SPECIAL DEAD (2006 dir Thomas L. Phillips and Sean Simmons)

Lazy Ghost Films/Special Dead LLC DVD

Every once in a while there comes a film that explores new territory. One that enters boundaries no one in their right mind would ever go. One that seeks to push the envelope. And when I say push, I mean push it over the cliff. Well, independent filmmakers Thomas L. Phillips and Sean Simmons have brought us such a film with SPECIAL DEAD.

The setting for SPECIAL DEAD is Camp Special Dude, a resort where mentally challenged and handicapped people are taken on trips for special trainings and activities. Given the responsibility of taking care of a busload of "special people" at Camp Special Dude is a group of 18-21 year old kids. Amongst them includes a Fonze wannabe, an airheaded bimbo, a goth chick, a black dude who's constantly in touch with his buddy in the hood, a smart-ass college kid, and a wheelchair bound girl. It's clear from the beginning that none of them are really interested in helping the mentally challenged for a weekend. What seems like something that will be a boring retreat soon turns into hell on earth as a zombie plague infects a young man and the disease spreads turning the special people and trainers of Camp Special Dude into flesh eating ghouls. It's up to the surviving trainers and handicapped along with the help of an old veteran to go up against the rampaging flesh eaters and kick ass. From there on out, it's a gore-soaked, innards-spilling, blood splattered showdown involving machetes, pitchforks, bow-and-arrows, chainsaws, pickaxes, guns, etc. The blood sprays nonstop as characters become zombie food and our heroes do EVIL DEAD-style battles with the zombies.

SPECIAL DEAD is definitely one of the best indie zombie movies to come along as of recently. It's clear that the filmmakers were out to make an offensive, politically incorrect, gory and over-the-top horror-comedy and I must say they succeeded. There are plenty of stereotypical characters, jokes and toilet humor to found. The film pours on the gore, guts and dismemberment. We get a little bit of sex and T&A. The film also pays its tribute to the zombie genre very well and you can tell the filmmakers were inspired by many movies like DEAD ALIVE, THE EVIL DEAD, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, etc.

The self-distributed Lazy Ghost Films DVD of SPECIAL DEAD is presented in 16x9 widescreen and contains a nice selection of extras including an audio commentary with the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes footage, a behind-the-scenes slideshow, the original trailer, and a hidden music video ("You're all retarded anyway.").

Splatter fans and fans of cheesy horror and the really offensive should definitely seek out SPECIAL DEAD. It makes for a great evening with your beer-drinking buddies. It may not be good for a first date however. Most of you probably know what I'm talking about. Whoever you watch it with, make some nachos and popcorn. I'd recommend not eating pizza while watching. You'd probably need lots of barf bags. It's one wild and messy ride.

And remember, "Sometimes heroes ride the short bus."

www.specialdeadmovie.com