 Dancing Monkey Productions // Buy DVDUnbelievable - a Calgary-made independent zombie kung-fu flick WITH singing? Am I dreaming? Oh no, wait, I'm the writer/director! Ok, that bit of information on my own personal bias out of the way, this is a great movie. Is it "Lord of the Rings" great? Well, it's a different kind of great. "Rotten Shaolin Zombies" is the realization of a dream and the culmination of all my hopes & dreams, laid bare on digital videotape for you to soak in through your eyeballs and (hopefully) be entertained, if not plain grossed out. It's a movie that has a little bit for everyone in it - action, horror, suspense, gore, comedy, singing, drama, and even flying fish - need I say more? Well, I will. The basic premise is this: an encounter with some toxic sushi damns one man to walk the earth craving human flesh and brings another man the grim realization that he will have to fight the zombie - his own brother - to end the bloody rampage. Now tell me that isn't one of the best plotlines you've ever heard! It's enacted and carried out so well by the all-Calgary, nearly-all amateur cast and the special fx & make-up will astound you... they did me, and I made this! Fun movie to make, thoroughly entertaining to watch - even my in-laws (who count this as their first kung-fu AND first zombie movie) were entertained. Now get out there and support local indie filmmaking and buy a copy! Video For a movie shot on digital video (granted, with a nice, higher-end Sony VX2000), "Rotten Shaolin Zombies" looks pretty darned good and the DVD transfer was accomplished using the highest bitrates to achieve the best looking DVD possible -- colours are well represented, blacks are jet black, and the blood is bloody red! Audio Profesionally mixed and encoded to a bumping Dolby surround stereo, the movie booms from your home theatre system. Dialogue is crisp, music is thumping and the fight sequences and flesh ripping is gore-riffic! Extras For a no-budget indie b-movie, this DVD is bursting with extras! First up are the loads of commentaries, one each from the director/writer, main stars, co-star and make-up artist -- each shed light on different aspects of the film and really tell the behind-the-scene stories of making this crazy movie. The featurettes are twice as long as the actual movie - the make-up, fight sequences, making-of, and gag reel each bring the viewer behind the scenes on the different aspects of making this zany flick. The scene access portion is convenient for jumping to your favourite scene in the movie and the photo gallery presents a sampling from the personal photo collection of the writer/director! Finally, there's a couple hidden easter eggs on this disc that are true gems - well worth the hunt to find them! Closing Thoughts What a great movie -- Calgary-made, full of blood, guts, kung-fu, zombies & singing, how can you go wrong with this campy b-movie? It's loads of entertainment for the entire family and the features packed onto this DVD just sweet the deal. Buy yours now for only $10! :: This review originally appeared on CalgaryMovies.com :: |
