10 Unsung Movie Heroes Of The Video Rental Era
4. Ian McCulloch
This suave, handsome, Scottish born actor had already put together a respectable body of television work before landing his most famous in the infamous Zombie Flesh Eaters, aka Zombi. Many may remember him as Greg in the 1970s Sci-fi TV show Survivors. Regular video renters, however, knew him from much more brutal work.
There were three films starring Ian McCulloch, all released between 1979 and 1980 that cemented his legendary status among horror fiends. These were Zombie Flesh Eaters (an unofficial sequel of sorts to Dawn of the Dead), Zombie Holocaust and Contamination. Although Zombie Holocaust managed to avoid it, the other two found themselves on the infamous video nasty list (a selection of 72 films deemed too violent or corrupting for UK viewers.)
Being on the list led to the films been heavily censored or outright banned. Video shop proprietors faced the prospect of prosecution for illegally dealing them. However, a movie making that list gained immediate notoriety and cult status. The British actor did a lot to carry the gruesome flicks with his classic style. He adds a maturity to the films that might otherwise have been missing, potentially leaving them in obscurity.
He once confessed to never seeing the movie he’s most known for, Zombie Flesh Eaters, until years after its release.