Extreme Horror: REVIEW: Special Dead (2006)

Title: Special Dead

Also Known As: N/A

Year: 2006

Genre: Horror / Comedy / Zombie / Tardsploitation

Language: English

Runtime: 90 min

Director: Thomas L. Phillips, Sean Simmons

Writer: Jared Tweedie

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765475/

Plot:

When a zombie plague infects Camp Special Dude, a dude ranch for the mentally handicapped, a ragtag band of campers and counselors struggles to survive the night. Led by the indifferent, nunchuck-wielding head counselor, Mac Stone (Jason Brubaker), and his wheelchair-bound sister Dale (Gia Natale), the unlikely heroes fight their way off the mountain as, one by one, they’re picked off and join the ranks of the walking dead.

It’s a campy stampede of blood, boobs and gore as some “very special” people show that they can kick some serious undead ass.

Our thoughts:

What’s better than a movie filled with mentally challenged zombies? Nothing, that’s what.

“Well what about…”

No! Don’t argue with me, you’ll lose.

Any movie that has a zombie screaming profanities while it tears into flesh because of turrets, is an instant classic. This movie is the definitive argument for those who say there are no original ideas left, not only does it provide a unique situation of having the characters be a group of handicapped teens. It also provides a fresh idea into the zombie mythology by having water be the source of the outbreak. Don't start freaking out, I didn't spoil anything for you, you find this out within the first few minutes of the movie.

The thing that really makes this movie shine is its sense of humor. Once again, a movie that lets the absurdity of the idea be the joke, sure the movie gets silly and has its ridiculous moments, but it isn't being campy for the sake of being campy. The creators of "Special Dead", handle the humor of having mentally-challenged characters correctly, this isn't a one-note joke for 90 minutes. Instead the movie treats them as if they were no different from any other kids at camp, though they do use the unique setup to provide for some more humorous situations. Such as having one of the kids do an impersonation of someone who is really retarded, or when an urban gangster accidentally shows up at the camp, no one questions about him being there.

As far as blood goes, by my standards I really don't consider this to be a gory movie. Don't worry though, there is plenty of blood to go around. There are at least two decapitations, some guts here and there, but the blood comes in by the buckets, which should be enough to satisfy any horror fan. Oh yes, there is also plenty of zombie action going on here. It does take its time setting up the story and the characters in the beginning, but once those zombies hit the camp, the action doesn't stop until the very end. With the zombie scenes you are given the best of both worlds, you get the classic style of zombies popping out of the dark, and some humorous situations with them too. Have any other characters in a zombie movie, ever thought of throwing a bucket of blood and chicken guts on a zombie, so all the other zombies go after that one? No? Well these kids sure did.

All in all, an absolute gem in the low budget horror-comedy world. It has a good story, zombies, blood and some decent acting, which will provide enough entertainment for an individual or a room full of people who'll be spouting off quotes for days. Most importantly though, "Special Dead" answers a question that has been asked since the beginning of time. If two women get into a cat fight, and start wrestling each other, is it still hot if one of them is a zombie?

Yes. Yes it is.

Positive things:

- A unique concept with excellent execution.

- Surprisingly, has some good to decent acting.

- Everything a horror movie needs; zombies, blood and boobs.

- Lots of memorable lines.

- Does a zombie shit in the woods?

Negative things:

- The movie takes place at night so unfortunately somethings become hard to see with the lack of lighting.

Rating:

Gore: 3/5

Nudity: 1/5