For years, I've bemoaned the switch from film to digital video for low-budget horror movies, but I'd rather watch anything shot on video than watching the waste of film that is Dead Life. Don't be fooled when I say this movie is shot on film. It seriously looks like it was shot on a 1950s 8mm camera. It's perpetually grainy, dark, fuzzy, and shaky, and not in an artsy way. My $200 video camera looks infinitely better than this. The video quality is appropriate, however, as it's matched in wretchedness by every other facet of this stink-fest. The sound is murky and undecipherable, the acting is strictly amateur hour, the characters are paper-thin with no distinction or purpose, the story is non-existent, the dialog is a completely worthless bore, there's nothing remotely scary, and the special effects (including a couple of computer effects that look like they were made on a Commodore 64) are laughable. Or, at least, I wish they were laughable. That would've at least made for some sort of enjoyment instead of the utter torture of this (high school) student film. It's movies like this -- cheap and devoid of any real effort to uphold the horror legacy, but which get cherry spots on Blockbuster shelves because they're packaged with slick cover art -- that give horror movies in general (and zombie movies in particular) a bad name, and that make horror fans so wary. Disgraceful!
20 Reviews
Awful homemade drivel
mrush5 March 2006
A terrible unprofessional looking film with an awful script,scene chewing acting and cartoonish "special effects".The plot is a silly unexplained mix of zombies and skin disease with the characters mostly standing around in a house and wondering what is happening while their neighbors all mill around outside and shake their heads really really fast.I guess the fast head shaking is supposed to scare us or something.I'm mostly scared I'll accidentally rent another movie made by this crew.
This film is embarrassingly bad and not in that "so bad its good" kinda way either.
Avoid this mess like you would a big steaming pile of dog dookie.
This film is embarrassingly bad and not in that "so bad its good" kinda way either.
Avoid this mess like you would a big steaming pile of dog dookie.
Horrible All Around!
H8rd6 January 2006
Without comparing this to any other zombie film out there, this was one of the worst movies I've ever watched. The acting was bad, and that could be attributed to this being the actors first film ever. The lighting was very very bad, it appears throughout the movie that they are trying to use natural lighting, if that's the case, why shoot the film in shady areas or late in the day? Most of the time you can't see the actors expressions or faces because of the shadows. The special effects are horrible in most places, sometimes the blood is red, sometimes it's black. You see a lot of blood that looks black and congealed running out of one wound while there's fresh red blood running out of another wound (This being on the same body at the same time). The story doesn't run very smoothly at all with dialog being forced to move the plot along. One or two of these things in an independent movie isn't enough to kill it, IF the remaining factors are strong enough to carry the weak points of the film. When you have all negative points in one movie, the movie sucks.
If you do compare this to other low budget zombie movies out there (Braindead or Dead And Breakfast to name two), it doesn't even begin to compare and ends up looking like a High School students weekend project that is paid for with his allowance.
Bottom Line: Don't Rent, Don't Buy, If it's on cable late at night watch an infomercial instead.
If you do compare this to other low budget zombie movies out there (Braindead or Dead And Breakfast to name two), it doesn't even begin to compare and ends up looking like a High School students weekend project that is paid for with his allowance.
Bottom Line: Don't Rent, Don't Buy, If it's on cable late at night watch an infomercial instead.
pitiful
Lurks11 September 2005
Dead Life is without a doubt the saddest attempt at film-making I have ever witnessed.
From a technical viewpoint, this film is a mess. The image quality varies greatly throughout the entire movie, sometimes switching to black and white for no apparent reason. The computer graphic scene is reminiscent of an early Atari game.
The soundtrack is out of sync during much of the film, and it's quality fluctuates.
The plot is thin and hard to follow. It is often impossible to understand the motivation for the actors actions.
The skill of the actors makes it painfully clear that they were chosen for their ability to arrive on the set, rather than talent.
This film is full of inconsistencies, hair length and clothing change inexplicably, the same extras appear in two consecutive scenes, supposedly miles away...
The list could go on, but I'm getting bored with this review, just as I was when watching this poor excuse for entertainment.
After watching Dead Life, I was surprised to find that it wasn't made as a middle school drama class project.
I'm a big fan of B movies, but Dead Life is an F at best.
From a technical viewpoint, this film is a mess. The image quality varies greatly throughout the entire movie, sometimes switching to black and white for no apparent reason. The computer graphic scene is reminiscent of an early Atari game.
The soundtrack is out of sync during much of the film, and it's quality fluctuates.
The plot is thin and hard to follow. It is often impossible to understand the motivation for the actors actions.
The skill of the actors makes it painfully clear that they were chosen for their ability to arrive on the set, rather than talent.
This film is full of inconsistencies, hair length and clothing change inexplicably, the same extras appear in two consecutive scenes, supposedly miles away...
The list could go on, but I'm getting bored with this review, just as I was when watching this poor excuse for entertainment.
After watching Dead Life, I was surprised to find that it wasn't made as a middle school drama class project.
I'm a big fan of B movies, but Dead Life is an F at best.
The worst most crappiest movie made
reahgirl17 December 2005
this zombie movie was just corny,and made no sense.It was also so slow the jokes were just hours long and the dialogue was cut and so slow this was one of the worst movies i have ever seen by far.Mostly I never read ratings and decide if the movie is bad or not on my own but this was one of those cases when you should.There's bad and there's horribly stupid disgusting waist of time and this is past that.The makeup was horrible and was more of a porno then a zombie movie,The acting was the worst i have ever seen, a 5 year old could do better.Wow I'm still disgusted on how horribly bad this movie is blah!blah!blah! It reminded me of a 13year old kid in the neighborhood making a movie with there friends it was seriously that bad,Maybe the 13 year olds would of been better.
worst movies ever
elSOOPERmex19 December 2005
i have seen a lot of bad movies. I'm serious - my friends and I make it a point to watch some crappy horror movies, and we have a heck of a time making fun of them. I thought that I had seen some of the worst of the worst - this film smacked me around and made me cry uncle.
it has some of the worst production quality possible. it really seems like they made it a point to make a terrible movie. you know how in a lot of movies, there's always that one redneck a$$-backwards guy who says stupid things and a complete moron? take that guy, give him a camera, ten extras and ten dollars budget, and you get this movie...
only worthwhile if you're seriously drunk and wasted, and even then, it's a questionable draw (and i rented it for free!)....
it has some of the worst production quality possible. it really seems like they made it a point to make a terrible movie. you know how in a lot of movies, there's always that one redneck a$$-backwards guy who says stupid things and a complete moron? take that guy, give him a camera, ten extras and ten dollars budget, and you get this movie...
only worthwhile if you're seriously drunk and wasted, and even then, it's a questionable draw (and i rented it for free!)....
Unless you love to laugh at other's failings, avoid.
phosgene_industries30 September 2005
After reading several positive reviews I decided to seek this film out as an avid Zombie film buff. I've now came to the conclusion that those reviews could only have been written by the film makers.
As the film starts it is somewhat promising, as the shaky camera moves through a seemingly abandoned house by the means of clumsy editing and what can only be described as library muzak in the background, you however comfort yourself with the fact that this is an amateur film and hopefully when the movie gets going all of those failures will be forgotten.
What instead happens is the viewer gets attacked by flaming egos not seen since "Brown Bunny," I can only assume the script writing process involved asking a depressed 15 year old to recant what he would of done in his moments of social failure, whilst mixing in lines rejected from "Mall Rats".
The acting and narrative is unnatural, tired and clumsy to say the least. During every bite scene the victim fails to flinch nor attempt to get out of the way and those around him stand with their mouths open as weapons suddenly appear out of thin air. And the zombie with the pentagram on her rear? This terrible scene is one you must view for yourself, it would make Ed Wood himself cringe.
I could talk forever on the failings but I'll spare you, there is one up side to this film, if they get sponsorship from a tight-vest company (as several of the cast can be caught wearing them) they may raise enough money to have every copy of this film burnt and their names and reputations spared.
As the film starts it is somewhat promising, as the shaky camera moves through a seemingly abandoned house by the means of clumsy editing and what can only be described as library muzak in the background, you however comfort yourself with the fact that this is an amateur film and hopefully when the movie gets going all of those failures will be forgotten.
What instead happens is the viewer gets attacked by flaming egos not seen since "Brown Bunny," I can only assume the script writing process involved asking a depressed 15 year old to recant what he would of done in his moments of social failure, whilst mixing in lines rejected from "Mall Rats".
The acting and narrative is unnatural, tired and clumsy to say the least. During every bite scene the victim fails to flinch nor attempt to get out of the way and those around him stand with their mouths open as weapons suddenly appear out of thin air. And the zombie with the pentagram on her rear? This terrible scene is one you must view for yourself, it would make Ed Wood himself cringe.
I could talk forever on the failings but I'll spare you, there is one up side to this film, if they get sponsorship from a tight-vest company (as several of the cast can be caught wearing them) they may raise enough money to have every copy of this film burnt and their names and reputations spared.
Absolutely the worst movie ever
ozzyfaq14 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
A long haired guy watches as a zombie eats away on a living person. Does he run? No, instead of using logic, he simply drops his pants and proceeds to hump the zombie. She turns around and bites off his manhood or what appears to be a sausage.
The actors decide to stay in a house surrounded by zombies all the while they have a car outside...
The blood looks like red paint and the stuff coming out of their mouths looks like motor oil.
The acting was the worst I've ever seen and believe me I've rented some real horrible grade B movies.
It was a good attempt at a movie but was simply horrible... what was the purpose of dry humping a corpse anyway?
The actors decide to stay in a house surrounded by zombies all the while they have a car outside...
The blood looks like red paint and the stuff coming out of their mouths looks like motor oil.
The acting was the worst I've ever seen and believe me I've rented some real horrible grade B movies.
It was a good attempt at a movie but was simply horrible... what was the purpose of dry humping a corpse anyway?
Night of the living dud!
reptilicus25 December 2005
Zombie movies, they've been with us for a long time. They are easy to make too. All you need is a camera, 6 or 8 friends living to wear raggedly clothes stained with stage blood; 4 or 5 other friends willing to run around a scream; some offal from a local butcher's shop and some guns with blank cartridges. Put them all together and presto, you are ready to make a zombie movie.
That's not to say that all zombie movies are GOOD though; and that brings me to the movie I am here to-night to talk about, William Victor Schotten's DEAD LIFE. This movie is bad! No, I mean REAL bad! It's not even so-bad-it's-good!
It starts with a young boy named Maxx who watches his dad go insane and kill himself. Dad was a worker at a chemical plant that was working on some mysterious toxin . . . but I am getting ahead of myself. Many years later Maxx is all grown up (and played by Michael Hanton). He and his buddies don't do much more than sit around, drink beer, listen to heavy metal music, complain about how bored they are and lie about their sex lives. Life gets a little more interesting when one of Maxx's buddies is attacked by a weird looking guy with silver skin (note to director: zombies are supposed to have a gray complexion!) and oozing a black fluid from his mouth. Pretty soon the guys are noticing more and more people with rotting faces and an appetite for blood. Luckily this is Redneckville, USA and everybody has a gun so defending themselves is no problem. Problem is, these infected people are tough! Nothing stops 'em except . . . all together now . . . a bullet to the brain. Finally the good 'ol boys figure out that somehow the recently dead are coming back to life as . . . now let's all say it together folks . . . flesh eating zombies!
Their town is pretty much toast by the time they figure this out so it's time to hit the road. While looking for a safe place they meet up with a doctor who tells them the zombies were created by a disease called Necrotising Faceitis M, which is an actual disease that the filmmakers embellished. The adult zombies eat flesh because their minds have been corrupted by bigotry, greed, corruption and all the things we experience when we grow up. Child zombies don't eat flesh because they have retained their innocence. Sound logical to you? It does? Good because it sounds like a load of tripe to me!
Well anyway the guys can't decide if they want to go live on a deserted island or in the desert. By the end of the picture it becomes a moot point anyway.
The plot is really off the wall, acting talent is non-existent; the zombies are . . . well . . . as convincing as any zombie is capable of being. Near the end of the film we even get to see a zombie clown with tears of blood leaking through his makeup (symbolism?) being followed by a bunch of living dead children, one of who is carrying a huge teddy bear. Somebody in the production crew was very fond of the Japanese cyber-punk subgenre because whenever someone turns into a zombie the camera is undercranked while they shake their heads violently back and forth. I have noticed this in movies like TETSUO THE IRON MAN and PINOCCHIO 964.
There are a lot of zombie movies out there now like FEEDING THE MASSES, DAY OF THE DEAD II, SHAUN OF THE DEAD and many more. With so many to choose from you can skip this movie and you will not have missed a thing.
That's not to say that all zombie movies are GOOD though; and that brings me to the movie I am here to-night to talk about, William Victor Schotten's DEAD LIFE. This movie is bad! No, I mean REAL bad! It's not even so-bad-it's-good!
It starts with a young boy named Maxx who watches his dad go insane and kill himself. Dad was a worker at a chemical plant that was working on some mysterious toxin . . . but I am getting ahead of myself. Many years later Maxx is all grown up (and played by Michael Hanton). He and his buddies don't do much more than sit around, drink beer, listen to heavy metal music, complain about how bored they are and lie about their sex lives. Life gets a little more interesting when one of Maxx's buddies is attacked by a weird looking guy with silver skin (note to director: zombies are supposed to have a gray complexion!) and oozing a black fluid from his mouth. Pretty soon the guys are noticing more and more people with rotting faces and an appetite for blood. Luckily this is Redneckville, USA and everybody has a gun so defending themselves is no problem. Problem is, these infected people are tough! Nothing stops 'em except . . . all together now . . . a bullet to the brain. Finally the good 'ol boys figure out that somehow the recently dead are coming back to life as . . . now let's all say it together folks . . . flesh eating zombies!
Their town is pretty much toast by the time they figure this out so it's time to hit the road. While looking for a safe place they meet up with a doctor who tells them the zombies were created by a disease called Necrotising Faceitis M, which is an actual disease that the filmmakers embellished. The adult zombies eat flesh because their minds have been corrupted by bigotry, greed, corruption and all the things we experience when we grow up. Child zombies don't eat flesh because they have retained their innocence. Sound logical to you? It does? Good because it sounds like a load of tripe to me!
Well anyway the guys can't decide if they want to go live on a deserted island or in the desert. By the end of the picture it becomes a moot point anyway.
The plot is really off the wall, acting talent is non-existent; the zombies are . . . well . . . as convincing as any zombie is capable of being. Near the end of the film we even get to see a zombie clown with tears of blood leaking through his makeup (symbolism?) being followed by a bunch of living dead children, one of who is carrying a huge teddy bear. Somebody in the production crew was very fond of the Japanese cyber-punk subgenre because whenever someone turns into a zombie the camera is undercranked while they shake their heads violently back and forth. I have noticed this in movies like TETSUO THE IRON MAN and PINOCCHIO 964.
There are a lot of zombie movies out there now like FEEDING THE MASSES, DAY OF THE DEAD II, SHAUN OF THE DEAD and many more. With so many to choose from you can skip this movie and you will not have missed a thing.
Don't bother
dunxy5 February 2006
This is without a doubt the worst zombie movie i have ever seen! There really isn't anything good to say about it at all.I read some of the comments made by the films makers ETC, claim this was professionally transferred to video BAHHHHHH.No way known this was done on a real Telecine, I'm with the handy cam filming the image projected onto a wall.For gods sake WHY they bothered shooting it on 8mm is beyond me, but they could have at least had it professionally transferred. I have seen enough professionally transfered films, mostly 16mm but some 8, to know this Isn't one, my father was a Telecine operator for 30+ years for a local TV station.
A great zombie film for TRUE zombiphiles
nflames23 May 2005
It's so much easier to pick out all the bad things in a film and write a really crappy review. Trust me, I've written my share of crappy reviews. However Dead Life was not one of them. Dead Life IS in fact shot on 8mm, and it looks grainy and low quality and you know what? That's a good thing. The film quality adds to its gritty retro feel. The effects are MUCH better than what you see in indie. Amateur acting, gee that's funny given that the actors are...wait for it...AMATEURS! I will concede that Dead Life isn't for everyone. If your true love is stupid teens and tired horror cliché's then steer clear. If your love for zombies is insatiable then you could do a whole helluva lot worse than Dead Life. At least the dude on the cover is IN the movie, which can't really be said for a lot of independent horror these days. Don't base your judgment solely on what's written here at IMDb, if you're a zombiephile do a search, you'll find plenty of reviews singing the praises of Dead Life.
Super 8mm Zombie "epic" with a few surprises!
Captain_Couth14 August 2005
Dead Life (2005) was an interesting film. Unlike most of these independent films that are popping up all over the place at my local video store, this one was shot on film (well Super 8) and the results were mixed. But one scene in this movie made it for me. A chemical accident involving the main character's father has traumatized him for the longest time. Years later, we find the dude restore the family homestead with the help of his friends. But a strange virus has swept across his home town turning the residents into the "living dead".
The movie itself is okay. But there's a scene in it that makes it worth watching. It involves a head banger and a local "girl". Drop a few bucks and rent it. To describe it would be too telling. A watchable "survival horror" film. I recommend this movie for bad movie fans as well. I just wished the director would shoot on 16mm or digital video next time. It was cool to see a movie on film but it's not necessary anymore. Super 8 is as dead as the dinosaur.
Recommended.
The movie itself is okay. But there's a scene in it that makes it worth watching. It involves a head banger and a local "girl". Drop a few bucks and rent it. To describe it would be too telling. A watchable "survival horror" film. I recommend this movie for bad movie fans as well. I just wished the director would shoot on 16mm or digital video next time. It was cool to see a movie on film but it's not necessary anymore. Super 8 is as dead as the dinosaur.
Recommended.
A review of Dead Life I wrote years ago for a fanzine
virus-eel27 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The Title of this film is how one could describe the time that the cast and crew took out of their lives to make this stinker of a zombie flick. Dead Life barely looks like a movie. It looks like it was shot on Super 8 film and director William Victor Schotten apparently has no idea how or where to place the camera. His shots make Kevin Smith's early work look like a Scorcese film by comparison. Not that better camera placement would have helped the drab, absolutely non creepy environments the flick was shot in. Oh, and if you're going to shoot a film in Super 8, don't bother adding computer graphics. Special effects on a lower par than those of a Sci-Fi Channel original series just make a crappy film look crappier. In Dead Life, zombies start appearing with no real explanation. One of them falls into the lake, and suddenly it's a nationwide epidemic. The only hope for a small band of white trash misfits is a guy who mainly just drinks beer in front of a half built house he claims to be working on. The script is terrible. The acting, even the zombie acting, is downright embarrassing. Everyone in Dead Life talks like they've only been awake for ten minutes. Have you ever tried to talk to somebody after they wake and bake? If so, you can imagine what the communication in this film is like. Not only is Dead Life poorly made, it fails to make any kind of sense. How can a zombie falling into a lake contaminate the whole continent? Who would find a zombie eating one of their neighbors and then casually start f#@king it in the ass? Come to think of it, what kind of person would let anyone, living or dead, get their mouth anywhere near their genitals after seeing that same person gnawing raw human flesh right off the bone? Give horror fans a break! We're sick, we're not stupid! Dead Life managed to almost bore me to death and insult my intelligence at the same time. This piece of crap deserves nothing but ridicule and disdain.
Oxymoron, anyone?
Ky-D30 August 2005
More low-budget zombie fare in an age over-run with low-budget zombie fare. Some good elements show through what is an otherwise ordinary z-budget affair.
A man is traumatized by a childhood incident with his father. Years later he and some friends try to restore the family homestead, only to be confronted with a sudden zombie outbreak.
The story is no better nor worse than most any zombie movie; zombies attack and...GO! Though the film gets some credit for trying to expound on both the nature of the disease and the history of if it's main character, it is ultimately shot down by actors and dialogue insufficient for the task. Friends and relatives may be cheap labor, but they aren't the best choices.
Technically the film fares better, however inadvertently. The super-8 film stock employed actually works to the films advantage, giving it this gritty, late 70's vibe. It also compliments the gore scenes by making it easier to disguise the FX. Unfortunately, they don't have any kind of trick for the sound of the picture, which features cheesy effects and poor looping.
As far as the zombie bloodletting goes, there are some good bits. In a poor decision, however, the best gore scene comes early in the picture and makes a promise the rest of the film just can't life up to. Too bad, would have made for one heck of a sick movie.
It does just enough right to earn a curiosity viewing, but not enough to stick around.
5/10
A man is traumatized by a childhood incident with his father. Years later he and some friends try to restore the family homestead, only to be confronted with a sudden zombie outbreak.
The story is no better nor worse than most any zombie movie; zombies attack and...GO! Though the film gets some credit for trying to expound on both the nature of the disease and the history of if it's main character, it is ultimately shot down by actors and dialogue insufficient for the task. Friends and relatives may be cheap labor, but they aren't the best choices.
Technically the film fares better, however inadvertently. The super-8 film stock employed actually works to the films advantage, giving it this gritty, late 70's vibe. It also compliments the gore scenes by making it easier to disguise the FX. Unfortunately, they don't have any kind of trick for the sound of the picture, which features cheesy effects and poor looping.
As far as the zombie bloodletting goes, there are some good bits. In a poor decision, however, the best gore scene comes early in the picture and makes a promise the rest of the film just can't life up to. Too bad, would have made for one heck of a sick movie.
It does just enough right to earn a curiosity viewing, but not enough to stick around.
5/10
Let's get high and make a movie
shadowfever26 December 2008
If I were writing a script about the making of this movie I would have had a few friends sitting around after watching Shawn of the Dead and Day of the Living Dead (original) while getting high and munching on Rice Krispie treats and canned chili.
One of them would suddenly jump up and scream, "hey, let's make a zombie movie."
One would remember the old 8mm movie camera in Dad's closet, one would admit to having been in the school production of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (probably as the tree), and someone would reveal the fact that he had been hiding a bunch of Smurf blue skin dye for years.
Okay, so it was very low budget and looked like a high-school class assignment, it was still somebodies baby. And they got it made while most people sit around criticizing something that they have never done themselves. Most of the people who make these films don't aspire to become a Spielberg or a Coppola, they just want to make movies any way the can. I say god bless them all. We should all do the things that we enjoy, even if we aren't that good at it.
Even if you hate the movie, remember two things: It is easier to criticize than to do; even a bad example is still an example.
One of them would suddenly jump up and scream, "hey, let's make a zombie movie."
One would remember the old 8mm movie camera in Dad's closet, one would admit to having been in the school production of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (probably as the tree), and someone would reveal the fact that he had been hiding a bunch of Smurf blue skin dye for years.
Okay, so it was very low budget and looked like a high-school class assignment, it was still somebodies baby. And they got it made while most people sit around criticizing something that they have never done themselves. Most of the people who make these films don't aspire to become a Spielberg or a Coppola, they just want to make movies any way the can. I say god bless them all. We should all do the things that we enjoy, even if we aren't that good at it.
Even if you hate the movie, remember two things: It is easier to criticize than to do; even a bad example is still an example.
Vomit via television.
webgovernor2 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Stay the hell away from anything that William Victor Shotten has done, not because it's cheesy, or because the stories are terrible, or because the cast's performance makes you physically ill, but because he makes even the worst YouTube directors look like Peter Jackson, hell, he even makes Uwe Boll look like Peter Jackson.
There was nothing good about this movie what so ever. I was bored, the entire time. I want to see an indie movie at least match the original Night of The Living Dead. Nowadays, the ease of making a NoTLD-type movie have significantly decreased. Jesus William, buy some meat from your local butcher or something, don't waste our time.
Oh, and apparently William Victor Shotten has a new movie out, Sabbath (www.sabbaththemovie.com). Just finished watching it, just realized that it was his movie. Stay away, incredibly boring.
There was nothing good about this movie what so ever. I was bored, the entire time. I want to see an indie movie at least match the original Night of The Living Dead. Nowadays, the ease of making a NoTLD-type movie have significantly decreased. Jesus William, buy some meat from your local butcher or something, don't waste our time.
Oh, and apparently William Victor Shotten has a new movie out, Sabbath (www.sabbaththemovie.com). Just finished watching it, just realized that it was his movie. Stay away, incredibly boring.
Refreshingly good!
Zui Quan23 May 2005
While watching another indie horror flick, I'd made up my mind that I need to start reviewing Indies as a separate entity from Hollywood films; they simply can't compare. Then I watched "Dead Life" and realized that may just be the biggest crock since the "Weaopns of Mass Destruction" excuse.
For the first 38 minutes, it's average; not bad, just average. The acting is, like most Indie releases, a mixed bag; some (Michael Hanton) are above average and could easily make the transition into bigger-budgeted productions and others...well, let's just leave it at that. The effects, too, could use some work in the beginning of the film; it's hard to suspend belief when a closeup of a zombie face shows the reflective glare from the cream-based makeup and, around it, a half-inch border of normal skin.
At the 39 minute mark though, "Dead Life" not only does everything right, it actually surpasses most Hollywood films and does a lot of things better.
Schotten wisely pulls his cameras back a bit and lets the zombies strut their stuff without revealing flaws in the effects. The script begins to tighten its focus and, while much of the film owes its existence to Romero's "Dead" trilogy, it also throws in a couple of unexpected twists of its own. Even the film's grainy, artifact-filled visuals work to create a gritty, creepy experience.
Add to that an unexpected, underlying morality and some of the most creative one-shots I've seen in a while (the zombie who eats himself, for example) and you've got a helluva ride. From start to finish, the carnage never lets up. Thank you, William Victor Schotten and the "Dead Life" crew, for showing this jaded reviewer that there are some gems to be found in Indie Horror.
My rating: 8 out of 10 guys looking for "food" in the hardware store may not be in the wrong place.
For the first 38 minutes, it's average; not bad, just average. The acting is, like most Indie releases, a mixed bag; some (Michael Hanton) are above average and could easily make the transition into bigger-budgeted productions and others...well, let's just leave it at that. The effects, too, could use some work in the beginning of the film; it's hard to suspend belief when a closeup of a zombie face shows the reflective glare from the cream-based makeup and, around it, a half-inch border of normal skin.
At the 39 minute mark though, "Dead Life" not only does everything right, it actually surpasses most Hollywood films and does a lot of things better.
Schotten wisely pulls his cameras back a bit and lets the zombies strut their stuff without revealing flaws in the effects. The script begins to tighten its focus and, while much of the film owes its existence to Romero's "Dead" trilogy, it also throws in a couple of unexpected twists of its own. Even the film's grainy, artifact-filled visuals work to create a gritty, creepy experience.
Add to that an unexpected, underlying morality and some of the most creative one-shots I've seen in a while (the zombie who eats himself, for example) and you've got a helluva ride. From start to finish, the carnage never lets up. Thank you, William Victor Schotten and the "Dead Life" crew, for showing this jaded reviewer that there are some gems to be found in Indie Horror.
My rating: 8 out of 10 guys looking for "food" in the hardware store may not be in the wrong place.
For Zombie Fans Everywhere!
deadly4u75-120 May 2005
I have been quite interested in seeing this zombie flick from the first time that I had heard it was being made. The wait was finally over and I got the chance to check this film out. All the waiting that I did was well worth it.
Dead Life has quickly become one of my favorite zombie films and there are plenty of them out there. I was very impressed with the acting. Michael Hanton and Jayson Garity are terrific in this film and I hope to see a lot more of their work in the future. I think what impressed me the most was the special effects. I have seen a lot of low budget films lately, but some of them failed with the gory special effects, but Dead Life is different. When the zombies start feeding, the gruesome bloodshed begins, in a big way.
William Schotten did such an amazing job with writing and directing this film and I am really looking forward to seeing his new projects.
All in all, Dead Life is a fun zombie epic of a film with a cool plot, really good acting, lots of zombie mayhem and some kick ass music (metal all the way). Check this one out as soon as possible.
Dead Life has quickly become one of my favorite zombie films and there are plenty of them out there. I was very impressed with the acting. Michael Hanton and Jayson Garity are terrific in this film and I hope to see a lot more of their work in the future. I think what impressed me the most was the special effects. I have seen a lot of low budget films lately, but some of them failed with the gory special effects, but Dead Life is different. When the zombies start feeding, the gruesome bloodshed begins, in a big way.
William Schotten did such an amazing job with writing and directing this film and I am really looking forward to seeing his new projects.
All in all, Dead Life is a fun zombie epic of a film with a cool plot, really good acting, lots of zombie mayhem and some kick ass music (metal all the way). Check this one out as soon as possible.
indie film great
vengecore-124 June 2005
i'm not much on watching zombie movies but this movie in my opinion is one of the best zombie flicks i've ever seen. all of the effects were done for under 300 bucks and the effects were great and real looking. most of the people in this film were first time actors and they did a great job. the soundtrack to this movie was one of the best i've eve heard and to me a great soundtrack can also make a great movie. if you have the DVD it has a special feature where you can see a band called kitchen knife conspiracy preform one of there songs live. this live performance adds to the greatness of this movie.i'd recommend this film to any B horror movie lover like myself.
A very atmospheric indie grunge-horror film!
dbs630-697-95279426 March 2011
There are too many people on here that use their power to write reviews as a platform to spread negative feedback. I don't see the need for "destructive criticism." All in all "Dead Life" is an indie film where the filmmakers influences are very apparent. I love the use of 8mm film, under normal circumstances 8mm is actually a very difficult medium to use for a feature, it is hard to light and the film can come out really fuzzy. I was surprised at the quality that they were able to get for 8mm. So for those of you out there who want to complain about the quality, I suggest you watch old 8mm family movies so you'll have a better understanding of how hard it is to make 8mm look decent. For this alone I have to give the filmmakers of "Dead Life" props. I especially enjoyed the scene when his car gets a flat tire. The sky, and clouds in that scene were PERFECT for the atmosphere of the film.
Of course the acting is not the best, but it is the kind of acting we EXPECT to see for an indie feature of this caliber, in fact, we'd be disappointed if we didn't. For as much as you "Negative-Nancy's" out there like to tear indie horror films to pieces for not being of "Hollywood" caliber, you would sure miss them if indie filmmakers stopped making them. Let's face it, Hollywood hasn't been exactly pumping out great films themselves.
I'm sick and tired of reading all kinds of negative reviews for low budget films. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I'm also willing to bet that the people on here who like to trash these kinds of films, haven't had the guts to go make one themselves. It's not easy, no matter what the budget, and I take my hat off to anyone out there who is a member of the "Indie-filmmaker" scene! I'd personally like to know the secret to making 8mm look as decent as they did.
The only suggestion I would have as "Constructive" criticism is maybe try and find a way around using the computer graphics next time.
If you like good old fashioned, east coast, back yard grunge horror then "Dead Life" is for you!! Great job guys.
Of course the acting is not the best, but it is the kind of acting we EXPECT to see for an indie feature of this caliber, in fact, we'd be disappointed if we didn't. For as much as you "Negative-Nancy's" out there like to tear indie horror films to pieces for not being of "Hollywood" caliber, you would sure miss them if indie filmmakers stopped making them. Let's face it, Hollywood hasn't been exactly pumping out great films themselves.
I'm sick and tired of reading all kinds of negative reviews for low budget films. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I'm also willing to bet that the people on here who like to trash these kinds of films, haven't had the guts to go make one themselves. It's not easy, no matter what the budget, and I take my hat off to anyone out there who is a member of the "Indie-filmmaker" scene! I'd personally like to know the secret to making 8mm look as decent as they did.
The only suggestion I would have as "Constructive" criticism is maybe try and find a way around using the computer graphics next time.
If you like good old fashioned, east coast, back yard grunge horror then "Dead Life" is for you!! Great job guys.
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