Hood of the Living Dead ReviewDVD Movie Review - Pumpkin Patch Pictures Movie |
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Like the creatures they are based on, zombie movies as a genre just won’t seem to die. Every time I look online or go to the video store, it seems that another wave of undead flicks has been released. Of course, for every biggie like the Dawn of the Dead remake, we tend to get a couple of dozen straight-to-DVD releases. Hood of the Living Dead falls into the latter category, but that’s not always as bad as you might think. The story revolves around brothers Ricky (Carl Washington) and Jermaine (Brandon Daniels), two young men living in Oakland, California. Since their parents died, older brother Ricky has been trying to hold down a steady job at a research facility and keep his younger brother out of trouble.
But Jermaine is already dead, and so the formula only succeeds in bringing him back as a walking corpse. Besides his newfound hunger for human flesh, he also has the usual zombie ability of bestowing his curse on anyone he bites. And believe me, he wastes no time in passing it along. It’s a race against time, as friends and family try to halt his bloody rampage. Oh, and they also get a little help from their shady boss, Dr. Richards (Victor Zaragoza), and his aptly-named hired gun, Romero (Jose Rosete). The major stumbling block for Hood of the Living Dead comes in the way of its pitifully small budget. The acting is weak, the settings are bare bones, and the script could use some real improvement. Particularly noticeable is the lack of gory special effects. While most zombie movies treat the viewer to victims being pulled in half or having great chunks of meat ripped from their bodies, Hood of the Living Dead usually positions the attacks in such a way as to conceal what’s really going on. But give Ed and Jose Quiroz (who wrote and directed) credit. They make the best of their situation, and it’s not as though the old black and white classics were filled with blood and guts. I certainly respect the fact that these Oakland filmmakers were determined not to let anything stand in the way of their dreams. Still, fans of the genre should be warned, as anyone expecting a gorefest will be sorely disappointed. The soundtrack is one of the films stronger points, peppered with what I can only assume are little-known rap acts from the Oakland area. But these songs seem to lessen as the movie goes on, and sometimes the filmmakers seem to be trying too hard to work in the music. Take, for example, an early scene where Ricky is driving his car. This scene could have been cut for time, but instead we’re treated to an overblown sequence where Ricky is just driving around with music playing in the background. I can’t help but wonder if this scene was inserted just so the song could be featured. In fact, my suggestion to the Quiroz brothers would be to bone up on their editing skills. The early part of the movie drags along, and way too much time passes before we get to the zombies running wild. Impatient horror fans will have long since tuned out, and anyone else may very well have ejected the DVD. But it’s not all bad in the hood. Raul Martinez turns in a solid performance as Jermaine’s friend, Marco, and he seems like he might have potential. The script also allows the characters to have moments of common sense (like when Scott suggests shooting the zombies in the head “like in the movies”) and genuine emotion. And the final meeting between Ricky and Jermaine is memorable and interesting. After watching the movie, I checked out the filmmakers’ website (www.pumpkinpatchpictures.com) and noticed that they have made a whole slew of pictures. Many of the films star Todd Bridges (formerly of Different Strokes), so I guess they’ve been able to slightly upgrade their quality of acting. If nothing else, I’m happy to see a couple of young men living their dream in a very unforgiving business. While Hood of the Living Dead doesn’t blaze any new trails, it does adequately blend together two genres of filmmaking. If you’re a fan of either (or both), you’ll probably have a decent time, although some of the laughs generated may be unintentional. And if you’ve always wanted to make a movie but don’t have a lot of cash to invest, the Quiroz brothers supply an encouraging blueprint. Grade: D+ If you like this film, you might also enjoy: Tales from the Hood Bones Leprechaun in the Hood Be sure to also take a look at our reviews of House of 1000 Corpses, The Dead Next Door, and Rest Stop. |
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A Quiroz Bros Brothers Film |
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