The concept of the "Curse of the Undead" has long captivated the imaginations of people throughout history. This chilling curse is often associated with creatures that have defied death and returned to haunt the living. Undead beings, such as vampires and zombies, have become iconic symbols of terror in literature, film, and folklore. Vampires, perhaps the most famous undead creatures, have been featured prominently in various mythologies and fiction. These blood-sucking nocturnal beings are believed to possess a curse that enables them to survive by feeding on the life force of the living. The myth of the vampire has evolved throughout the centuries, with different cultures having their own interpretations and variations.
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick. Entire family Yes though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety Run time 79 minutes Black-and-White Studio Distributor Kino Lorber Aspect ratio 1.
The myth of the vampire has evolved throughout the centuries, with different cultures having their own interpretations and variations. From Dracula to Edward Cullen, the allure of the undead vampire has remained strong. Zombies, on the other hand, are reanimated corpses that lack the intelligence and personality of vampires.
Family Home Theater
A week ago, if you had asked me to name a Western that bridged genres and included vampires, I would have said, “I know, I know: Billy the Kid vs. Dracula!” That 1966 movie is famous for being so absolutely awful that it’s not even laughably bad—an insipid film that’s only known for the blending of genres that everyone thought unique. But a few days ago I became aware of another vampire Western—Curse of the Undead—and it turns out that this black-and-white 1959 film was really the first vampire Western.
What’s more—and here’s the shocker—it’s not a silly movie that takes itself seriously, thereby setting itself up for an audience that likes campy films, films that are wink-wink so bad that they’re kinda good. You need to know this, so you won’t look at the cover art and think, Oh, we’re going to have so much fun making fun of this rotten film. It’s not rotten and it’s not campy. Writer-director Edward Dein, who would go on to direct Robert Conrad in three TV series (Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, The Black Sheep Squadron), plays this absolutely straight. It’s a surprisingly good drama that treats vampires a little less like Universal monsters and more like what legend says they were. If it were shorter, it might pass for an episode of The Twilight Zone, and tonally it’s very much like the classic monster movies that Universal cranked out in previous decades.
To make the Western aspect work, it helps that one of the stars is Eric Fleming, who played Gil Favor on the highly respected Rawhide (think Blues Brothers!) TV series and also appeared in several episodes of Bonanza, that other long-running TV Western. In this vampire Western, Fleming plays Preacher Dan. Somebody has to have a cross, right?
One of the other stars is John Hoyt, who appeared in such TV Westerns as The Virginian, The Big Valley, Laredo, Wagon Train, Have Gun – Will Travel, Maverick, Laramie, The Rifleman, Death Valley Days, and Union Pacific. All of those Westerns were popular because they were aimed at adults. They were serious dramas and not just Saturday morning formulaic shoot-‘em-ups.
In this film, even the vampire—Michael Pate—worked in TV Westerns that were played for drama, not laughs, including shows like Zane Grey Theater, Maverick, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Sugarfoot, and Broken Arrow. These guys knew how to play cowboys, and it’s both surprising and refreshing that the vampire in Curse of the Undead doesn’t transform into a bat, doesn’t say “I vant to suck your blood,” and doesn’t behave like he just got in from Transylvania. He looks and acts like the kind of gunslinger you’d encounter in the Old West: dark and menacing as a coiled rattlesnake ready to strike.
There’s always a ranch or town boss in a Western who’s the villain, but when there’s a vampire gunman in town any villain is going to seem soft by comparison—even someone like Bruce Gordon, who played Frank Nitti in the old Untouchables TV series and also appeared with Vincent Price in Tower of London. And there’s always a damsel in distress, a delectable morsel-in-waiting in every vampire movie. Here, the part is played by Kathleen Crowley, who was in her fair share of B movies and Westerns, including The Rebel Set, Target Earth, Female Jungle, and Maverick.
If you look at Amazon you’ll see that people who bought an earlier VHS version of the film complained about the quality. Well, there won’t be any complaints about the brand new 2K master used to create this Blu-ray, with a sharp picture that helps to showcase the low-contrast lighting and the creepy elements, so that it almost feels like it came right out of Universal’s famed monster series. Except this one doesn’t have a monster. Drake Robey (Pate) is a mysterious stranger who wears black and a grimace and presents himself as a hired gun. There’s an outbreak of young girls getting mysterious ill, crazy, and dead—in that order—and no one in town suspects this stranger, who lurks the way Universal monsters lurk. No one except Preacher Dan, that is. It might be the only logical flaw in the screenplay by Dein and his wife, Mildred, which presents viewers with not just a classic monster pic but a classic triangle as well, between Dan, Drake, and Dolores. (Triple D? It even sounds like a Western!).
Kino Lorber brought in a big gun to handle the audio commentary: Tom Weaver is one of the leading scholars of the horror genre, especially the Universal horror films from the ‘30s and ‘40s. The author of 35 books, he knows his stuff, and his commentary is well worth a listen. It’s one of the better ones.
Clearly the Universal Monster Pictures were of a particular time, because this one, though very much in the same mold, lapsed into obscurity while the films from earlier decades are regarded now as classics. Maybe it was a little too realistic for classic monster movie fans; maybe Drake just isn’t enough of a monster; or maybe it just came along a decade too late.
Entire family: Yes (though only older kids will appreciate the deliberate pacing and subtlety)
Run time: 79 minutes (Black-and-White)
Studio/Distributor: Kino Lorber
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Featured audio: DTS 2.0
Bonus features: B
Trailer
Amazon link
Not rated (would be PG for some violence and themes of death)
Language: 1/10—I didn’t catch anything objectionable, so the 1 is here as a cushion
Sex: 1/10—Same thing here, just an innocent kiss or two
Violence: 4/10—Pretty nocturnally innocuous, with most of the action off-camera
Adult situations: 4/10—The whole vampire preying on girls and girls acting crazy and screaming before they’re found limp and lifeless can be unsettling, though brief and the real action is off-camera
Takeaway: The trailer pretty much captures the tone and essence of the film, which is surprisingly straightforward
These cursed beings are often depicted as mindless creatures driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh. The concept of the zombie curse stems from the belief that deceased individuals can be brought back to life through dark magic or scientific experimentation. In recent years, the popularity of zombie-themed movies, television shows, and video games has skyrocketed, further solidifying their status as an enduring symbol of horror. The fascination with the curse of the undead can be traced back to humanity's innate fear of death and the unknown. The idea of someone returning from beyond the grave challenges our understanding of mortality and raises questions about the consequences of defying death. The curse of the undead serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that tampering with the natural order of life and death may have dire consequences. In conclusion, the curse of the undead encompasses a wide range of folklore and fictional creatures that have captivated audiences for centuries. Whether it is the suave vampire or the mindless zombie, these cursed beings symbolize our fears and fascination with mortality. While the curse of the undead may remain a work of fiction, its enduring popularity speaks to its enduring power to terrify and intrigue..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Secrets of the Undead Curse"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I found "Curse of the Undad" to be incredibly dull and uninspiring. The characters lacked depth and the plot was predictable. The author failed to create a captivating and engaging story, making it hard for me to stay invested. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Daniel - 2/5 stars - While "Curse of the Undad" had its moments, I ultimately felt underwhelmed by the overall execution. The writing style lacked finesse and the pacing was uneven, leaving me both bored and confused throughout. Additionally, the plot felt disjointed and the characters were poorly developed. I was expecting a thrilling and memorable read, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of the Undad" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver a satisfying reading experience. The narrative felt disjointed and the world-building was lacking, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Furthermore, the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, preventing me from forming a strong connection with them. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre and forgettable.
4. Alex - 1/5 stars - I couldn't get through "Curse of the Undad". The writing was convoluted and confusing, making it hard to follow the plot and understand what was happening. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to engage with the characters. I found myself constantly wanting to put this book down and eventually gave up on it altogether. This was a disappointing and frustrating read.
5. Jennifer - 1/5 stars - "Curse of the Undad" was a complete waste of my time. The story lacked originality and the characters were clichéd. The pacing was slow, and the plot was filled with unnecessary filler content that did not contribute to the overall storyline. I expected more from this book, but I was left disappointed and regretful of the time I spent reading it. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted novel.