Children of the Living Dead (Widescreen)

The effects aren't horrible, but they're definately no competition to the effects of "Day of the Dead." This isn't a very gorey flick either, some blood here and there, but not enough people get killed for this to be packed with gore. Notable appearance by Tom Savini, who doesn't do the effects, but instead offers a cameo as a kickass zombie hunter at the beginning of the film. I think his short-lived scene was the most excellent and exciting, and it's too bad he didn't play a main character throughout the flick. And WHY did they have Tom Savini in their movie and NOT make him do the effects!? Plotholes aside, it could have been a better movie with greater effects.

Yet I say all this in an endearing way. I think this is the perfect movie to watch if you're bored out of your mind and need something to do. It really is good for a laugh, especially if you're a zombie movie buff and like to point out any flaws that you see in a movie. 3 Stars for the beginning scene with Savini and helping me ease slightly out of boredom on a rainy afternoon. Don't buy this movie though, your local movie rental store probably rents it out for cheap.

Pass on Children of the Living Dead. You won't be sorry you did.

Say what you like about the 30th Anniversary Edition of NOTLD, but its major fault is that most of the added footage advanced a new plot that doesn't fit at all. None of the Rev Hicks stuff should have been put into NOTLD, but since they were determined to make a sequel they could have taken the mishandled ideas from the 30th Anniversary Edition and expanded on them so they'd make more sense. They could have had Savini handle the make-up or direct, let Russo write the damn thing (the 30th Anniversry Edition shows he's at least got an idea), and hell give Bill a chance to be a zombie again. Why not bring in Debbie Rochon too?All of that would have made some degree of sense, but instead Savini wasn't paid to handle the make-up or direct, Hinzman's beloved zombie was kept off screen, and Russo isn't the writer. Even Santa Claws is entertaining straight to video fare, but not COTLD. They went with a director who is unknown, and a writer that never wrote a horror movie of note, and somebody edited the film together in the most incoherent manner possible! ALL THE LINES ARE DUBBED AWFULLY TOO! None of this makes one bit of sense. The three guys who have entertained us in the past are almost completely left out of the loop. Don't be fooled by the inclusion of their names. Forget this one!