Shudder has acquired one of the most outrageous retro-style zombie flicks ever produced.
Unleash the tortoise-paced terrors of the big screen with the 1972 cult favorite, "Tombs of the Blind Dead." This mind-bending movie draws inspiration from the horror mastermind, George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead," but with a European twist and a generous dose of skin-crawling sleaze.
These lethargic monstrosities will have you on edge, even during the most sluggish chases. The Blind Dead, a.k.a the Knights Templar, are on the hunt, but they're moving at the speed of molasses, and that includes their slow-motion equestrian pursuits.
Despite the leisurely pace, tension is sky-high. You'll be sweating buckets as you swerve to avoid crumbling noggins of the Temple Knights, who thrive on two things in their undead existence: Satanic worship and gnawing on human flesh.
Our lucky protagonists just can't seem to catch a break, randomly stumbling upon the cursed Barzano – a ruined medieval town nestled in the lovely landscape bordering Spain and Portugal. This serene location turns out to be the absolute worst place for a weekend getaway, especially for our duo, unlikely roommates Bette (Lone Fleming) and Virginia (María Elena Arpón).
The reunion of these former boarding-school lovebirds goes awry when Virginia jumps off a moving train, driven away by unspoken tensions. As if Barzano wasn't bad enough, it just so happens to be a mecca for the sluggish supernatural.
The film effortlessly checks off familiar giallo and European horror tropes, such as laughably ineffective cops, a creepy morgue attendant, and a professor brimming with exposition. The shock value is taken to the next level with scenes like Bette's job at a mannequin warehouse (though, why mannequins? Why not!).
In this European horror homage, the slow and steady consumption of the Knights Templar is woven throughout, from their initial excommunication to their worm-ridden, peeper-less returned form. Lower your expectations for a fast-paced climax, though – expect the apocalypse to unfurl with all the speed and urgency of a worn-out slug.
Crafted with the same passion and poise as legendary horror maestros, "Tombs of the Blind Dead" is a captivating, chilling ride that's now streaming on Shudder.
If you crave more horror, stay tuned for updates on the latest "Marvel," "Star Wars," "Star Trek," "DC Universe", and the scintillating future of "Doctor Who".
Source enrichment:
The Knights Templar, or the Blind Dead, are the slowest zombies ever to grace cinema in the 1972 cult classic "
- Origins: In the 13th century, a group of evil knights known as the Knights Templar sought immortality by drinking human blood and committing human sacrifices. They were eventually executed for their heinous deeds, but their corpses were left out to be picked clean by crows. The crows pecked out their eyes, ensuring they could never find their way back from hell.
- Undead State: These Knights Templar became undead but were more akin to vampiric mummy-ghouls, seeking human flesh and blood.
- Hunting Mechanism: The Blind Dead hunt by sound, making them an even greater threat because their lack of sight leaves them reliant on hearing to locate their victims.
- Appearance: With bearded, eyeless, and decaying bodies, the Blind Dead have a grotesque and unsettling appearance.
- Behavior: These undead monstrosities are driven by their voracious appetite for human flesh, displaying relentless and unstoppable behavior in both their life and death.
In the future of cinema, we might witness a revival of the slow-moving yet terrifying Blind Dead, a creature originating from the Knights Templar in the 13th century. Given their reliance on sound for hunting, modern filmmakers might explore the use of technology to create more realistic and chilling auditory scenes.
As enthusiasts of horror, we eagerly await the release of new movies featuring iconic franchises like "Marvel," "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and "DC Universe," but we also look forward to seeing the evolution of classic horror tropes, such as the Blind Dead, through the lens of Io9.
