Between 1958 and 1978, Italian Filmmaker Bruno Mattei edited, wrote, or directed films in numerous genres. Still, many would mark 1980’s Hell of the Living Dead as his first deep dive into the Horror realm.
To that point recognized for such films as 1975’s Emanuelle’s Revenge and 1977’s SS Girls, Hell of the Living Dead began a new era for Mattei who would go onto other Horror films such as 1981’s The Other Hell, 1984’s Rats: Night of Terror, and 1988’s Zombi 3 (taking over for Lucio Fulci who was a portion into the production). With all of that in mind, Hell of the Living Dead (originally called Virus in Italy) is largely considered by many to be a film that heavily borrows from George A. Romero’s 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead.
A comparison difficult to refute, Hell of the Living Dead’s storyline, mood, and even music seem to evoke the spirit of Dawn of the Dead shamelessly. To start with, the film features a score from Italy’s Goblin (who had worked on numerous Horror films, including Dawn of the Dead). A factor that may entice some who loved what they had heard up to that point, the catch is that the music featured in Hell of the Living Dead is recycled from Dawn of the Dead and other films on which Goblin had worked prior.
Furthermore, many characters in Hell of the Living Dead vaguely remind you of those from Dawn of the Dead, with a centralized group of commandos navigating their way through an unexplained phenomenon of the dead returning to life. Perhaps it is coincidental, but it would be hard to overlook that joining them are two news reporters, including a single lady named Lia Rousseau (played by Margit Evelyn Newton), who bears striking character attributes to Gaylen Ross’s Francine in Dawn of the Dead.
If you are a fan of Dawn of the Dead, these are factors that will either make you laugh or roll your eyes at Hell of the Living Dead. However, there are still some other points surrounding Hell of the Living Dead worth noting. First of all, it is documented that the screenplay was not Mattei’s first selection to direct, and that is something worth considering.
Nonetheless, despite its shortcomings, it is best to reserve judgment on Hell of the Living Dead quickly, because the film does possess some original qualities. A result of how Mattei approached the material, a significant difference between Dawn of the Dead and Hell of the Living Dead is that Mattei’s film has less hopeful messaging. As a matter of fact, the climax of Hell of the Living Dead is much darker and bleaker.
Initially released in Spain in November 1980 and later in Italy in August 1981, the film was also released in the United States in 1983. Finding some success, critics were also less than kind to Hell of the Living Dead. Regardless, over forty years since its initial release, Hell of the Living Dead has endured numerous home media releases. Speaking of the film’s name, besides the Italian title Virus or the known English title Hell of the Living Dead, it is also known under other titles, such as Night of the Zombies and Zombie Creeping Flesh. Something that could confuse DVD collectors is that several low-budget releases of the film have appeared over the years under different titles. Therefore, be aware of your aliases before making any purchases to avoid owning duplicates.
All of these fascinating details, deep genre fans can now rejoice because on May 27, 2025, Severin Films unleashed a 4K Ultra HD edition of Hell of the Living Dead. Made available as either a single-disc edition, the true collector’s dream lies within the limited-edition 3-disc set, available directly through Severin Films’ online store.
Including an exclusive slipcover inside the set, you will find the film scanned in 4K from the original camera negative, along with a bundle of special features on the 4K disc, a Blu-ray disc with the duplicate content, and a bonus CD featuring the film’s soundtrack. Very exciting for fans, the 4K transfer is superb and done with care, while the special features all offer something worth watching as well.
Overall, Hell of the Living Dead may not be the most original zombie film, but it possesses a memorable quality that sticks with you. That is why this is recommended for fans of Bruno Mattei or someone looking for a good gory time, to look into this new release. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Severin Films’ 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition of Hell of the Living Dead 4 out of 5 stars.
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