Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras

'Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras' has been called 'the worst film ever made'. Personally, I laugh my fool head off every time I see it! I've read some reviews online, and I think they're missing the joke. 'Zombie!' is not intended to be taken seriously! It's 'Cinema of the Absurd'. Imagine George Romero zombies, a Roger Corman script, and then add Jean-Luc Godard as the director. Set it in the insanity that is New Orleans during Mardi Gras. 'Beads... Breasts... Blood' proclaims the video cover. And that it has. Add space aliens, a couple of Elvis impersonators, Galileo risen from Purgatory, and a pudgy Ninja, and you're set for a romp.

There are lots of references to Godard films. For example, there's a line about 'hurling reels' from Godard's 'Contempt'. A shot of the alien computer seems to be inspired by 'Alphaville'. The scene between the man and woman in the apartment in French -- bad French -- is typical of Godard's style circa 1960. The scene with the pseudo-intellectual couple in the diner has a Godardian feel to it, and it's hilarious! There's a reference to George Rodrigue's 'Blue Dog' (also referred to in one of Lyddon's other films, 'Cut Up'). 'Zombie!' is full of these little nuggets.

Some of the shots go on too long, and some of the footage is a bit murky. But taken in context -- as Cinema of the Absurd, and not as a typical 'zombie film' -- it's great. Guerilla film-making at its best!

Karl, Will & Mike set out to make an awful film and they succeeded. I know all about it because I was there in New Orleans when they filmed it. Part was shot in my building. I know them all (I regret saying.) Mike had experience doing other films, and even won a couple festival prizes, and should have known better. But he was carried along with the mammary shots. That was no Zombie. That was the real Karl! Bewarte! He may still be prowling the streets of N.O. And Will just likes breasts...the bigger the better. They intentionally set out to outdo Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes and they did. The only other film made in New Orleans that can top Zombie is one made in the 70s called OKRAH. It is the story of a giant Okrah plant that comes down from the stars to conquer Earth, meets the tomato of his dreams and winds up in the gumbo. Amateurish? Of course. It was done as an exercise in poor taste. Not quite a John Waters approach, but trying. They all had a ball shooting it. You will be revolted in viewing it. It is probably one of Gene Shallit's little known favorites. He would give it three black holes.

This truly is a B-movie. I was subjected to this movie while staying at a friend's house. It is certainly not something I would have rented on my own. This is the kind of movie where you sit around laughing at how hysterically horrible it is. This black and white bomb features an unintelligible plot and a host of no-name actors. The slanting camera angles and pointless scenes change so quickly that you often don't have time to see WHAT they are, nevermind how they relate to the movie. If you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know about my two favorite scenes, don't read on. I was especially amused when the scene changed (for no apparent reason) and there was a butt at the bottom of the screen. Suddenly, someone off-screen threw powder on it and attacked it with a koala puppet! It was so ridiculous and unexpected that I wound up laughing hysterically on the floor. Maybe it's me, but I didn't expect a butt OR a koala puppet in a zombie movie. My second favorite scene came shortly after the puppet scene (although I'm sure changing the order would not have affected the plot of the film). A guy is kissing his girlfriend in downtown New Orleans when he suddenly has a gas attack and excuses himself to the restroom... where the cameras follow to record his writhing, explosive bowel movement. After viewing these two scenes, I strongly recommend rewinding. Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras is not worth seeing for its plot, but would serve as a wonderful choice for your own MST3000 party. It will take 2 hours of your life that you'll never get back.

"Worst movie ever" gets thrown around a lot by people who honestly have no clue.

Those people haven't seen Zombie vs Mardi Gras.

Sure, when we are comparing a the multi million dollar failure of Son of the Mask with a crew of hundreds compared to this >$5000 flick which one would be a bigger failure?

But Son of the Mask has that train wreck entertainment value to it. The Evil Bong series has a minor plot and is competently filmed.

Zombie vs Mardi Gras has none of this. An absurdist 'comedy' filmed on a camcorder by three guys during Mardi Gras and then dubbed later it plays exactly like you'd guess from that description. To make it worse it's black and white which makes the already terrible picture quality absolutely unwatchable in many scenes.

I, like most people nowadays, searched this one out based on the cover and it getting a mention in the documentary, Adjust Your Tracking. After some years, I was able to get a copy for a decent trade. The seller told me it was horrible, but I didn't listen reader. Now I implore you, heed my warnings. Do not seek this out. Do not speak it's name. And above all, do not press play!

A travesty. A sickening experience. A mess. A technically inept sack of crap.

These are only the first words that come to mind upon seeing "Zombie! vs. Mardi Gras," the direct-to-video release from Salt City Home Video. This is complete and utter garbage, and must be seen to be believed.