Environmentalist horror film about the health risks of pesticides? Film borne from a cheeky play on a John Steinbeck title? A whim conjured in a wine-loving culture? Whatever the point of origin for Jean Rollin's 'Les raisins de la mort,' the premise feels inherently more common than some of the filmmaker's other features. Putting aside a few specifics, such as the setting, this could almost be mistaken for a George Romero feature - the camerawork, characterizations, blood and gore, scene writing, and overall narrative thrust all feel very familiar. Making a zombie flick feels downright ordinary - but that doesn't mean it can't still be fun.
The filming locations are gorgeous. The makeup artists did fine work, essential to realizing the appearance of the zombies. Simple and uncomplicated as the narrative is, it flows freely, never lagging; the length goes by quickly. Those few practical effects that are employed look great, and while the feature is painted over with a very even, flat tone in even the most bombastic moments, scenes are still duly unsettling and fun. Though not especially remarkable, the cast perform well in bringing their characters to life.
It's not particularly exceptional in any way, and there's not really anything about 'Les raisins de la mort' that makes it stand out compared to other genre pictures. Unless you're a diehard Jean Rollin fan, or a horror-loving wine aficionado, there's not an express reason to seek this over other features. Still, this is a well made, suitably entertaining movie, and it's worth checking out if you have the chance.
The filming locations are gorgeous. The makeup artists did fine work, essential to realizing the appearance of the zombies. Simple and uncomplicated as the narrative is, it flows freely, never lagging; the length goes by quickly. Those few practical effects that are employed look great, and while the feature is painted over with a very even, flat tone in even the most bombastic moments, scenes are still duly unsettling and fun. Though not especially remarkable, the cast perform well in bringing their characters to life.
It's not particularly exceptional in any way, and there's not really anything about 'Les raisins de la mort' that makes it stand out compared to other genre pictures. Unless you're a diehard Jean Rollin fan, or a horror-loving wine aficionado, there's not an express reason to seek this over other features. Still, this is a well made, suitably entertaining movie, and it's worth checking out if you have the chance.