25 Seriously Cult Movies You Need To See Before You Die
21. Tombs Of The Blind Dead (1971)
If you go down to the abandoned medieval town of Berzano today, youre in for a big surprise. The Templar Knights, who were excommunicated for worshipping the Devil (and taking an unwholesome interest in busty young women), have returned from the grave as hooded skeletal zombies who roam the town on horseback, seeking anyone foolish enough to be out after dark. This being sleazy 70s Eurohorror, the victims are mostly beautiful women who have a problem remaining clothed and think the best defence is to back themselves screaming into a corner. When one such damsel spends the night in Berzanos cathedral, shes attacked and left for dead but rises from her slab and attacks the creepy morgue assistant, who in turn attacks the rest of the cast, and so on. The first part of director Amando De Ossorios Blind Dead quartet, Tombs Of The Blind Dead has more in common with Jean Rollins erotic artistry than George Romeros apocalyptic vision, and marked a career high for De Ossorio, who followed up the picture with the equally berserk Return Of The Evil Dead.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'