Jeri Jacquin
Available now from Italian director Michele Soavi and Severin Films comes the story of a plague of another kind and the one who deals with it is CEMETERY MAN.
Francesco Dellamonte (Rupert Everett) is the local cemetery watchman in Buffalora, Italy and his job is to handle the recently deceased and what happens after the seem to rise from the grave. He lives in the cemetery with Gnaghi (Francois Hadji-Lazaro) for whom words don’t come, well, at all. When Francesco isn’t dealing with the living/dead or speaking to Death (Derek Jacobi), he spends his free time with outdated telephone books.
As the dead keep coming out of the ground, Francesco deals with them knowing for every burial, he will be busy on the 7th day. He has told the mayor about the “returners” but a reelection campaign seems more important. He does tell Franco (Anton Alexander) but figures it’s just easier to dispose of them his six-shooter way.
On day, Francesco notices the young widow (Anna Falchi) and he is smitten immediately. Just as fast as Francesco has love, he loses it and does not handle it well. He is not the only one in love as Gnaghi has found it in the mayor’s daughter Valentina (Fabiana Formica) but shows it in his own unique gastro-intestinal way.
But, Francesco keeps meeting women who look like the young widow and he becomes more and more filled with anxiety when love doesn’t work out. When he has had just about enough, Francesco goes about waving his gun wreaking havoc but no one seems to notice. That’s when he decides to pack up and head out into the great big world and see what’s possible. Of course, he takes Gnaghi along.
Sometimes the road doesn’t always lead you where you want to be.
Everett as Francesco, besides being very, very young in the film, seems accepting of what his job entails and, in a twisted way, seems to enjoy it. That is until he falls head over gravestone with the very attractive young widow. Is it love or pure unadulterated lust – doesn’t matter because Francesco is all in. Everett gives us a man who is trapped without realizing he is trapped whether it by zombie responsibilities or lustful love and when he does realize it, no one seems to notice. Well-played Everett!
Hadji-Lazaro as Gnaghi may be quiet but he has a lot to say through his actions. He knows how to handle the cemetery but let’s Francesco make all the calls. When he becomes love-struck himself, there is nothing that is going to stop him from having that moment of happiness. I enjoyed watching Hadji-Lazaro play second fiddle but he understands more than he gets credit for.
Flachi as the young widow as several opportunities both from the grave and walking on two legs to sweep Francesco away. Each incarnation doesn’t set well with him but Flachi gives us a lovely (if somewhat vine-covered) rendition of beauty both above and below ground.
Other cast include Barbara Cupisti as Magda, Alessandro Zamattio as Claudio, Stefano Masciarelli as Mayor Scanarotti, Clive Riche as Dr. Vercesi, and Mickey Knox as Marshall Straniero.
Severin Films is dedicated to the world’s most provocative cinema for physical media, theatrical, streaming and beyond. Founded in 2006 by David Gregory, Carol Daft and John Cregan, Severin’s curatorial and archival work has produced acclaimed collectors’ editions and box sets that has placed the company at the forefront of the industry, while their original productions have won numerous awards on the international festival circuit. For more please visit www.severinfilms.com.
The Special Features include Audio Commentary by Director Michele Soavi and Screenwriter Gianni Romoli, At the Graves – Interview with Michele Soavi, Of Love and Death – Interview with Actor Rupert Everett, She – Interview with Actress Anna Falchi, Archival Making-Of, Italian Trailer and English Trailer.
CEMETERY MAN gives us so much in this film with a mixture of fun and horror at the same time. I’m sure the fun part comes from my giggling at the zombies but they were equally as creepy. There was so much to take in and my favorite was the total difference between the cemetery from day to night. Of course, my preference is the night with its somber lights, dancing flames, and zombie costuming/effects.
Francesco and Gnaghi are absolutely suited together for both their temperament and their mutual longing for love in the most unloving of places. Director Soavi puts on an extravaganza of twists, turns and a bizarreness that is intriguing and memorable. CEMETERY MAN made its debut in 1994 as is based on the novel DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE by Tiziano Sclavi.
In the end – it is love, death, and a six-shooter!
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