Living Dead at Manchester Morgue
 

I have just watched this film, and haven't laughed as much in ages. I had the expectation, given the hype of this movie that it was going to be as gory as ZFE whilst being quite dark.
However it neither. Needless to say I still enjoyed it. The cop on the edge was the best character, with his screaming at his collegues faces becuase they knocked on his door, to his crazy running after a speeding car like a jack russel.
I have no idea how this film made the video nasties list. In places it felt like a Vic and Bob sketch. And near the end when the cop says 'I've always been fond of apples'
priceless.

Didn't the BBFC have a problem with cannibalistic zombies back in the day?

I remember reading about this one in a really decrepit issue of 'House of Hammer' I found in a charity shop when I was 13 - the article really captured my imagination, and seemed to describe something incredibly dark and transgressive, so like yourself my expectations were primed (and in my case totally unrealistic). The trailer I saw a couple of years later seemed harrowing and further reinforced my sense of needing to see it. Strangely enough though I only caught up with LDAMM 3 years ago - came away with the impression of having had a rather strained experience with it, one which dragged a lot of the time, but which was also punctuated with genuine jolts both in the grue and weirdness stakes - enough to make sitting down with it worthwhile. For me it lacked the eeriness I was looking for, despite some nice atmosphere in places and 'characters' like Guthrie - nothing like a bad dub that fluctuates between South London and RP to undermine a sense of creeping doom. My mate presented a paper about it at Bradford uni last year (think it showed there along with Lizard in a Woman's Skin). I'll need to re-watch to come to terms with its Vick'n'Bobness - will definitely keep an eye out for The Man With The Stick!

Yes, perhaps if it had a better muscial score it might have had that erieness. I also laughed when a zombie getting up, seemed to levatate to his feet. The Vic and Bobness was noticeable when the policeman's body was found half eaten and his legs and arms seemed to strech out like they were twice the length.:lol:

Gosh.

People watch films in very different ways!

:lol:

Yeah I remember chuckling at the levitating / rising zombie - looked like the director was straining for something a bit novel, but it just fell flat.
I reckon the beginning's pretty good though (the only part of the film actually set in Manchester) - would've made for a more intriguing film if it'd just stayed with that stuff, maybe.

got this film,although under the title "let sleeping corpses lie".
quite enjoy it!

Defo. Although why was the woman running naked through the city?

Manchester Morgue
 

While watching this film especially when they are by the stream you can hear the sound of a elephant in the background, I know it suppose to be the radiation van on the field but you expect the sounds engineer for the film would make a different noise for the van. :doh:

A classic.
Rivals Romero's original zombie opus.:nod:

That was completely random and totally real. She was a real streaker and Grau happened to be filming at the same time.

I think LDATMM is a classic and I love its whole vibe. The music score is fabulous (how dare you trash it!) and I have it on CD.

These young'uns just have no respect for the classics. It's films like this that have paved the way for the films we have today. It needs to be seen in its proper context, think about an audience in 1974 watching this, it's quite strong stuff for the time. And if films like this are not your cup of tea, then you're probably on the wrong site, as Arrow's stock in trade is films like this. :lol:

I consider it to be one of the top living dead movies ever made. A true classic that met the hype, I thought.

Glad some people are sticking up for it as it's been many years since I've seen it but fondly remember it being one of my favourite zombie films so have ordered the BU Blu. Been really looking forward to catching up with it again but this time in glorious HD. Same goes for Zombie too. I really wish HME would hurry up with my order :p

It's one of the best-looking transfers I've seen as well - looks bloody lovely! It will be well worth the wait :)

I actually find Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue more entertaining than Romero's original Night of the Living Dead.However, I don't enjoy it as much as Fulci's zombie quartet or Romero's subsequent Dawn & Day of the Dead.

That is interesting about the naked woman. I never said it wasn't an enjoyable film. It is and I'll watch it again. I love all the arrow range. What I found in LDAMM which is missing from Romero and Fulci, is comedy. Unintentional yes, but still its there. I am not a 'young un' I lived through the video nasty scandal. However there are certain films that everyone misses first time around and this was one I missed. Yes it is dated, but be clear that I did like it for its interesting storyline, overtop dialogue and unintentional comedy.

My post was tongue-in-cheek, so don't take it too seriously. ;)

I do agree that some of the older films do have things in them so ludicrous that they make me chuckle. But we need to remember that we're watching it with 21st century eyes, it probably didn't seem so ridiculous back then. Like the 50's sci-fi movies with a fetish for atomic monsters - there was a real fear in America back than of a nuclear holocaust, so the films were more scary to those audiences. Now we watch them and they make us laugh.

Hope I'm making sense! I didn't really think anyone was being disrespectful. :)

There's some very atmospheric scenes in LDATMM to rival anything in Fulci's zombie flicks imo.In fact, I think Fulci himself was probably highly influenced by this film as the way the living dead look, move and make those echoey groans reminded me of the zombies in The Beyond.

Probably helps that Gianetto De Rossi did the make-up for LDAMM, ZOMBIE, and THE BEYOND.

I love this movie and will be getting the BU BD soon. The Lake District locations are so eerie and bleak and lend a great atmosphere to the movie.

The most 'beautiful looking' zombie movie ever filmed,it's gorgeous countryside photography,punctuated by short sharp scenes of gore.

Anyone who hasn't checked out the BU Blu Ray needs to now-I could swear I smelled the manure on the fields!

Couldn't agree more, Reaps. :nod:

I actually prefer this to Zombie Flesh Eaters.

Ditto.
Really ranks up there as the best Zombie film ever made!

Definitely. It's a gem of a movie.

I'm patiently waiting for my copy :(

Although I enjoyed it, I don't think its as good as ZFE. ZFE had more venom and some great ideas like the shark fight and eyeball scene. And I thought the location was wonderful and very atomospheric but nothing compare to Fulci's. Fulci is just far better at making a zombie films IMO.

As for the best zombie movie ever, its always Dawn of the Dead for me.

I prefer Zombie Flesh Eaters too.I have the Blue Underground 2-DVD SE of LDATMM which came out before the Blu-ray and has all the same extras.I don't think I'll be upgrading to BD as I'm quite happy with the DVD's picture quality.I also have the old Anchor Bay UK DVD with the Midnight Media booklet.

Is the Blu Ray mentioned in this thread the US import or is is coming out in the UK soon?
I've got the Anchor Bay tin but I'd snap up UK blu disc.

It's the US Blue Underground BD that was mentioned. It's a terrific transfer, and is well worth investing in.

Studio Canal / Optimum recently re-released this in the UK on DVD, so I doubt whether a UK BD is planned in the near future, which is unfortunate.

Yeah, but it's no catastrophe, as the US Blue Underground Blu-ray is region free. :)

Greetings!

I saw this prior to ZFE & I love the film.Beautifully atmospheric,gory & quite well dubbed too.It certainly lived up to my expectations.

That's great news, thanks.

I looked at the blu ray at Play but was put off as it said it was region 1... then I noticed it said region 1 dvd... confused.

Don't worry, the Blu-ray is definitely region free. :nod:

Greetings!

Yeah, sites like Play and Amazon are useless when it comes to specifying the region coding of discs. If it's bluray then the best place to check is blu-ray.com to be honest.

Thanks guys, I'll be placing an order :)

Let us know what you make of it!

Only thing you'll be disappointed with is BU's artwork!:crazy:

Been a while since i watched this but i remember liking it for its locations, soundtrack and hilarious dialogue! great stuff....must watch again.

Couldn't agree more.....an absolut classic zombie flick!!!:pop2:

Living Dead at Manchester Morgue
 

Just recently re watched the Blue Underground blu,have'nt watched it for awhile,and agree with all right thinking zombie fans,its a cracking zombie movie,i think people forget that this came before Romero's Dawn and Fulci's Zombie.Also very fond of my Corpses tin.

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't filmed in the lake district. It was filmed in the peak district in Derbyshire. The town featured in it Castleton. I went there last year and walked passed the hotel in the film. (which is called the Castle Hotel in reality). The church is in a place called Hathersage about 6 miles from Castleton and the river with the stepping stones is in Dovedale. I'm going to try and visit them later this year.:nod: