not all of them looked Hi-Def, did they?  If they would of had the middle story shot on a consumer camcorder, it would have been more believeable.

I thought it was enjoyable and a descent entry into the zombie genre.  It’s not great but it’s certainly better than Romero’s last two turds.  The last few minutes are incredibly dark and disturbing.  I recommend horror fans check it out.

I remember you talking about this one a while back.  I looked it up as soon as I got home, but don’t recall seeing a legit release date for it here in the states.  Does anyone know if or when this one’s coming?

So here’s the timeline:

The Zombie Diaries is completed and starts touring the festival circuit.

Diary of the Dead is announced and starts production.

At some point, The Zombie Diaries gets DVD distribution in the UK (this may have even happened prior to Diary of the Dead was announced).

The Weinstein Company (the same company behind Diary of the Dead buys the North American rights to The Zombie Diaries . . . and sits on it.

I call the Weinstein Company while preparing my review of the Region 2 DVD release of The Zombie Diaries, and I’m told that they have no idea as to when the movie will be released here, and when it happens, they don’t know if it will be theatrical or straight to DVD.

I don’t want to make any accusations here, but it’s hard not to look at this situation and suspect that the Weinstein Company is going to just sit on the movie until Diary of the Dead is all but forgotten.

If ever there was a case to be made for buying a Region Free DVD player, it’s situations like this.

Them people from across the big pond with them funny accents sure know how to make good horror don’t they?

I’m glad I region-freed my computer. I couldn’t imagine being forced to only watch foreign films that filter slowly through the American movie machine.

DZ - 03 July 2008 01:19 AM

Them people from across the big pond with them funny accents sure know how to make good horror don’t they?

That they do . . . sometimes . . . :)

I’m glad I region-freed my computer. I couldn’t imagine being forced to only watch foreign films that filter slowly through the American movie machine.

Not only that, but there are editions of horror flicks that are released in other countries that have more juice to ‘em when compared to the Region 1 release.  One of the main motivating factors behind my wanting a Region Free player was the Region 2 releases of Prince of Darkness and They Live only because they have commentaries with John Carpenter and the Region 1 releases do not.  Landing The Zombie Diaries, I have to say, was an afterthought, as was the “box” set of all four Phantasm films (that looks real pretty sitting on my shelf - it’s int he shape of one of the spheres).  I’m eyeing a Hammer Film box set that looks mighty nice over at Amazon.co.uk right now . . .

Non-horror-wise, I’m considering picking up the series box set of the 80s TV show “Misfits of Science.”  I loved that show as a kid, and it’s never had a proper release over here; it’s only available in Germany now.

BrotherD - 03 July 2008 10:17 PM

DZ - 03 July 2008 01:19 AM

Non-horror-wise, I’m considering picking up the series box set of the 80s TV show “Misfits of Science.”  I loved that show as a kid, and it’s never had a proper release over here; it’s only available in Germany now.

I saw this as a boot at Fango and almost bought it. Early Courtney Cox with telekinesis?! Brilliant?!

I’m playing the theme song in my head. Can you hear it?

Misfits of Science DESERVES a release!

DZ - 04 July 2008 01:45 AM

BrotherD - 03 July 2008 10:17 PM

DZ - 03 July 2008 01:19 AM

Non-horror-wise, I’m considering picking up the series box set of the 80s TV show “Misfits of Science.”  I loved that show as a kid, and it’s never had a proper release over here; it’s only available in Germany now.

I saw this as a boot at Fango and almost bought it. Early Courtney Cox with telekinesis?! Brilliant?!

I’m playing the theme song in my head. Can you hear it?

Misfits of Science DESERVES a release!

I know we’re getting way off-topic, but you’d think with the success of Heroes, someone would put Misfits… out since Tim Kring is/was involved with both.

And I’ve got the theme song on my hard drive, baby . . . !

You sir, need to send me a copy of that theme song!!!

It’s not the highest quality, but this is where I pulled it from - http://mos.cheshirehall.org/theme

It sounds like someone might have just ripped it from a video, but still . . .

BrotherD - 03 July 2008 10:17 PM

DZ - 03 July 2008 01:19 AM

Them people from across the big pond with them funny accents sure know how to make good horror don’t they?

That they do . . . sometimes . . . :)

It depends on what weather we are experiencing. The bad films are when we have sunny days and the good films are when it drizzles!

I loved this film, especially when I was shouting at the bloke that was running toward the farm where they were shooting zombies! I was, like, “Nooooo, you fool, you really don’t wanna do that!”.