Incubo sulla città contaminata (1980)

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writers:

Antonio Cesare Corti (writer)
Luis María Delgado (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

18 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Now They Are Everywhere! There Is No Escape!

Plot:

An airplane exposed to radiation lands, and blood drinking zombies emerge armed with knives, guns and teeth! They go on a rampage slicing, dicing, and biting their way across the Italian countryside.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Gun | Plane | Biting | Rampage

Cast

Hugo Stiglitz	...	Dean Miller
Laura Trotter	...	Dr. Anna Miller
Maria Rosaria Omaggio	...	Sheila Holmes
Francisco Rabal	...	Major Warren Holmes
Sonia Viviani	...	Cindy
Eduardo Fajardo	...	Dr. Kramer
Stefania D'Amario	...	Jessica Murchison
Ugo Bologna	...	Mr. Desmond
Sara Franchetti	...	Liz
Manuel Zarzo	...	Colonel Donahue
Tom Felleghy	...	Lieutenant Reedman
Pierangelo Civera	...	Bob, Jessica's husband
Achille Belletti	...	Jim, hospital patient
Mel Ferrer	...	General Murchison
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nick Alexander	...	Commander Davidson / Radio Announcer (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Frank Clement	...	Dr. Kramer's Assistant (uncredited)
Ottaviano Dell'Acqua	...	Zombie outside TV station (uncredited)
Roberto Dell'Acqua	...	Zombie outside TV station (uncredited)
Larry Dolgin	...	Dean Miller (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Alejandro de Enciso	...	Captain (uncredited)
Umberto Lenzi	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Fiamma Maglione	...	Mr. Desmond's Secretary (uncredited)
Edward Mannix	...	Major Warren Holmes (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Carmen Martínez Sierra	...	Woman in Elevator (uncredited)
Antonio Mayans	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Benito Pacifico	...	Zombie at TV Station (uncredited)
Edmund Purdom	...	Man in Elevator (voice) (uncredited)
Silvana Scandariato	...	Woman at TV station (uncredited)
Susan Spafford	...	Liz (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Pat Starke	...	Dr. Anna Miller (voice: English version) (uncredited)
José Yepes	...	Air Traffic Controller (uncredited)
Rinaldo Zamperla	...	Contaminato nella stazione televisiva (uncredited)

Directed by
Umberto Lenzi

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Antonio Cesare Corti		writer
Luis María Delgado		writer
Piero Regnoli		writer

Produced by
Diego Alchimede	....	producer
Luis Méndez	....	producer

Original Music by
Stelvio Cipriani

Cinematography by
Hans Burman

Film Editing by
Daniele Alabiso

Art Direction by
Mario Molli

Costume Design by
Silvana Scandariato

Makeup Department
Maria Teresa Carrera	....	hair stylist (as Maria Teresa Garrera)
Franco Di Girolamo	....	makeup artist (as Franco de Girolami)
Giuseppe Ferranti	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Rodolfo Martello	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Riccardo Petrazzi	....	assistant director

Art Department
Wolfgang Burmann	....	set designer

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	dubbing editor
Raul Montesanti	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Giulio Battiferri	....	camera operator
Renato Palmieri	....	assistant camera
Alfio Quattrini	....	still photographer: action stills
Mario Sbrenna	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Antonella Maziotti	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Brigida Mastrolillo	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Antonio Corridori	....	set technician
Christian Hansen	....	assistant to director
María Isabel Pérez	....	continuity
Tonino Pinto	....	unit publicist
Martín Sacristán	....	assistant to director

Production Companies

• Dialchi Film
• Lotus Films
• Televicine S.A. de C.V.

Distributors

• 21st Century Distribution (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Creswin Distribution (1984) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Continental Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (as "City of the Walking Dead")
• Cinema Group (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• New Star Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• CMV Laservision (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• EastWest Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (200?) (UK) (DVD)
• Evolution Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Italian Shock (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Video Invest AB (????) (Sweden) (VHS)

Also Known As:

City of the Walking Dead (USA) (reissue title)
Invasion by the Atomic Zombies (International: English title) (literal title)
Invasion de los zombies atómicos (Mexico)
La invasión de los zombies atómicos (Spain)
Nightmare City (USA)

Runtime:

92 min | USA:88 min

Country:

Italy | Mexico | Spain

Language:

Italian | Spanish

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Norway:18 (uncut) (2008) | Netherlands:16 | Italy:VM18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) (cut) | Iceland:(Banned) | UK:18 (video re-rating) (2003) (uncut) | USA:R (cut) | Germany:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Dialchi Film

Trivia:

According to director Umberto Lenzi, both Franco Nero and Fabio Testi were considered for the lead in the film, but the producer insisted on a Mexican leading man to appeal to Mexican audiences. Hence, the role went to Hugo Stiglitz.

Goofs:

Continuity: Lieutenant Reedman is later referred to as "General".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tales of the Contaminated City (2002) (V)

One of Lenzi's less good movies? No way.

First of all, let me tell you a little about the director of this film: Umberto Lenzi. That man was one of the leading horror directors in Italy through the 70's and the 80's. He should be very proud to have films like Almost Human, Eyeball and this masterpiece I'm writing about on his neck. This is my review of Nightmare City.

Somehow Nightmare City didn't get the attention it was worth. Many people see it like one of Lenzi's less good movies. I think it's totally underrated, but there are some people with me - people who think it's a masterpiece. This is not a movie I would call horror, though Lenzi almost only made horror flicks. I believe this is a movie full of action and speed. Things are happening all the time.

Let's now start writing a little plot summary. The TV reporter Dean Miller wakes up and is going to do an interview with an arriving scientist. He's standing on the airport with he's camera man when suddenly an unknown military plane is emergency landing. Quite a few odd creatures are running down the stairs of the plane and killing all the guards. These beasts are not really zombies, though many class them as that. They can run and use weapons, telephones and such things that is nothing zombies can do. I would call them mutated humans because they can't die when you shoot them. Only if you get the bullet in their head. They're taking over the city. Everybody runs around and nothing can be done. The city is doomed. The rest is up to you to watch.

I would recommend this film to everyone who likes to watch old horror. Even if this isn't a classical horror movie, it's still very horror inspired because Lenzi is the director. Everyone who likes to watch old Italian movies should see this, fans of Giallo and so. I think you get it. This is with no doubts one of my all-time favourites, so I will of course set ten points of ten on this one. I don't rate many movies with ten points, but this is surely worth it.