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Zombiemania documentary review
By Geoff Bough
Director
Donna Davies and Producer Kimberlee McTaggart of Sorcery Films have created
the documentary ‘Zombiemania’, a splendid romp through the
sordid history of the dead. A Canadian produced made for TV documentary,
Zombiemania originally aired on the Space Channel. One of the most well-done
documentaries of its kind, Zombiemania features commentary from some of
the subgenres finest professional and celebrity experts on the undead.
Featuring commentary from authors like Max Brooks, author of bestsellers ‘The Zombie Survival Guide’ and ‘World War Z’ who gives us some hilarious but honest explanations of what terrifies him about zombies and infectious diseases. Brian Keene, author of ‘The Rising’ and ‘City of the Dead’ talks about how he incorporates events from his personal life into his books and uses that medium as a means to express himself. Gurus of gore, Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero discuss the early days of their careers in special effects and what it was like working with George Romero. Greg even gives a very humorous account of his first time watching Night of the Living Dead as a 13 year old. Jovanka Vuckovic and Dave Alexander of Rue Morgue Magazine also give some excellent descriptions of what terrifies them and how the allure of the zombie has maintained all these years.
What would a zombie documentary be without wise words of wisdom from the patriarch of the modern zombie? Zombiemania features an excellent interview with George Romero. I really enjoyed George speaking about how he had no idea what Night of the Living Dead would later become. How they were just 10 kids making a film and were completely unaware (on the surface) of the socio-political tone of the movie and the impact it would have the world over. The film was a product of the tumultuous times of the late 1960’s; war, civil rights, women’s rights and riots were ripping the country apart. George of course went on to blatantly incorporate social and political messages in his films.
The documentary is very well put together and flows as a timeline documenting the life of the dead from it’s origins in Haitian religious practices and early film to the flesh-eating mass consumers of the modern zombie. Harvard Anthropologist and author of ‘The Serpent and the Rainbow’, Wade Davis gives an excellent description of his 1982 journey to Haiti in search of a poisonous powder used by voodoo practitioners that apparently causes death-like symptoms. So much so that physicians would code patients as deceased. These patients would then be buried, later to return from the grave after their suspension of life had worn off.
The documentary also wonderfully features the incredible artwork of artist Rob Sachetto of www.zombieportraits.com who creates zombified caricatures of the commentators and adds that extra special touch that makes sets this documentary on a higher level.
I’m really hoping that Zombiemania will be released on DVD but at this time that is unconfirmed. We will be sure to update you all if and when it does come to DVD as well as when it re-airs.
For more info. On Zombiemania, check out www.sorceryfilms.com