Dead & Breakfast (DVD)
Steve Barton
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There’s so much right about this film that it is really hard to begin a review about it without sounding as happy as a schoolgirl that’s been asked out to the prom.
So let’s start from the beginning. Zombie films. From their earliest origins to the latest Romero masterpiece, people cannot seem to get enough of the undead. What makes them so entertaining? What’s the secret of their staying power? Who knows? Who cares? All that matters is that for every horrible cash-in, there’s usually one that gets made that embodies why people love the zombie subgenre. Dead & Breakfast is without question one of those films.
Taking its rightful place alongside time honored classics and instant classics like the recent Shaun of the Dead, Dead & Breakfast follows the exploits of six close friends on a road trip who — as luck would have it — make the grave decision to stop at a B&B in the sleepy little town of Lovelock. Things don’t go well for our weary heroes, and before you can say Dead By Dawn, bodies start dropping left and right. Of course the unlucky strangers in this small town are instantly suspected of murder by the local sheriff and are forced to spend a lot more time in Lovelock than they had bargained for. Compounding their troubles, the town’s inhabitants are all being turned into a legion of the undead by a truly evil spirit. Sound familiar? You betcha! Does this hinder the experience? Not one bit.
Make no bones about it; I normally hate comedy in my horror. Except for a few gems like the aforementioned Shaun, it almost never works for me. Often have I gotten shit from fellow fans for thinking that the original Evil Dead was light years better than any of its sequels. Sorry, man; slapstick does nothing for me. Horror does, and Dead & Breakfast heaps on the gore, the laughs, and even a square dance or two much to my little black heart’s delight. It’s clever, witty, and ultra-violent; I couldn’t be more pleased.
As always, Anchor Bay does an incredible job of delivering an extras filled DVD just as entertaining as the film itself. To round out the package we get two hilarious audio commentaries with the cast and crew, some nifty deleted and extended scenes, and a blooper reel. Not too shabby at all considering this film would warrant a purchase even if it were a bare bones edition.
For chaos, gore, and just plain sheer mayhem, you cannot beat a good night’s unrest at the D&B, and I am sure it’s a place that you’ll want to come back to for a second and third viewing. Be careful though; it seems the only way to really check out of this charming little slice of hell is a well placed head shot. Hope you’re on the other end of the gun!
Dead & Breakfast (2004)
(Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler
Starring Ever Carradine, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zach Selwyn, David Carradine, Erik Palladino, Gina Philips, and Jeremy Sisto
Special Features
Two audio commentaries with cast and crew
Theatrical trailer(s)
Deleted and extended scenes
Bloopers
Poster / Still Gallery
4 out of 5
Categorized:Reviews
