HMaM Global Mod
Post by GL on Oct 19, 2006 20:30:45 GMT -5
“Premutos: Lord of the Living Dead” is one of the great gore flicks ever made.
**SPOILERS**
Hundreds of years ago,.the followers of the fallen God Premutos are killed by the local villagers, and the secret is hidden from the outside world. Today, Mathias, (Olaf Ittenbach) is trying to live his life, but is plagued by flashbacks of himself fighting Premutos. As the flashbacks get more and more intense and realistic, Mathias gradually believes that he is the son of Premutos. The realization of his identity is the last connection needed to bring about an apocalypse on earth, as the slain followers of Premutos rise from the dead to attack.
The Good News: “Premutos: Lord of the Living Dead” is easily one of the goriest and most graphic films ever made. There is really no way to describe the gore present in the film. Chainsaw eviscerations, being split in half, decapitations, slit throats, axes sliced into almost every body part and gunshots are used to inflict damage, and this is just the beginning to this one. There is much more to this one, and listing at least half of the hundred and thirty dead bodies and the method of death for each one would take up an incredible amount of space to write up. The good part is that with so many deaths ans mutilations on display, it just becomes a showcase for the special effects, more so than in so many similar types of movies. Most of them are quite impressive in their on-screen realization, which makes them appear as if it’s happening in real life and therefore more relatable. The zombies here are just delicious-looking, full of European goodness, with facial wounds and scars, body modification and damage done to them that are quite striking and memorable. Whereas most films would make the viewer nauseous with the gore, this one instead keeps it in the same general style but instead doesn’t make it seem like the viewer is watching some sort of illegal movie. It’s all kept light-hearted so you don’t feel like it’s something that will haunt you later. This is the movie’s greatest feat: making an incredibly gory movie fun to watch. Most wouldn’t dare attempt this, but this one does, and it comes across beautifully. Beyond the gore, there is a lot to like about. As mentioned above, the mixing of over-the-top gore and light-hearted humor. While not laugh-out-loud funny, there are some pretty funny sequences here that do get a couple chuckles. A soccer sequence is the most likely, due to an outcome that could be seen coming from a mile away, but yet still appeals to men everywhere who love the lowest-common denominator gags. The dinner party sequence gets some good laughs, and several other instances get some laughs. The flashbacks spread liberally throughout the film definitely get better and more intense as it goes along. The attack on the farmhouse is a great one, with plenty of action, gore and some great moments spread in it. The other flashbacks are just as good, and the WWII one sticks out as well of an example of this. Of course, the final half hour of the film is it’s bread-and-butter of the film, and features some of the most impressive gore effects ever, as well as a continuous line of action that is beyond spectacle. So much happens during that time that it’s nearly suffocating. It is wall-to-wall to a degree rarely seen in such a horror film, including chainsawing zombies, gunplay, explosions of various types and magnitudes, and a surprise the like of which hasn’t been thought of or used before or after. The fact that it’s so long a sequence makes it all the better, and beyond the gore, this should be the reason why you see the film. This is a really great and entertaining film.
The Bad News: Despite the gore in here, this is still flawed. One of the main things is the pretty nonsensical plot. It’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on in the film, especially at the very beginning. This is a very tough film to follow through on, and the fact that it keeps going back and forth through times makes it all the more difficult. Making it a more singular effort might’ve made it work, but it’s a little flawed to begin with. There really isn’t any motive for Premutos’ return, and no attempt is even made, which would’ve been a nice inclusion into the narrative. His threat is revealed numerous times, but nothing is said about why this particular time and place is the time for him to return. Even still, once the zombie resurrection has started, Premutos and Mathias both disappear from the film, with no explanation as to why. This is the greatest danger to the film: over-thinking it.
The Final Verdict: I had long believed the Italians were the Kings of Splatter, but I’m more than willing to admit the Germans are right there with them. This is one of the classic films in the genre and will leave no gorehound in disappointment. Don’t think about it too hard, though, and you should be just fine.
Rated UR/NC-17: Extreme Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Nudity, a sex scene and themes of incest and S&M
