POST APOCALYPTIC RATS & "GREAT VALUE" ROMERO A LA BRUNO MATTEI - PART OF THE BRITERION COLLECTION

 

    Prepare yourselves, brave cinephiles, for a wild ride through the twisted realms of horror cinema where the boundaries of good taste and filmmaking competence are gleefully trampled upon. Today, we embark on a journey into the macabre and misguided creations of none other than the infamous director Bruno Mattei (Women's Prison Massacre, Cruel Jaws), the Notorious Maestro of Macabre Madness. Our focus? The abysmal masterpieces known as Rats: Night of Terror and Hell of the Living Dead. Strap in and join us as we delve into the absurdities, gory effects, and shameless rip-offs that define these cinematic calamities.

    Before we plunge into the depths of horror, let's take a moment to marvel at the enigma that is Bruno Mattei. Known for his lackluster directorial style, Mattei had a knack for concocting the most ludicrous and jaw-droppingly inept (re) creations. His filmography reads like a catalogue of cinema crimes running the gamut from soft-core porn to hard-core gore. His shameless imitation and exploitation typifies the Italian director with films indelibly earning their place in the realm of infamy and subpar knock-offs.

    Mattei's films often borrow heavily from successful predecessors, and Hell of the Living Dead is a prime example. If you're having a nagging feeling of déjà vu, you're not alone. This film shamelessly rips off George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, with a generous sprinkling of Mattei's unique (lack of) flair. Think of Mattei as a "Great Value" Brand Romero. Prepare for a wild ride through a zombie-infested jungle, complete with nonsensical dialogue, laughable performances, and a generous serving of splatter-rific gore. 

    Fast forward now to the post-apocalyptic future. Ah, the glorious disaster that is Rats: Night of Terror. Prepare yourself for a world where rats rule the wasteland with an iron paw. The plot, if we dare call it that, revolves around a group of survivors seeking refuge in a deserted town. Little do they know that their true adversaries are not the wastelands of the nuclear ravaged landscape but the ferocious army of carnivorous rats. The absurdity knows no bounds as these rats exhibit an uncanny intelligence and a penchant for brutal attacks. They must be from New York.

    One cannot discuss such films without acknowledging the gory special effects that Mattei seemed to revel in. Prepare to witness outrageously fake blood splatter, haphazardly executed makeup, and practical effects that range from hilariously amateurish to downright cringe-worthy. These visual atrocities will have you questioning the sanity of the production team and the delightfully twisted mind of Bruno Mattei.

    Both Rats and Hell are jewels in the crown of craptacular cinema. Definitely an acquired taste as well as a guilty pleasure. These are communal experiences where friends gather to revel in the sheer absurdity, exchanging bewildered glances and bursts of laughter preferably through drunken stupor.

    The filmatic wreckage that is Rats: Night of Terror and Hell of the Living Dead are firmly mired in the absurd - but in a good way. We can't help but marvel at the audacity and sheer lunacy of Bruno Mattei. These films stand as testaments to his unique brand of cinematic madness. Sometimes the best way to appreciate greatness is by immersing ourselves in its antithesis, which is why these two films have been (dis)honorably recognized in the Briterion Collection.