Plaga Zombie: Mutant Zone

Argentina | 2001 Directors: Pablo Parés, Hernán Sáez Starring Berta Muñiz Pablo Parés Hernán Sáez Color | 100 Minutes | Not Rated Format: DVD (R1 - NTSC | 2-disc set) Fangoria International

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7     10   10 = Highest Rating   Guest Review by William P. Simmons

A hot, hearty heaping of South American Splatter served with guts, wit, and defiance!     This could be the tag-line (or toe-tag) for what is perhaps the most memorable, competent, balls-out and wettest splatter-fest to ever splash the small screen. A comedy-cum-horror show, this mean piece of celluloid more than makes up for in energy and ingenuity what it lacks in gloss. As much a paean to bad taste and subversive humor as it is an unflinching celebration of blood, brains, and cheap but effective violence, Plaga Zombie: Mutant Zone is an enjoyable, fun if not seriously themed or intended shocker. It also happens to have more than just a little social commentary and scathing cultural condemnation lurking beneath its ooze and surface splat, for those willing to look for it.     A scream of hope for aspiring filmmakers everywhere, this movie shares the same atmosphere/context that such early classics of the shlock-shock genre as Evil Dead and Bad Taste occupied when they first contaminated the air with their special brand of low budget production techniques, bargain-basement gore, and stylistic excess. Low on funds but not creativity, the poor budget of such movies as Plaga Zombie and its brethren provoke ingenuity into their cast and crew, forcing them to make up for lack of dinero with inventive camera shots, enthusiasm, and attitude — all of which this south-of-the-border groin kicker embraces. If the story isn't as intelligent as it could be, exchanging moments of subtle characterization and thematic reflection for stormy blitzkriegs of action and mayhem, it should be realized that the filmmakers didn't set out to craft a serious or reflective horror film of emotional depth or transformation. Don't expect careful insertions of thematic elegance amidst the bloodshed, or penetrating insights into the nature of the human condition in the dialogue. This horror that this movie exhibits so full and so well is more about flesh than frailty, and exposes neither the poetic atmosphere of the supernatural gothic nor the somberness of a psychological thriller. While there are certainly arguments to be made for each approach at evoking fear, the later are more successful at crafting lingering disquiet whereas Plaga Zombie unashamedly devotes itself to the art of committing physical carnage, and doing so with a wickedly dark streak of humor, outrageousness, and a sense of guerilla-style filmmaking.     Bill Johnson (an ex-medical student), Max Griggs (introverted mathematician), and John West (ex-wrestler/children's TV star), discover that — gasp! — zombies are overrunning their home in Argentina. A suburb, the cultural atmosphere of the people and location add a sense of realism and eccentricity to the plot. Preferring the more cerebral undead of Dan O'Bannon and Romero's later zombie features to the typically dumb and dullard formula often depended on, these zombies are more intelligent in their quest for human flesh, and may be inspired by more than instinct. Of course when our bumbling, goofball heroes attempt to flee the area, they find that (keeping to tried-and-true zombie film formula) that the city has been quarantined by the friendly neighborhood FBI. Trapped with the ravenous undead (and their own occasional idiocy), the three pals soon find themselves battling for their lives and sanity (and to retain their innards and other various body parts, thank you!). Before long they encounter an agent with a way out — if they can only decipher the route! Problem is, someone is trying to eat their scrotum... With what looks like just a few friends, scant resources, a cheap camera but true pioneer spirit, the filmmakers prove with the showmanship of a resurrected, bleeding P. T Barnum that a sucker is born every minute, and then he gets eaten! What the efforts really show is the inspiring results that manic devotion and enthusiasm can yield. Argentinean auteurs Pablo Parés and Hernán Sáez beg comparison with Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, and Jim Van Bebber, sharing with these gentlemen an obvious dedication and hands-on approach to moviemaking — not simply talking about the craft but doing it. While exposing undeniable faults, including sloppy camerawork, bad lighting, lackluster acting, and an awkward script that doesn't really know what kind of a story it really wants to be, the earnestness and grass-roots joy of the picture compensates. A postmodern, self-referential homage to the above-mentioned splatter films, this feature is crafted in honor of a down-home look and feel, imitating without plagiarizing. Plaga Zombie: Mutant Zone and Plaga Zombie (both included in this one package) are a two-part dedication to mayhem.     A ferocious frolic of fear, these gentlemen achieve with twisted inspiration, bizarre imagery, and shock-style violence an elementally primal humor, outclassing and outgrossing (literally) anything that 'Whore Hollywood' or the independents have long been capable of. While the insanity is too often allowed to overshadow any hope for more serious undercurrents of character, the makers set out to achieve their goal: to create a splatter-poem paean to their horror heroes, bringing something new to old conventions. In scenes that stomp the fine line between overkill humor and fright, we're treated to ninja zombies, undead denizens mimicking street rappers, and viscera and entrails used as weapons. This, with professionally executed fight scenes, and, for the lover of lewdness, gore a' plenty.     Did I mention that this movie is gory?     A dizzying splatter-opera, this homemade movie splits heads, spills guts, cracks limbs, oozes puss, and wallows in the wet stuff. Slapstick is the hero of the hour, not the somber meditations or carefully achieved suspense of more serious horror. This is the kind of movie made for a select audience that wants to kick up its heels and lose themselves in grue. While I usually prefer the dread of shadows to splatter, something about this puppy was infectious (horrible pun, sorry). If you're part of the gut-muncher fraternity, than this zombie double-feature will hit the spot.

Made for fans by fans, Plaga Zombie and Plaga Zombie: Mutant Zone are anything but amateurishly presented by Media Blasters imprint Fangoria International. Attractively packaged, this two-disc set is the stuff of a gore geek's wet dream. Filmed initially in camcorder quality before transferred to film, the new digitally enhanced picture is in 1.33:1 fullframe, giving it a clearer image while preserving its minimalist, documentary grittiness. Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 makes listening to the mayhem as fun as watching it, while the Spanish dialogue can be navigated with English subs.     The extras provide informative, entertaining subtext. Disc 1's features include 30 minutes of deleted scenes which, while not crucial (and left out for good reason), are nevertheless enjoyable, followed by both original and teaser trailers. The commentary with the crew and cast is informative if at times the same ground is repeated. Still, the speakers are enthusiastic and their good humor makes for compelling listening. The second disk is where this package shines, including the original Plaga Zombie (1999), which was the first entry in this proposed three-feature series, a generous photo gallery, the usual Media Blasters trailers, commentary with cast and crew, and, most importantly, a "making-of" documentary, Lots of Zombies and a Few Nuts (40 min.), which reveals the crew and cast older and more experienced, as well as rare footage. Reminiscing about everything from cops who begged for cameos and their hunt for extras to play zombies, to the physical and emotional toll that the movie took on them, the commentaries offer an intimate glimpse of drama behind one of the cheapest yet effective gore-comedies since Raimi's heyday. 4/02/06

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