Dance of the Dead (2008)

When he couldn’t get a green light for Dance of the Dead, director Gregg Bishop took $15k which he earned from the profits from his short film and funded his own movie. The result was the hit The Other Side, released in 2006. The film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival and was picked up for a theatrical release. It was a huge hit with critics and after the producers saw his film they finally gave the go ahead for Dance of the Dead. Thank god!

The film doesn’t isn’t in any way groundbreaking. If anything it could be best describes as a cross between Return of The Living Dead and Carrie only with the cast of Fast Times at Ridgemond High. It all takes place around an all-American high school on prom night. Of course like most high schools, the institution is located next to not only a graveyard but also a nuclear power plant. A chemical gets leaked without any explanation (but who needs one in a zombie film, anyway?) and the dead turn to life.

The film’s premise is very simple but the key to its success is that it never takes itself seriously. It takes you on a fun ride right from the first five minutes and never gives out. More importantly for a low budget film, the production values are great. They make with what they have and they do not aim too high. Too many small movies try to hard to do too much and we usually end up with bad computer effects. Here they stay away from CGI as often as possible and do an excellent job with the make up and prosthetics.

Joe Ballarini’s smart script follows a group of outcasts from the school into the graveyard and all around town. In fact the best part of the film comes half way when the children shelter themselves in what appears to be a mansion. Much like Night of the Living Dead, they board up the windows and doors in hopes to keep safe. Only they quickly discover they hid themselves inside a funeral home. All hell breaks loose and the children regroup only to getaway in what else but a hearse.

The cast of Dance of the Dead was put together with mostly non-actors from Georgia with the exception of Jared Kusnitz (Doll Graveyard) and Randy McDowell (Good Intentions). Jared Kusnitz, was actually in another SXSW ‘Midnight movie called Otis. Here he pulls off another great deadpan performance and lands himself in a better film.

According to director-producer Gregg Bishop, they “searched for months for the right kids, ones who were good at improv and who acted natural. Justin Welborn who also appeared in The Signal steals the show in this film. He plays the student delinquent Kyle a redneck bully who has a reputation of beating up the student population. When the zombies come out he manages to turn his anger on them and in one of my favorite scenes takes out a dozen or so zombies in what resembles a WWE hardcore wrestling match complete with elbow drops, body slams and an onslaught of weapons.

Dance of The Dead may not be at the same level as Shaun of the Dead but it makes for an entertaining time. Highly recommended for any genre enthusiasts or a group of friends getting together for a movie night. Besides that what other movie has ever featured a zombie sex scene?

Dance of the Dead will be distributed from October 2008 by Lions Gate Entertainment in a deal with Sam Raimi’s new partnership Ghost House Underground. The film is expected to be part of Ghost House’s inaugural slate of offerings dubbed “October Horror”.

Jimmy Dean