Doesn't showing the film's lead character as a zombie on the cover of the DVD spoil it somewhat?

Well, I got a lotta crap for responding as I'm about to to the same question on another board - but I'm a glutton for punishment, so here goes:

If it didn't, you just did! ;)

Um... maybe he's only pretending to be a zombie. You know, to get by the other ones...

The zombie experts around me claim that's impossible, that the zombies can spot an imposter, but I don't believe them.

Ahumph.

It's been established that if you rub yourself down with the rotting flesh of a zombie before trying it, you can pass.

They're gathering around you, Marty - look, there comes one of them now!

I'm not sayin' if the cover is a spoiler, but it sure is rotten! I can't believe that was the approved artwork. It looks like some quick cut n paste job thrown together before lunch. Ironic, as it is the same cropped photo on different backgrounds that showed up in the original movie posters. The film is so much better than the art implies. Shame.

Apparently this version also uses the LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE title sequence. Did they find a film element for it? I remember it was included as one of the alternate title sequences on the UK disc but I think that was video sourced (or sourced from a print with the expected wear).

From the Fangoria review:

I thought that was because those titles simply replaced a complete sequence wholesale.

That sounds like the original title sequence to me and that "cheesy" animation is pretty cool IHMO recalling the inventive BLOOD AND BLACK LACE titles that were added to the US version. I have an old uncut pre-cert tape of THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE and these are the titles I wanted to see on a definitive edition of the film. They intercut a sequence of a girl streaking through a city street - a baffling introduction that seems to bear no relevance to the feature proper.

Again it's probably a matter of personal preference if alternate title sequences were legitimately created for different territories but I'll favour the one which doesn't drop actual footage regardless of how important it is to the narrative.

Victor.



POST SCRIPT: I've just seen a screen grab of the new title and that doesn't look like the "original" one from the UK Pre-Cert unless I'm mistaken. Someone needs to clarify this mystery. My understanding is : That the old Anchor Bay dropped the city streak and had complete text titles and no ghoul artwork or sound wave animations. The new disc has all this restored but possibly loses the original LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE card and replaces it with a new one. The devil is in the details!

I'm curious - what did title sequence for Hallmark's DON'T OPEN THE WINDOW release look like in comparison? Anyone remember?

The Anchor Bay release begins with George closing up his shop. After he departs on his motorcycle, we cut to the interior of the shop and a long slow prowling shot that ends on the spooky painting behind George's desk. The credits play over this shot with some very creepy atmospheric music. After that, the movie cuts to George's journey out of the city, with the "ecology" montage and the Afro-streaker all included.

I've got the old BU (Anchor Bay's master I suppose) LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE, extras and anamorphic transfer (I guess the anamorphic transfer would be enough for a lot of people) aside, is there enough of a improvement picture-wise and are there any differences in the movies themselves (beyond the opening credits), to make this a worthwhile double-dip?

I'd just like to add that when I wrote my review for the Fangoria website I was sent the discs sans cover artwork of any kind. Had I seen the incompetently (even insultingly) designed cover they ended up using I can assure you I would have dedicated at least a few sentences to the sheer awfulness of it (as well as the spoilerish nature of it as well). Even more of a pity since the film has so many wonderful pieces of poster artwork to have chosen a cover from.

-Scooter McCrae

Fakin' being a zombie sorta worked in SHAUN OF THE DEAD.