It's nice to watch this film again after a long-time-no-see period. The Plague of Zombies is NOT the gore and blood fest type of horror we see today. And this movie is not simply a virus that causes people turn to zombies and run really fast - this one delves into voodoo!

This film is in good taste - we have a good story with lots of suspense. Oh sure there is some blood but it's not a blood-bath. This zombie film has good character development and an interesting story to follow.There's a lot of focus on Dr. Thompson and Prof. James Forbes uncovering the mystery that is happening in the tiny village of Cornwall - they know it's more than just a disease but what exactly is going on?! Zombies?!! Watch the film to find out more.

8/10

In 1860, Sir James Forbes (André Morell) and his daughter Sylvia (Diane Clare) receive a letter from his former brilliant student Dr. Peter Tompson (Brook Williams), who is married to an old school friend of Sylvia, Alice (Jacqueline Pearce). In this letter, Peter tells that mysterious deaths are happening in the area where he is the local doctor. Sir James decides to visit the friends with Sylvia and to help Peter to find out what is happening. There, he realizes that the bodies of the new dead are disappearing from their graves. A further investigation shows them the existence of zombies in that location.

"The Plague of the Zombies" is a 1966 creepy film of zombies by Hammer, with great story, screenplay, characters and performances. There are few good movies of zombies, the best is probably the 1968 classic "The Night of the Living Dead" and the two sequels by George Romero, "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead". "The Plague of the Zombies" is also an excellent movie of the genre, and if the viewer pays attention, he or she will notice that it was made BEFORE the 1968 "The Night of the Living Dead". Therefore George Romero's movie is not the first important horror film to explore the zombie theme, and this 1966 Hammer's movie came first. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Epidemia de Zumbis" ("Zombie Epidemic")

Hammer's only stab at the zombie genre, the film takes place in a small town where strange occurrences and the odd disappearance catches the eye of local doctor Peter Tompson (Brook Williams). To investigate further, he enlists the help of his old teacher Professor (and Sir!) James Forbes (Andre Morell) who arrives with his daughter Sylvia (Diane Clare). Soon strange sightings are seen of zombie-like creatures, and suspicion is aroused with the aggressive behaviour of a group of fox hunters and the reclusive Clive Hamilton (John Carson). Is this the work of black magic and voodoo, or scientific experimentation gone wrong?

This is probably Hammer's most shamelessly entertaining film. This doesn't have the cutting edge politics and satire of Romero's original zombie trilogy, or the over-the-top cheap gore of Raimi's Evil Dead films, but has the distinction of being a typically British film, only with zombies! It's predictable and silly but it's bloody good fun. It's also made with Hammer's high production standards, beautiful sets and a surprisingly sinister edge. These aren't zombies that will eat your brains, and to be honest they only properly turn up in the last twenty minutes or so, but the film moves fast and has a great lead performance in stiff-upper-lipped Andre Morell. Not bad for a film that was the supporting feature in a Hammer double bill.

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