After Death - 1989

 Also known as Zombie 4: After Death and as Zombie Flesh Eaters 3.

Claudio Fragasso is kind of in the same ballpark and same vein as Lucio Fulci, which is to say B and C tier Italian schlockmeisters that directed tons of horror movies in the 70s, 80s and 90s.  Fragasso is best known for directing Troll 2, and has been on this blog before with Women's Prison Massacre, the other type of movie he made: exploitation.

Just in a few minutes of IMDb scrolling I see Fragasso made unofficial Italian entries into Texas Chainsaw, the House series, obviously Zombie, need we mention Troll.  

After Death has a group of people landing on a mystery island and uncovering a sinister plot of voodoo and witchcraft that bring people back as zombies.  I like zombie and or monster movies where those monsters are known in the world, the movie is not filled with people exclaiming "Oh my god they're like dead but not dead?" instead it's just straight up "they're zombies!"

It's kind of strange because there's zombies from the beginning and yet midway through the movie the group also reads from the book of the Dead and unleashes a spell that brings more back from the dead - I thought they were already coming back from the dead?  I dunno.

After Death is also known for starring a male porn star, apparently unbeknownst to director Fragasso.  Fragasso also stated that this was :the last gasp of Italian horror" and it's kinda true and very sad.  I know there's Asylum and other similar D grade ripoffs that are still made now, but stuff that was made sheep in foreign countries with  many degrees of mistranslation and blatant copyright infringement and all that just doesn't seem to be around anymore.  I'd love to see a modern Italian sequel/ripoff of Us released starring a gay porn star and tons of topless women with kickass electronic music again...

As far as this actual movie goes, however, it's not going to blow your mind or anything.  Its a tad too long and too plodding without anything really happening for most of it besides just mild zombie horror.  The effects seem to be cheap minimal face and neck scabby, blotchy skin.  Nothing really good.  Its alright, pretty tame and perhaps not the best or most interesting.  2.5 stars.