John RussoReseñas

I enjoyed this one, it did not deviate from the movie much at all (too bad poor Barbara's all too brief revenge attack wasn't present in the movie), but its descriptions of the ghouls were much nastier than in the film and you get more from the inside the heads of the characters. There was also more with the posse on the move and the sheriff who is more of an actual character here appearing in the latter third of the story. The first half of the book was very thrilling (a little more than in the movie and gorier), which I enjoyed. The only thing I really did not like here was that there was a strange semi-philosophical ramble as intro before the story gets started in chapter one which was utterly unnecessary and, in my opinion, a major misstep by the author. Likewise, the preface by George A. Romero was, unfortunately, horribly boring. However, I would recommend this one to those who just want a quick, to-the-point, easy-to-read, zombie romp whether they have or have not seen the film (and/or its 1990 remake). Just skip the preface and that weird little bit at the very beginning of the first chapter.

A forgotten military experiment causes a zombie outbreak.

2.5/4 (Okay)

It's often fun. It feels like they ran out of money before they could finish filming.

(Aug. 2021)

John Russo will go down in history as the screenwriter of the groundbreaking 1968 film Night of the Living Dead. As a horror novelist he has been less artistically successful, churning out a series of uninteresting, drearily violent books; this is the only one that kinda-sorta works. Make no mistake: Black Cat is not a classic. If you're looking for depth of feeling or well-drawn, believable characters, you ain't gonna find 'em here; this is absurd pulp trash through and through. (It's about the spirit of a malevolent African witch doctor inhabiting the body of a panther, for christ's sake.) But if you want a quick, easy, action-packed read with occasional flashes of spooky atmosphere, this book will get you through the weekend. Two and a half stars.

This book jumped right into action from only a few pages in and then stayed action packed the whole way though. I am glad I never watched the movie or I probably would never sleep again!½

Did you know that NotLD was initially scripted as a horror comedy? That Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman, who played Harry and Helen Cooper, were also the film's makeup artists? (Eastman, in fact, portrayed the scarred female ghoul who picks an insect off a tree and eats it.) That the brother of NFL great Johnny Unitas served as the film's lighting supervisor? The Complete Night of the Living Dead Filmbook by John Russo (who co-wrote the final script with director George Romero) is loaded with such interesting factoids, but ultimately it's far more than a compendium of trivia. In recounting the history of NotLD and how its creators overcame the limitations of a low budget to produce the bleak, terrifying film which ushered in the era of modern horror, Russo fascinates and inspires...which makes this book a must-read. It's exceptionally well illustrated, too.

Several strangers defend an isolated house from zombies.

Aaah, it's such a relief to watch a well-written movie... Why is it that we're watching a Bad Movie marathon again? Just because we can? Curse you, Night of the Living Dead, for reminding me what it was like in the before times, when we watched good movies.

Concept: C
Story: A
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: B
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 2.9/4½

The 'Undead' volume gathers together the Night of the Living Dead and Return of the Living Dead into a single volume with an introduction by the author, John Russo. 'Night' novelises the movie, with a minor variation here or there, while 'Return' provides an original tale that Russo wrote, having retained the rights to the Living Dead franchise, and which gave it's name, and very little else, to the Dan O'Bannon horror/comedy movie. In many ways 'Return' comes across as the better of the two stories. If you're a fan of Russo and zombies, you will probably enjoy both of these two stories; if not, then you might want to avoid 'Night' altogether, or not pick the book up at all.

Fair warning - 'Night of the Living Dead' isn't a good place to start reading this book. Russo's style and effort to novelise the movie comes across like someone trying to novelise a visit to a hardware store or the supermarket on a particular dreary day. He struggles almost constantly to find alternate ways to say the same thing as zombies launch attacks against people and property. The story struggles, the characterisation falters and the reader, likely, begins to wonder why they parted with their money. The story improves slightly toward the second half, but given you have to get through 50 pages of poor story before that some readers may never find that out. I admit, at the end, I actually cared a little about what happened - but I certainly didn't have the sort of emotional response the blurb on the back of the book might suggest.

In 'Return of the Living Dead', Russo provides a much more effective and readable tale. The story flows better, the sentences never seem to struggle to find a fresh word for anything, and the characters have just enough individuality for you to care. The story has a little more plot, the zombies have a little more action - better than 'Night', but still not thrilling or horrifying. When Russo decides to describe a zombie attack in detail it all sinks worryingly into immature sexualised nonsense about the soft parts of women victims. Despite emphasizing the mindless nature of these animated corpses, a couple attack like wretched adolescents out for a undead grope. It never adds anything to the tale and just comes across like those formulaic horror movies that characterised the 70s and 80s - all scantily clad college kids meeting grisly ends at the hands of psychopaths and monsters.

In the cold light of day, both stories tell a tale that will engage those with an interest in zombies. If you don't go in with expectations of high-browed literature you probably won't be disappointed. 'Return' definitely reads far easier and provides a more engaging tale - and, to some extent, you could read it first as it makes many references to the original, even quoting whole sections as chapters that recall the civil warning broadcast during the original 'outbreak'.

At best, a flawed exercise in zombie storytelling. A weak first story very likely to scare off a reader long before the zombies have the chance to really get into gear. The sequel provides more satisfaction, but gives in all too easily to inane acts of adolescent titillation.

A great Zombie collection - 40 short horror stories by various authors...there is something here for everyone as this collection covers zombie encounters during holiday periods (calendar and vacations). The stories were fun to read, I especially liked those written by British authors (seems like all of them), their descriptive jargon and use of English slang made me laugh at times and think about the dialog in those Harry Potter movies. One of the stories within had a different slant that I hadn't seen before: Zombies that could think and talk - ruling the world where "undead" humans are categorized in one of three classes - food, workers and breeders. Another is about reincarnation and Satan worship. Bloody hell, Jack the Ripper is even featured and has a go of things. There are so many choices within these 500 pages that if the storyline isn't to your liking, it is easy to scan forward a few pages to the next story. I only did this once, finding the rest enjoyable and fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore this genre - seeing it from many different angles. Lastly, I found it enjoyable to read 3 - 4 different adventures in one sitting. Great job!

Holiday of the Undead is one of those ebooks that takes perfect
advantage of the ebook revolution: you'd never get to see something like this from traditional publishing. What is this book? 500 pages of stories about zombies and various types of holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, US Independence Day, bank holidays, fishing holidays, you name it. What makes this collection so great? It's perfect pulp.

These are not stories that you need to sit back and enjoy with a brandy. These stories are not fine wine. They are good beer, cheap and lots of it, to quaff. They are cheap melting cheese that goes so great with nachos. One second you're laughing at the way the writers are making fun of how we live and how we celebrate...the next you're flinching with one eye shut to keep the gore out. It's a perfect mix for pulp zombie stories.

As an example (warning, spoilers for this one story follow), my
favorite story is still one of the earliest ones, "A Side of Cranberry Sauce," by Clyde Wolfe. It's the Alfred Hitchcock of zombie stories--and while Big Al was quite the auteur as a director, he had the heart of pulp master (on his desk). A family is painstakingly gathered for Thanksgiving by one brother, who feels guilt at the death of their jointly-murdered uncle. Not one to sit back and bask in dark feelings, however, he brings his uncle back from the dead (using the funds conveniently received at his death and the use of his chemical corporation's resources) and locks everyone in a room. Time for a holiday feast!

With consistently straightforward, fun, and horrific writing, this was a fun read for zombie fans. Thrills! Chills! Mistletoe! Stiffs! Alice Cooper references! This one has it all.

Holiday of the Dead, featuring stories by such established authors as Night of the Living Dead Co-Writer, John Russo, Iain McKinnon Domain of the Dead, Wayne Simmons Drop Dead Gorgeous and Flu, Eric S Brown and Remy Porter Dead Beat, to name but a few. Add to the mixture the delightful talents of new authors, Shawn M Riddle and R Phillip Roberts. Stir in a little bit of staggering cover artwork by Peter Fussey and this Anthology from the creaky hollows of Wild Wolf Publishing is a must have addition to any horror aficionados bookshelf.

These literary gems contain the holiday theme, but with a twist. How would your holiday go if the Zombies we all know and love were to rise and walk the earth? Each tale is chilling in its telling, as the unfortunate cast of characters is left to deal with the consequences of such an eventuality. The remarkable thing about this anthology is how each author draws on completely diverse themes and produces an amazing array of situations.

The anthology begins with Shaun Jeffrey’s Dark Inside, best described as a floating zombie themed extravaganza. This short is told from the perspective of a child. The story telling was well thought out and features a dramatic swift conclusion. Remy Porter’s Squawk, is a romping ride through the fields of the gypsy coming to terms with the end of the world. Followed by Iain McKinnon’s dark offering Jennifer, featuring an unexpected and shocking finish. A Side of Cranberry Sauce, by Clyde Wolfe, is a bloody tale of family and greed. Dig by Lee Kelly contains a nod towards the Pan Horror classics.

Oatmeal Cookies, by Eric Dimbleby, is set during the outbreak but manages to remain nostalgic and childlike in its telling, dribbled with a dose of carnage and depravity, it ticks all the boxes. In the End, R M Cochran, captures the essence of being a survivor, told succinctly and without flair, this story is masterful in its ability to tell a lot of story in a small space of time. Daddy Dearest, Dave Jeffery is a sad bad and very dangerous to know tale that highlights how even though we may move miles away, our family will always be a part of us. The Day the Music Died, Joe McKinney, is a beautifully crafted tale about the tragedy of celebrity and the lengths those around them will go to keep the dream alive.

Shawn M Riddle’s aptly named The Four of July, is a subtle take on the guys going on vacation, he handles his characters with care and the pace is worthy of the big screen. My personal favourite, The Day I discovered the truth about the Man in the Red Suit by R Phillip Roberts. With a nod towards Charles Dickens, this story draws you into believing you are reading a delightful period romp. How wrong can you be, told from the perspective of survivors this short story will not only shock you it will knock you down with the sheer repulsion you will feel. The author is a genuine storyteller of the highest order.

I could go on and review every single story, and not one would have a bad review. That’s how good this Anthology is. Having read many anthologies that have a few quality works interspersed with badly crafted ones. The fact that this one has not one bad story has rekindled my love of the anthology. The quality of work is second to none, and the bar has definitely been raised in this genre. The art work and quality of Holiday of the Dead guarantees your bookcase will thank you for this wonderful addition.

D'un geste sec, imprévisible, la morte tendit le bras, agrippa l'homme aux parties et le tira littéralement jusqu'à elle. Avec une force insensée, elle se mit à le secouer, le fit tomber et le chevaucha. Puis sa main saisit un objet brillant. Le scalpel s'abattit sur l'épaule de l'homme vaincu. A nouveau, elle lui saisit l'entrejambe et avec une fureur implacable se mit à le lacérer. Le sang jaillit. Avec un bruit de caoutchouc qu'on décolle, quelque chose céda. La femme se redressa alors, émettant un grognement rauque. Agenouillée sur le corps, elle se barbouilla le visage et la poitrine du morceau sanguinolent et poilu qu'elle tenait comme un trophée. Puis elle se mit à le manger.½

Un techno-thriller dopé aux amphétamines, une énigme troublante incendiée de violence, interdite aux cœurs fragiles. Ils arrivent. Des cadavres décomposés s'extirpent de leur tombe et hurlent leur rage dans la nuit. Ils sont en chasse, plus nombreux et plus forts d'heure en heure, poussés par un obsédant besoin de tuer, et de dévorer la chair de leurs proies humaines. Et rien ne pourra les arrêter...

Garbage; the worst kind of pulp-quality writing. Seems to be a treatment for an exploitation movie rather than a novel. Maybe Russo was spoiled by writing the novel adaption of NotLD, a movie he co-authored.

96 minutos