June Screening: ‘Dead & Buried’ (1981) and ‘Dead Heat’ (1988)

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Another screening down, another one to come! That’s right, fellins, our June double feature is set to be another killer compilation of chills, thrills and Joe Piscopo! Oh yes, you bet your ass we’re serious.

This time we felt it necessary to revisit a couple of old favorites and bring you a delightful pairing of horrors that we fell celebrates cinema’s true blue collar movie monster: the zombie! That’s right, June 26th is ZOMBIE NIGHT and whether you’re a seasoned fan or a nublie newbie, it’s hard to go past the broad sweeping appeal of the undead. Hell, George Romero certainly proved it almost forty five years ago and the horror community has shown their appreciation ever since. Who says we don’t all have a little bit of cannibal in us? ;-p

First off we’ll be treating you to the criminally underrated Gary Sherman shocker Dead & Buried. Co-written by the great – and late – Dan O-Bannon (Alien, Return of the Living Dead, Total Recall), this beautifully eerie chiller sees a small fishing town terrorized by a series of bizarre mob-driven murders, throwing the local community and its police force and into utter disarray. To make matters worse, the victims soon begin returning to life as sinister incarnations of their former selves; emotionless vessels with the intention of transforming the rest of the townsfolk into the same mindless ghouls. Applying a unique spin on the undead genre (with early FX work by a young Stan Winston) and fusing it with atmosphere aplenty, this moody little number somehow escaped the radar of most fans at the time of its initial release but has since become something of a cult favorite, and rightfully so.

To close off the night we will then be showing the awesomely off-beat 80s zombie-comedy Dead Heat, the directorial debut of regular James Cameron editor Mark Goldblatt! The film situates two mismatched cops, Roger Mortis and Doug Bigelow, whom are faced with the insurmountable task of taking down a city overrun with undead criminals. However, are two living enforcers of the law really of any concern to an army of hideous walking dead corpses? You’ll have to come along to find out, but boy is it worth it…

As usual we’ll have a giveaway (or three) and many a healthy alcohol-fulled discussion at the bar prior to and after the night’s entertainment. And remember, if you’re yet to sign up it’s $20 for a full membership (6 screenings) or $10 for a mini membership (3 screenings). All memberships are available for purchase in-person at any of our screenings.

So pull out your diary! Get your iPhone ready! Switch your brain on and mark down June 26th as your be-all-and-end-all evening of entertainment! Bar303 Northcote and its horrific inhabitants will be awaiting you eagerly from 7pm onwards… >:-D

See you maniacs then!

- Bob, Matt, Sam & Dave