UMBERTO LENZI TRANSPORTS US VIA C-130 MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANE TO NIGHTMARE CITY - PART OF THE BRITERION COLLECTION

 

Italy is known for its wonderful food, much of which contains such wonderful cheese. The same can be said for Italian cinema. Particularly Italian horror circa 1980s. 

One of the great purveyors of aromatic cheese was Umberto Lenzi (Cannibal Ferox, Ghosthouse). While the director stated these were contaminated people, not zombies, it is hard to separate the two. Almost as hard as when the director claimed this was art in the name of anti-war sentiment. Hogwash! This is zombie cheese all the way.

One might even make claim that Lenzi was ahead of his time, creating fast-moving, weapon-toting mindless killing machines in the same vein as the quick zombies of the early 2000s. One could try, but one would be wrong. That would assume thought went into this production.

Yet it is surprisingly re-watchable, especially when watching with somewhat inebriated friends. Hugo Stiglitz, a powerhouse of Mexican cinema, makes for a truly enjoyable protagonist. The comely Laura Trotter and the upright Mel Ferrer also add to the mix in a positive sense. There are no small parts, right?

The movie is a non-stop smorgasbord of gratuitous violence, action, nonsensical dialog, and an even more ridiculous plotline with an ending that would make Rod Serling roll over in his grave with the attempt of a “twist” ending. Let’s put it this way, the film is kind of like the old Nintendo soundtracks of the same era – meant to be loop-able in perpetuity.

Still, it is difficult to take your eyes off of it. It is a train wreck in the best sense. So NSFW in all the best ways. It is a fun, albeit brainless, rollercoaster ride. Rollercoaster ride? Yes, that was intentional. Only true “Nightmare Citizens” will get that.  

About a decade back, Tom Savini (Special practical FX guru, writer, director) wanted to crowd-source a remake. Thankfully, that never got off the ground. It is hard to imagine a world with TWO Nightmare City films. Best leave that cheese alone. It tastes just right.

This is why Nightmare City (AKA Incubo sulla città contaminate, City of the Walking Dead) is part of the Briterion Collection.