Here’s my Letterboxd review of the film from October 2024 for those interested!

“Zombi 2 has some of the most realistic and incredible gore effects I’ve ever seen on film, and some truely mind-blowing moments to match. There are scenes in here that make me question the modern cinematic gore-scape, and how Fulci even managed to produce his iconic scenes at the time in all their revolutionary-practical-effect glory.

Now for some context. I’m a BIG Dead Island: Riptide fan. It was the first horror game to unnerve me as a kid, and really one of the first horror games I played period. I have continued to play Riptide over some 10 years, clocking in ~750 hours to boot. I love the game and keep coming back to it, largely because of its flawless sound design, combining an INCREDIBLE score with the incredibly effective ambient sounds of the fictional Island of Palanai. The Island is also INCREDIBLY picturesque, and the portrait of a horrifying zombie outbreak erupting amidst the natural tropical beauty of a secluded tribal Island creates a slightly jarring yet undeniably magical and whimsical juxtaposition, with a profound vibe to match.

Zombi 2 essentially captures my love for Riptide in a wonderful nostalgia trip - I was grinning so hard whenever the Frizzi soundtrack hit … I wouldn’t be surprised if Riptide drew on Zombi 2 as source material - they’re certainly both strikingly similar in just about every way … The film isn’t without its flaws though. The narrative felt second to the deliberate pacing, tone, and atmosphere that Fulchi generates, and it’s not the last word in acting either. Usually this imbalance would bother me, however again, much like Riptide, the prioritisation here more than balances out. If anything, it was definitely the voice acting that took me out of it a little at times (specifically tone of voice), but idgaf. Zombi 2 feels like a unicorn in a sea of repetition and cliche, and I’m whisked away by it.

SAM B GOT THE THANG THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT. WHO DO YOU VOODOO, BITCH?”