THE LONG UNAWAITED SEQUEL SERIES FINALE TO ZOMBIE 2, ZOMBIE 3, ZOMBIE 4: AFTER DEATH, and ZOMBIE 5: KILLING BIRDS --- ZOMBIE 6: L'alba dei Tropici

 

Now, the sequel franchise finale to the series nobody asked for and doesn’t really tie up any lose ends. The final (?) installment of the Italian horror series of Zombie films: Zombie 2, Zombie 3, Zombie 4: After Death, and Zombie 5: Killing Birds. This time, since we are actually describing the film, there is more plot than usual. Just don’t harbor any expectations that this will up the quality of the franchise, though. Without further ado, here is the sequel called 

Zombie 6:

L’alba dei Tropici

A team of four intrepid researchers, led by the ambitious Dr. Marla, are setting sail for a secluded tropical island. They are on a mission to uncover the origins of a mysterious viral outbreak. One that caused the dead to rise and feed on the flesh of the living. The time is August 4^th, 1989. The place, a mysterious uncharted island in the Phillipines.

Accompanying Dr. Marla are Sean, an anthropologist; Dani, a virologist; and Cooper, a survival expert. Cooper is a rugged individual who lost his family in the original outbreak and has a personal stake in ensuring the world never sees such a horror again. Dani is there for the scientific discovery of it all, having only read about the situation previously. Sean secretly hopes to gain favor with Dr. Marla as he is hopelessly in love with her.

As the boat glides across the turquoise waters, the researchers exchange nervous glances. The tales of Isla de la Piccola Muerte loom over them like a sinister cloud. Dr. Marla’s ambition drives them forward, and she assures them that their research could save countless lives if they unlock the virus’s secrets.

They reach the shore after an arduous journey that involves sharks, undead pirates, and running across a coral reef that tears an irreparable hole in the boat. They wearily climb out of the boat onto the beach as their vessel sinks to the ground. Cooper was smart enough to rescue the emergency radio along with their precious scientific materials.

Setting foot on the sandy beach, the group senses an eerie stillness. The rustling of the palm leaves and the distant sound of crashing waves are the only reprieve from the stifling silence. Their mission becomes clear: to find the truth about the viral outbreak and, if possible, eradicate any remnants of the terrifying virus. And then, call for help as their boat has completely submerged just off coast.

As they trek through the dense jungle, Cooper scans the surroundings. He senses that danger lurks in every shadow, haunted by the memory of his lost family. Sean remains curious about the island’s folklore, while Dani clutches her research equipment tightly like a security blanket.

Soon, they stumble upon an abandoned research facility, its broken windows and overgrown vegetation. The faded letters on a rusted sign read “Maynard Research Center.” Dr. Marla believes this could be the key to their investigation.

Inside the facility, they find dusty logs, yellowed medical records, and scattered research notes. The name “Dr. Maynard” appears repeatedly, and they begin to piece together his connection to the viral outbreak. The doctor had been working on a project called “Dawn” which had somehow led to the reanimation of the dead.

The clues lead them to a chamber deep within the facility, where they uncover references to an experimental antivirus called “Z-Alpha.” Dr. Marla’s eyes widen with hope; this could be the solution they seek.

However, before they can delve deeper, an unnatural silence falls upon the group. The air feels heavy, and suddenly, the distant sound of unearthly moans fills the corridors. Fear grips their hearts as they realize the virus they had thought was long gone has only been dormant, waiting for an opportunity to strike again.

From the shadows emerge the undead. Their rotting bodies shamble relentlessly. Panic sets in, and the team scrambles to find an escape route. In their desperation, they inadvertently trigger an alarm that reverberates throughout the facility, attracting more of the reanimated horrors.

Sean is first to fall victim to the undead horde. He rounds a corner in a blind panic to flee, running straight into a throng. The zombies rip the poor anthropologist apart. In his dying breath, he tells Dr. Marla that he loves her and she should run while she could. While horrific, Sean’s death secures an escape route for the others.

With their backs against the wall, they make a desperate dash for survival, unsure of what awaits them around every corner. As they fight to stay alive, they are forced to confront the grotesque manifestations of their worst nightmares. As they flee for their very lives, Cooper drops their only source of communication - the radio from the boat - and it smashes to pieces against a protruding rock.

Their journey becomes a race against time, not only to save themselves but also to find the antivirus before the virus can reach the mainland and restart the cycle of undead horror. Each step brings them closer to the horrifying truth about the island and the origin of the virus.

As the team sifts through the old documents, they come across chilling accounts of experiments gone awry, notes on containment breaches, and ominous mentions of “patient zero”. It becomes evident that Dr. Maynard had been conducting dangerous experiments on the living, attempting to harness the power of the virus for potential military applications.

Doubts and second thoughts start to plague the team. The risks of unearthing the island’s dark past become increasingly apparent, but they cannot turn back now. The clock is ticking, and the threat of the virus spreading beyond the island’s shores becomes too great to ignore.

In the heart of the facility, they find an old video recording made by Dr. Maynard himself. He speaks of his desperation to create a cure for the virus he had inadvertently unleashed upon the world. But his pleas are cut short as the video abruptly ends, leaving an unsettling sense of foreboding.

The team splits up to explore the facility further. Cooper leads the search for the Z-Alpha antivirus, hoping to find it before the undead menace closes in on them. Dani ventures into a hidden lab to uncover any potential leads on the origins of the virus.

Cooper looks to secure the building from the countless monsters just outside. He locks the place down as best he can. He sets his machine gun down to test the durability of his makeshift barrier. Just then, the security glass shatters and numerous undead hands reach in and grasp the survival expert. They pull him back through the ragged security glass, cutting him to ribbons as he screams in agony.

Outside the facility, the island seems to react to their presence. Thunderstorms lash out, and the jungle echoes with unearthly moans. The uneasy feeling intensifies as they understand that Isla de la Piccola Muerte is alive with the horrors of its past. The zombies haven’t completely rotted away as anticipated, decomposition halted by the same bizarre serum which reanimated their dead flesh.

Dr. Marla and Dani discover a hidden chamber containing preserved samples of the original virus. Shocked by the implications of their findings, they realize that this holds the key to unlocking the virus’s true potential. The temptation to uncover the darkest secrets of the virus becomes an insidious force, threatening to consume them.

A sudden onslaught of the undead catches them off guard, and panic ensues. They scramble to find an escape route, but the corridors of the facility seem designed to confound them. The moans of the undead echo through the halls.

In the chaos, Dr. Marla frantically searches for the antivirus, realizing that it may be their only hope against the relentless horde. Dani barricades a room, hoping to hold off the zombies long enough for Dr. Marla to find a way out.

They finally locate the vault where the Z-Alpha antivirus is rumored to be stored. However, when they open the vault, they discover that the antivirus is not in its intended form. Maynard had not yet completed the formula, leaving them with only the raw ingredients.

Dr. Marla’s scientific mind races, trying to decipher the incomplete formula. She realizes that the missing components are vital to the antivirus’s effectiveness. She glances at the volatile surroundings and knows that they may not have the luxury of time to fully develop it. The group prepares to make a last stand, hoping that the antivirus will provide them with an edge.

As the undead burst into the room, a tense battle ensues. The team fights with every ounce of strength and determination they possess, knowing that their survival hinges on the antivirus’s uncertain efficacy.

Suddenly, Dr. Marla has an idea. She spots a ventilation shaft near the ceiling. If they can release the antivirus into the facility’s ventilation system, they might disperse it enough to halt the undead advance.

Dani and Dr. Marla work together to release the antivirus into the ventilation system. The vial’s contents spread like a desperate hope, carried by the facility’s air currents.

Miraculously, the effect is almost immediate. The zombies begin to stagger and falter, losing their inexorable lethal intent. The antivirus appears to be slowing their movements and hindering their aggression.

Seizing the opportunity, they push forward, using whatever means necessary to clear a path. Hacking, slashing, shooting, bludgeoning, and gouging their way through the zombie horde as the reanimated corpses become less and less threatening. As they reach the facility’s exit, they’re met with a sigh of relief as daylight greets them.

But their relief is short-lived as they realize the infection isn’t isolated to the research facility. The entire island seems to have come alive with the undead. They know they must destroy the facility, containing the virus and preventing it from spreading beyond the island. In the lead is none other than Cooper, now reanimated and leading the pack of monsters assaulting the facility.

Then, Dani forms a plan. Lure the monsters into the facility and then initial the self-destruct sequence. Using themselves as bait, immeasurable zombies climb through every ingress. Finally, enough of the undead are inside that they must act or lose the chance entirely. They trigger an explosive that decimates the research facility and the horrors within. As the dust settles, they watch the remnants of their mission crumble to ruin. Cooper’s flaming body crawls out towards them, burning but not dying.

The two find a rowboat with an outboard motor. The climb in, pushing it to the lapping waves. They pull the cord. The engine won’t start.

The remaining zombies not destroyed in the explosion charge the desperate duo. Dr. Marla pulls frantically on the starting cord. The engine fizzles and dies each time. She has flooded the engine.

The zombies start shambling into the sea. They are getting closer. Dani picks up an oar, ready to fight. Dr. Marla screams in triumph.

The two women paddle the boat out of the harbor. Zombies charge, being pushed back by the waves or disappearing under the surface completely. They continue to row the boat.

The danger temporarily abated, the women pull the oars in and lie back from utter exhaustion. Dr. Marla clutches the intermediate serum, confident she can replicate the anti-virus in her lab.

They drift in the open sea. Dani comments that they can make it to the shipping lanes to be rescued. Dr. Marla smiles, knowing they have a chance to save humanity.

Days go by, but they were correct. A cargo ship sails by, seeing the tiny craft in the water. The Captain sounds the alarm. It’s all hands on deck as they pull the women from the boat.

A deckhand turns Dr. Marla’s limp body over, facing him. Her eyes open and she is one of the undead, now. She attacks the deckhand, ripping out his throat in her teeth.

Dani, also undead, bite the face of another sailor, ripping out his eye in her teeth. Panic ensues. Several other men are killed by the two creatures before they are subdued.

Other men take the wounded to sick bay. One of the men returns as a zombie, attacking the doctor. Others scream as another man has reanimated on the way to the medical facility. Pandemonium and graphic violence continue as the scene freezes and the words “The End?” are superimposed over the image.

 

COMING SOON:

ZOMBIE 7:  Nave da Carico dei Morti