The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue

Despite its very English title and the film partially being shot in the UK, The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is actually a Spanish production from 1974, directed by Jorge Grau and written by Juan Cobos, also both Spanish. As for the cast, once again we have Spanish as well as Italian, American and there’s probably an Englishman in there, too. Truly an international hotchpotch then, and the result is one of the best zombie films ever made.

On route from his Manchester shop to the Lake District, young antique dealer George (Ray Lovelock) literally has a run-in with the attractive Edna (Cristina Galbo), namely when she accidentally damages his motorcycle while reversing her car at a petrol station. George, who wants to work on a new house with some friends, persuades Edna – on her way to visit her troubled drug-addicted sister – to give him a lift. On detour in the countryside and while George is inspecting the area, Edna is attacked by a monstrous looking man. However, the locals claim she must have imagined things, for the alleged attacker is long dead. When she reaches her sister’s place, it appears that her sister has murdered her photographer husband but she too, insists that he has been attacked and killed by the same monstrous looking man who already tried to harm Edna.

When the inspector arrives to investigate, he takes an immediate dislike to Edna, her sister and particularly George, branding them as whacked-out hippies and Satanists a la Charles Manson. His narrow-minded theory is cemented when more attacks take place. Meanwhile, a much more sinister truth begins to emerge in the shape of flesh-craving zombies, accidentally brought to life by local farmers’ use of a new, radiation emitting pesticide-alternative intended to destroy insect’s nervous systems. George must flee, as the ever-increasing horde of crazed zombies and a crazed inspector get too close for comfort.

There’s a great 70’s retro-feel to The Living Dead Of The Manchester Morgue with a colour code to match. It’s on the right pace, too, with the action kicking in gradually. Optimum Classic offers this DVD release in a digitally restored (and English language) version, with the original trailer as a bonus.