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Movies => Bad Movies => Topic started by: Scott on May 18, 2005, 08:30:45 PM



Title: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Scott on May 18, 2005, 08:30:45 PM
NIGHTMARE CITY (1980) - Great Italian/Spain co-production directed by Umberto Lenzi. The film is about humans exposed to radiation that contaminates other people as they run through the streets killing everyone in sight. This is like a Zombie film except the radiation humans look like a bad barbaque accident. Very entertaining film that has a little bit of everything. If your a Zombie gore fan this is a must see.

(http://www.fatspy.dk/store/images/FatSpy_Screenshot_Nightmare_City2.jpg)
(http://www.thehotspotonline.com/eyecandy/popart/Pulp/097b.JPG)



Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on May 18, 2005, 08:42:07 PM
Yes, it is a zombie flick.

Yes it is Italian.

I hated it.

I love Italian zombie films.  I mean LOVE them, yet Nightmare City sat wrong with me when I rented it years ago.  I rented it because it was listed at my local vid store as City Of The Living Dead (Fulci).  I was completely disappointed when I popped it in and got this flick.

At first I had high hopes....well until the plane door opened and the zombs jumped out.  The makeup just wasn't good.  Didn't affect me in any way other than aggravating me.

I remember that I fast forwarded through a good part of the film.  I seem to remember a woman getting her eye gouged out (crazy Italians and their eye scenes) and I recall a fairly rememberable scene where the hero and a woman are climbing some type of tower and are shooting the zombs that climb up after them.

I do remember the ending quite clearly though, and felt it to be a bit of a cop-out.  Maybe I was just p**sed that my vid store had it labeled wrong.  Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it that day....maybe....

Or maybe it just sucked hard like I remember.

I'll pick it up sometime and give it another chance.



Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Scott on May 18, 2005, 09:09:53 PM
It is Italian : ), but they are not suppose to be Zombies Skaboi. They are like Zombies. Give the film another chance as the movie situation is well established in the dialogue and the location shots are mostly city type scenes and you have fast moving creatures running everywhere. Actually a big production for Italian productions.

It reminded me of RESIDENT EVIL films and SHAUN OF THE DEAD.



Post Edited (05-18-05 21:34)


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on May 19, 2005, 08:12:31 AM
Yeah, I remember that they weren't quite zombies and that there was mention of nuclear radiation and such.  If I remember correctly, the psuedo-zombs used weapons.  I think one was using a knife when they first emerge from the plane in the beginning.

I don't recall wether or not others turned into similar creatures when bitten/attacked.  As I said, it's probably be eight years or so since I saw it.

BTW, did you see it on DVD or VHS?  I originally saw it on a quite old VHS which really took away from the film.  The picture quality was terrible as was the sound.  Maybe if I watched a clearer version, my opinion might be a bit different.



Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: odinn7 on May 19, 2005, 08:36:50 AM
Ya know, if poster art was all it took to get me to see a movie, I would be seeing this one.



Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on August 03, 2011, 05:40:25 PM
I got this movie (under its alternate title, CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD) at the dollar store a couple of years ago. I had never heard of it, I had a feeling it was probably going to suck, and boy did it ever... but in a totally awesome way. This flick is just utterly, completely insane! I'm generally not a big Zombie film guy outside of the stuff from the Romero canon, but in this case I'll make an exception. It's totally ludicrous, irresistible Euro-trash.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: RCMerchant on August 03, 2011, 09:37:59 PM
Yeah-it's awful crap. But BAD awful crap.
Thus making it Good crap!
Speaking of crap....

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/citydead1.jpg)

Did the make up f/x consist of sticking the actors faces into an open sewer?  :question:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Menard on August 03, 2011, 09:47:17 PM
I have sat through this...thing on film, twice; that's twice that I had to ask myself "why am I watching this sh!t".

I agree with Skaboi on this, except that I was not smart enough to fast forward through it and make it less agonizing.

Let's consider the source saying this is a great movie: Scott also loved Oasis of the Zombies!  :buggedout:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: claws on August 04, 2011, 02:08:38 AM
Saw this at the Theater a few years after its original run. I was still very young and easy to impress and thought the movie delivered the nasty goods.
Bought the Nightmare City DVD when it came out and loved the movie for its awkward Euro-isms and cheesy action in general. Fun flick.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: The Burgomaster on August 04, 2011, 11:42:26 AM
I saw this during its theatrical run under the title CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD.  It was one of those glorious, "Unrated - Absolutely no one under 17 will be admitted" features that were common around that time (movies like DAWN OF THE DEAD, MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY, and THE EVIL DEAD were released the same way). 


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on August 04, 2011, 01:39:09 PM
This is one of my favorite unintentionally funny movies. There's something in just about every scene that makes me laugh. Plus the pacing is great, and Hugo Stiglitz gives one of the greatest bad acting performances of all time. I think if you go into this expecting something off the wall instead of a horror movie you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Check out this scene. Where the hell did they get all those hatchets.
oRMAVSN1IH0&feature=related


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on August 04, 2011, 04:31:48 PM
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Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on August 04, 2011, 05:00:26 PM
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Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on July 07, 2012, 06:30:59 AM
This is a rare thing for me, but I have actually changed my opinion in the years since I last commented on it.

I purchased this film a few years back in an Anchor Bay zombie set and I actually really enjoy it for what it is now.  At the time that I originally saw it, 10 or so years ago, I was just expecting more.  Now, I can sit back and just turn off my mind.

It's honestly a great, cheesy, overlooked little film.  Not a zombie film by any means, but still a blast.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: RCMerchant on July 07, 2012, 06:39:38 AM
This is a rare thing for me, but I have actually changed my opinion in the years since I last commented on it.

I purchased this film a few years back in an Anchor Bay zombie set and I actually really enjoy it for what it is now.  At the time that I originally saw it, 10 or so years ago, I was just expecting more.  Now, I can sit back and just turn off my mind.

It's honestly a great, cheesy, overlooked little film.  Not a zombie film by any means, but still a blast.

I gotta agree with Skaboi-I thought this was onena the worst "zombie" movies ever....except....
They run fast,shoot guns,break into a disco/aerobics class-and lotsa more.
I now treasure my copy.  :thumbup:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: fulci420 on July 07, 2012, 09:58:06 AM
This movie is fantastic! I loved when he threw a tv at the zombie causing both the zombie and television to explode. Tarantino discusses his admiration in this funny clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtR5Cxscnu4


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on July 07, 2012, 12:27:50 PM
I loaned my copy of this DVD to a co-worker recently - he LOVED it!! I've loaned him quite a few of my oldies but baddies over the past year or two (he's in his early 20s so I'm trying to school him in the classics)... we quote bits from it to each other all the time at work now.  :teddyr:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: zombie no.one on July 07, 2012, 01:38:09 PM
I posted this on in the 100 Foreign Horrors thread. I like this film. off the wall and demented with extra euro-cheese. the tv dancing show massacre bit is great


It's worth pointing out that the version called CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD was heavily edited. 'NIGHTMARE CITY' is the one to get


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: voltron on July 07, 2012, 08:49:21 PM
Years ago my girlfriend and I rented City Of The Walking Dead on VHS. We popped it in, and when the "zombies" jumped out of the plane yeilding weapons and running we both groaned in disbelief. Then the tape got eaten, which wasn't a big letdown at the time. I've since gotten the Nightmare City DVD on a whim and it is now officially on of my fave nutty Italian gore flicks. Amazing! I'm also a big Lenzi fan because of it.  :smile:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on July 08, 2012, 06:18:10 AM
It's worth pointing out that the version called CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD was heavily edited. 'NIGHTMARE CITY' is the one to get

That is the cut that I originally saw on VHS years ago.  I really disliked it quite a bit.

Funny that fulchi420 mentioned Tarantino's love for the film.  In Inglorious Basterds, Til Schweiger played "Hugo Stiglitz".  That just happens to be the name of the actor who was the lead in Nightmare City!


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Joe on July 10, 2012, 10:20:43 AM
I love this film. I just caught a 35mm screening during an Italian Splatterfest marathon that was running at the Colonial Theatre (where they shot the Blob) in PA.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: zeronx on July 10, 2012, 12:30:04 PM
Watched this thanks to this thread. Was fun  :smile:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on July 10, 2012, 07:09:36 PM
How much was cut from the "City of the Walking Dead" version? Cuz that's the one I have and it certainly seems to have plenty of blood N gore (eyeball gouging, breast mutilation, heads exploding, etc.)...so what am I missing??


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: zombie no.one on July 10, 2012, 07:39:49 PM
 don't actually know fatfred, I am just going by various sources I've read., including IMDB and elsewhere. One thing I hate is cut versions of films that don't say they're cut (VIPCO being the masters of this) so I was just repeating what I'd read, but no I don't actually know...if it's got the eyeball scene etc then perhaps it isn't cut


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on July 10, 2012, 08:07:56 PM
I do recall the eyeball scene in the Walking Dead version.  I don't quite remember it being as long as the scene is in the Nightmare City version. I could absolutely be wrong as I originally saw it on VHS over a decade ago. I really regret not giving this one a fair shake the first time around.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on July 10, 2012, 09:09:51 PM
Quote
don't actually know fatfred, I am just going by various sources I've read., including IMDB and elsewhere. One thing I hate is cut versions of films that don't say they're cut (VIPCO being the masters of this) so I was just repeating what I'd read, but no I don't actually know...if it's got the eyeball scene etc then perhaps it isn't cut


I do recall the eyeball scene in the Walking Dead version.  I don't quite remember it being as long as the scene is in the Nightmare City version. I could absolutely be wrong as I originally saw it on VHS over a decade ago. I really regret not giving this one a fair shake the first time around.


Interesting. There are probably so many different versions of that flick floating around, each with their own sets of "cuts" for various countries/territories, so Lord only knows, I guess.

I did find this site which compares the cuts in the UK VHS version of "Nightmare City" versus the uncut Anchor Bay US DVD:

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=750284

I haven't watched the film in a while myself, but I'm almost 100 percent sure that all of the "cut" scenes shown here are in the "City of the Walking Dead" DVD that I own.

Either way, the DVD I have (a dollar store double feature b/w "Creepers," aka the American cut of Argento's "Phenomena") is pretty crap quality (scratchy, dark, colors are washed out, etc.) so I'd like to upgrade it to a better version somewhere down the road anyway. Though I have to say, watching that crappy version actually enhances the "grindhouse" vibe of the film. :D


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Mr_Vindictive on July 11, 2012, 07:04:27 PM
Never fails to amaze me how much the UK cut some releases back in the day. Was this one on the Video Nasties list? Would certainly explain just why there are so many cuts and versions of it.

You all have me dying to break out my copy soon.  My Anchor Bay set this came in had some great films. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Dead Heat, and another eurotrash zombie flick the name of which escapes me. I recall it ripping off a lot of the costumes and music from Dawn of the Dead...need to give them all a watch soon.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on July 11, 2012, 07:48:24 PM
Quote
You all have me dying to break out my copy soon.

Yup, me too!!! :teddyr:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: Pilgermann on July 11, 2012, 11:25:30 PM
This movie has gone off and on my radar for a while, but this thread is making me reeeeally want to see it.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on July 12, 2012, 08:22:54 AM
Amazing! I'm also a big Lenzi fan because of it.  :smile:

Me too. Though I've only seen a few of his other titles (the man directed 65 films!)
If you haven't already, check out ALMOST HUMAN. It's a very entertaining low-rent greasy crime flick. It's worth seeking out.

I love this film. I just caught a 35mm screening during an Italian Splatterfest marathon that was running at the Colonial Theatre (where they shot the Blob) in PA.

I'm truly envious of you.
Was the crowd having a laugh at it?


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: zombie no.one on July 12, 2012, 08:38:58 AM
Amazing! I'm also a big Lenzi fan because of it.  :smile:

Me too. Though I've only seen a few of his other titles (the man directed 65 films!)
If you haven't already, check out ALMOST HUMAN. It's a very entertaining low-rent greasy crime flick. It's worth seeking out.

ALMOST HUMAN has recently been released on dvd by Shameless as a "fan edition" which judging by their "fan edition" of NEW YORK RIPPER probably means it will be the least censored version yet made available. might have to check it out

as for other Lenzi films I'd recommend EATEN ALIVE - funniest cannibal flick I've seen (unintentionally of course  :smile:)


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on January 27, 2013, 08:49:47 PM
How much was cut from the "City of the Walking Dead" version? Cuz that's the one I have and it certainly seems to have plenty of blood N gore (eyeball gouging, breast mutilation, heads exploding, etc.)...so what am I missing??

Well, it appears that I will soon find out the differences between "Nightmare City" and "City of the Walking Dead" for myself -- because I scored a copy of the uncut Anchor Bay "Nightmare City" DVD from the public library (of all places!...seriously, I did a little happy dance when I found it in their computer catalog!)...I've only ever seen this flick as "City of the Walking Dead" so I'm stoked to see the uncut version!

The dollar-store "City of the Walking Dead" DVD that I own shows the flick's run time as 81 mins. (keep in mind, I've never timed it to see if that's accurate), whilst the Anchor Bay DVD sez the run time of "Nightmare City" is 92 minutes. So wow, there will be almost a dozen extra minutes of cheapo carnage? Cooooool.

The Anchor Bay DVD also features a bonus interview w/director Umberto Lenzi, in which I'm told he actually compares his film to Tom Hanks' "Philadelphia." Which means he's either extremely sarcastic, or completely batsh*t crazy. I can't wait to watch it and find out.  :teddyr:


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on January 28, 2013, 09:17:24 AM
I think what you'll notice the most is a great transfer.
It would be awesome if Blue Underground would release it on blu-ray.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on January 29, 2013, 09:06:41 PM
I think what you'll notice the most is a great transfer.

Watched it last night and oh yeah, it was glorious seeing a nice clean transfer of the film. Prior to this all I'd seen was my dollar-store copy of the US edit which was full of scratches and washed out colors...which, I'll admit, actually kinda enhances the sleazy/grindhouse vibe of the whol thing... but still, it was cool seeing this chestnut as it was originally intended.  

As far as the differences between the "City of the Walking Dead" and "Nightmare City" versions, nothing jumped out at me during "N.C." and made me go "Holy sh*t, I never saw that before!" So I'm gonna assume that the cuts/edits were minimal - a few seconds here, a couple more there, etc., etc.
I'm also gonna call Bullsh*t on the "81 minute" run time on the dollar store DVD I have, cuz watching "Nightmare City" last night didn't feel any longer than the last time I watched "City of the Walking Dead" a couple of months ago.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on December 19, 2013, 07:54:11 AM
Raro Video is releasing this on Blu-ray on Dec 31st. The price is pretty steep though, and the only extra that's different from the DVD release is a fully illustrated booklet.
http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-City-Blu-ray/dp/B00GD9GN6W/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1387457474&sr=1-1&keywords=nightmare+city+blu

(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/tcrine_photos/81kq0TQWvaL_SL1500__zps9404704d.jpg) (http://s177.photobucket.com/user/tcrine_photos/media/81kq0TQWvaL_SL1500__zps9404704d.jpg.html)


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: major jay on January 02, 2014, 11:24:09 AM
Here's a review of the Blu-ray from DVD Talk, and it ain't good. :bluesad:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/62524/nightmare-city/

Quote
What a letdown.
The credits on the disc don't say one way or the other, but this new high-definition presentation of Nightmare City looks as if it was tackled by LVR, the industry-worst post-production team behind Blue Underground's most disappointing Eurohorror releases. Nightmare City is extremely soft and smeary. There's no filmic texture whatsoever; just traces of CRT noise. In a botched attempt at dialing down that analog noise, the image has been heavily filtered, leaving it frustratingly video-like in appearance. As substandard as these screenshots may look to you, Nightmare City somehow manages to be even worse in motion. A few hues, such as the bloody reds and a brilliant blue swimming pool, make an impression, but colors are otherwise drab and lifeless. The muddy, murky contrast of Anchor Bay's DVD from 2002 is taken to the complete other end of the spectrum here, coming across instead as thin and insubstantial. There's not a pure black anywhere on display here. Even worse, the encoding is abysmal, with just about every background in the film littered with compression artifacts. Definition and detail are a considerable step up over Anchor Bay's DVD, but a newly-minted Blu-ray disc beating out a decade-old release hamstrung with one-sixth the resolution isn't exactly cause for a ticker tape parade. If we were comparing this disc with a DVD mastered with today's standards, I'd expect the differences to be fairly slight.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: claws on January 02, 2014, 11:38:11 AM
Wow, sounds awful.


Title: Re: Nightmare City (1980)
Post by: FatFreddysCat on June 26, 2014, 01:38:09 PM
"Nightmare City" is available on Netflix Streaming right now... imagine my surprise when I stumbled across it while scrolling thru the newest offerings last night!!

It's the original Italian language track with English sub-titles, which is weird, but I'll probably check it out sometime soon. I've only eve seen the English dubbed version.

Though I have to say, I actually kind of like the klutzy English dub because the English dialogue comes out so stilted and awkward that it adds a whole nother level of unintentional hilarity to an already weird flick!  :bouncegiggle: