Zombie Nightmare

Zombie Nightmare is a 1987 Canadian horror film directed by Jack Bravman and characterized by an ensemble cast. The film features iconic actor Adam West, well-known for his role as Batman in the 1960s television series, alongside Jon Mikl Thor, a Canadian bodybuilder, rocker, and occasional actor. The featured cast also includes a pre-Wayne's World Tia Carrere in one of her early roles.

The film takes you to the quiet suburban landscape of a small town, a place where everyone seemingly knows everyone. The tranquil facade, however, gets quickly smashed at the onset when the film's hero, a young boy named Tony Washington (Jon Mikl Thor), stoically witnesses the brutal killing of his father. This tragic childhood experience becomes instrumental in shaping Tony into a standup character, always defending those who cannot protect themselves, and acting as a bulwark against local troublemakers.

The storyline gets a dose of horror when Tony, an adult now and still a staunch defender of justice, meets an untimely demise at the hands of six reckless young locals. Driven by vengeance, his grieving mother turns to a Haitian voodoo priestess seeking justice for her son. The priestess, adhering to the mother's heartrending plea, performs an eerie voodoo ceremony, reanimating Tony's corpse. As a result, Tony rises from his grave, transforming into a relentless zombie on a vengeance mission against his killers.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Frank Sorrell (Adam West) begins investigating the mysterious and brutal deaths that start to plague the town. Unknowing and indifferent to the dark forces at play, he is determined to unravel the mystery. As each of Tony's killers meets their demise in increasingly gruesome ways, Sorrell starts to grapple with the prima facie inexplicable series of deadly events.

The character of Tony's mother, also a standout in the movie, operates in a narrative space that hovers between a grieving parent and an avenger. She is a woman suffused with a quiet strength and desperation, her character accentuating the relentless and chilling narrative of the film.

In terms of performance, Adam West's character as Lieutenant Sorrell exudes experience and cynicism, evoking a sense of nostalgia and bringing his signature style to the role. A then relatively unknown Tia Carrere performs impressively well, indicating the successful career that was to follow in the ensuing years. Jon Mikl Thor, though not a conventional actor, perfectly conveys the physicality required for his role.

The film's score, dark and atmospheric, sets the tone, complementing the horror and suspense while keeping the audience on edge. Loaded with hair-raising scenes, eerie sounds, and a score that reminds one of the classic horror movies, Zombie Nightmare successfully brings together elements for a spooky and engrossing watch.

As it is typical of the eighties horror genre, the film includes equal measures of over-the-top elements, familiar horror tropes, and imaginative gore effects. However, what distills Zombie Nightmare from many other revenge-based zombie movies of the era is its ability to incorporate strong elements of mysticism, vengeance, and justice into its narrative.

At its core, Zombie Nightmare straddles the line between a revenge thriller and supernatural horror. But it doesn't stop there. Intertwining elements of the zombie apocalypse, occult practices, and police procedural, Zombie Nightmare serves as a smorgasbord of horror and suspense.

Note that the film is indicative of its time with glaring eighties pop culture references and a vibe that takes viewers on a nostalgic journey. The film's charm also lies in its unabashedly straight-forward approach to the material. So while the movie does provide the spooks, it also instills a fair bit of fun, making it a must-watch for fans of eighties horror.

All in all, Zombie Nightmare is an adequately chilling tour-de-force. It does not claim to elevate the genre, nor does it aim to describe a grand narrative. Rather, it is a fun, freaky ride filled with suspense, horror, and wonderfully dark plotlines that keep viewers engaged right till the end.

Whether you're a fan of zombie horror, or dime-a-dozen thriller, admire the iconic Adam West, or merely, fond of eighties culture, Zombie Nightmare is a movie that is bound to entertain, scare, and enthral you in equal measure.