Orgy of the Dead

Director - Stephen C. Apostolof (The Class Reunion, The Snow Bunnies)
Starring - Criswell (Plan 9 from Outer Space, Night of the Ghouls), Fawn Silver (Legend of Horror, Terror in the Jungle), and Pat Barrington (The Satanist, The Acid Eaters)
Release Date - 1965
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "A masterpiece of erotic horror!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror has seen so many icons rise over the decades ranging from the talented Boris Karloff, the eerie Bela Lugosi, the masterful Lon Chaney, to modern icons like Tom Savini and George A. Romero.  All these people are recognizable for something they are good at.  Chaney and Savini are amazing effects masters.  Lugosi and Karloff are talented in front of the camera having brought dozens of memorable characters to life and Romero has directed some genre changing films.  One man made a name for himself by being good at being bad.  Ed Wood is a filmmaker a lot of us know of because of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp but most horror fans know of his work because it is so bad.  Wires hanging from the ceiling, cast forgetting their lines, backdrops falling during the scene and so on has earned this man the "worst director" award on several occasions.  In 1965 Orgy of the Damned was penned by Ed Wood and directed by Stephen C. Apostolof.  The film was recently released on blu by the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows an aspiring horror author who takes his newest girlfriend to the cemetery for inspiration at night and suffers an accident.  They awaken and find the cemetery full of life as the lord of the dead has his minions force the recently deceased women to dance while he determines a suitable outcome for their endless torment.

         
     Orgy of the Dead is far from perfect.  Honestly, it is probably one of the laziest films I have ever seen but I couldn't help but enjoy it.  The film offered up some solid entertainment and is one I wish I would have watched in college with some of my friends and plenty of beer.  The acting in this one is choppy at best.  The cast dedicates themselves to the role 100% but they lack direction and experience.  They are unable to fully develop their characters into something memorable.  The story for this one is what really held my interest.  The emperor, or the lord over all the dead things, is visiting the cemetery where all the recently dead beauties dance nude for him.  Their dance reflects on their life and how they die and he uses this to sentence them to their eternity.  I really liked this and my mind is going crazy thinking about the possibilities of what could have been.  The story is really what makes this film so damn enjoyable.  Finally, if you want blood and gore you wont find it here.  However, if you want naked women dancing provocatively then this film is for you.  Overall, Orgy of the Dead left a lot to be desired but the story really holds my attention.  Sure, most of the movie is women dancing but the story around it all is fascinating.  Check this sleazy cinema out!