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Cemetery Man

Cemetery Man (Italian: Dellamorte Dellamore) is a 1994 Italian-French-German black comedy horror film directed by Michele Soavi, adapted from the 1991 novel of the same name by Tiziano Sclavi.^[1]^[2] The story centers on Francesco Dellamorte, a weary cemetery caretaker played by Rupert Everett, who along with his mute assistant Gnaghi (François Hadji-Lazaro), routinely dispatches the undead who rise from their graves seven nights after burial in the fictional town of Buffalora.^[1]^[3] As Dellamorte navigates a surreal existence marked by repetitive violence and fleeting romantic encounters—particularly with a mysterious widow portrayed by Anna Falchi—the film explores themes of love, mortality, and the blurring of reality and hallucination.^[1]^[2] Produced by Tilde Corsi, Gianni Romoli, and Soavi himself, the film premiered in Italy on March 25, 1994, and was released in the United States by October Films on April 26, 1996, running 105 minutes and rated R for graphic violence and nudity.^[1] Soavi, a protégé of Dario Argento known for earlier works like The Church (1989), drew on Sclavi's gothic, philosophical style—familiar from his Dylan Dog comic series—to blend zombie horror with romantic and absurd elements.^[1] Everett's performance as the cynical yet poetic Dellamorte anchors the ensemble, supported by Falchi in multiple roles and Mickey Knox as the mayor. Critically, Cemetery Man garnered praise for its inventive visuals, gore effects, and existential depth, achieving a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews.^[3] Martin Scorsese hailed it as "the best Italian movie of the '90s," highlighting its cult status in Europe while noting its relative oversight in American horror circles.^[1] The film's legacy endures through home video releases, including a 2023 Severin Films Blu-ray and a 2024 theatrical re-release in Italy for its 30th anniversary, cementing its place as a late highlight of Italian genre cinema.^[4]^[5]

Synopsis

Plot

Francesco Dellamorte serves as the caretaker of the Buffalora cemetery in a small Italian town, where he lives with his mute, mentally disabled assistant Gnaghi. Their primary duty involves combating the "returners"—zombies that rise exactly seven days after burial—by shooting them in the head and dissolving the remains in quicklime. Dellamorte maintains a logbook of the deceased and reports each incident to the town mayor, a pompous figure obsessed with his re-election campaign, who routinely ignores the zombie threat and urges Dellamorte to keep quiet to avoid public panic. The priest of the local church also dismisses Dellamorte's concerns during occasional encounters at the cemetery.^[3] During the funeral of a government official, Dellamorte becomes captivated by the deceased man's beautiful young widow. He flirts with her openly, and later that night, they meet at the cemetery, sharing a passionate kiss before having sex atop a tomb. Their encounter is interrupted when the husband's zombie rises and bites the woman on the neck. She survives initially but later climbs the cemetery's monumental angel statue for a better view of the town and falls to her death. Buried in the family plot, she rises as a zombie seven days later; Dellamorte confronts her, and in a surreal moment, they embrace and kiss—her decaying mouth filled with worms—before he shoots her.^[6] Dellamorte's obsession with the widow persists, manifesting in visions of her likeness in other women. He encounters a second woman resembling her, who has been hired as the mayor's secretary. Pretending to be impotent to gain her trust, Dellamorte begins a relationship with her; she reveals a fear of intimacy stemming from past trauma but eventually overcomes it during their encounters, restoring his vitality. However, after she is raped by the mayor (her employer), she falls in love with him and plans to marry him, rejecting Dellamorte. In a jealous rage, Dellamorte shoots the mayor's bodyguard, mistaking him for a zombie, leading to further complications in his unraveling psyche. Meanwhile, Gnaghi develops an infatuation with the mayor's daughter, Valentina, who reciprocates his affections. Tragically, Valentina dies in a motorcycle accident, her head severed from her body. Gnaghi retrieves the head, and in a bizarre twist, it reanimates, allowing them a grotesque romantic interlude before the mayor's dog attacks and destroys it.^[7] The zombie outbreaks escalate when a bus of boy scouts crashes off a cliff, killing all aboard; their undead forms rise en masse, prompting Dellamorte and Gnaghi to dispatch them amid chaotic scenes, including one zombie rubbing sticks to create fire. Dellamorte's mental state deteriorates further as he encounters a personification of Death, who instructs him that killing the living will prevent further resurrections. Heeding this, Dellamorte begins murdering townsfolk indiscriminately: he shoots a group of mocking students, strangles the priest after a confession that is dismissed as a prank, and slaughters hospital staff who refuse to believe his warnings about the undead. The mayor himself is eventually bitten and zombifies during a public event, forcing Dellamorte to kill him as well. The town descends into widespread chaos, with zombies overrunning the streets and Dellamorte burning alive a third woman resembling his lost love—a university student moonlighting as a prostitute—along with two companions in a brothel fire.^[8] In a desperate bid to escape, Dellamorte and Gnaghi load their car and drive toward the town's gates, intending to venture beyond Buffalora's borders. The landscape outside reveals a barren, surreal wasteland, suggesting the town exists in isolation. Gnaghi is mysteriously injured and collapses, prompting Dellamorte to contemplate a double suicide. However, Gnaghi revives, miraculously speaking coherently for the first time and pleading to return home. Overwhelmed by existential doubt, Dellamorte echoes Gnaghi's former mute utterance—"Gna"—as their roles reverse, implying a collapse of reality and Dellamorte's departure into an illusory, unending cycle.^[9]

Cast

Rupert Everett stars as Francesco Dellamorte, the cynical cemetery caretaker and protagonist whose duties include managing the undead rising in the local graveyard.^[10] François Hadji-Lazaro plays Gnaghi, Dellamorte's mute, dim-witted assistant who communicates non-verbally through grunts and gestures.^[10] Anna Falchi portrays three women who resemble each other and serve as Dellamorte's successive love interests: the widow ("She"), the mayor's secretary, and a university student.^[10]^[3] Stefano Masciarelli plays the Mayor, a pompous local official overseeing the town who later succumbs to the zombie phenomenon.^[10] Supporting roles flesh out the film's quirky provincial setting and include the Priest, played by Vito Passeri; the Headmaster (Marshall Straniero), played by Mickey Knox; and various townsfolk and zombies depicted by additional ensemble actors.^[10] Everett's casting in the English-speaking lead role contributed to the film's broader international appeal beyond its Italian origins.^[11]

Development

Source material

Cemetery Man is based on the 1991 novel Dellamorte Dellamore by Italian author Tiziano Sclavi, a gothic horror narrative centered on Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery caretaker tasked with combating the undead who rise seven days after burial while confronting profound existential despair.^[12] The novel, written some years before its publication as a conceptual blueprint for the Dylan Dog series, became a bestseller in Italy upon publication and directly served as the primary literary source for the film.^[12] The novel's protagonist, Francesco Dellamorte, directly inspired the character dynamics and themes in Sclavi's long-running Dylan Dog comic series, which debuted in 1986 under Sergio Bonelli Editore and has continued publication to the present day, amassing hundreds of issues.^[14] In the series, Dellamorte appears as a recurring figure akin to the titular Dylan Dog, a paranormal investigator who navigates supernatural threats with a mix of grim resolve and wry detachment.^[15] This connection underscores Sclavi's recurring motifs of death, the afterlife, and human frailty across his works, with the gravedigger character bridging the novel's isolated horror to the comic's broader adventures.^[16] As a loose adaptation, the film preserves the novel's foundational premise of a caretaker managing resurrections in a rural cemetery but significantly alters the plot structure and events to heighten cinematic surrealism, departing from the source material's relatively linear and introspective storytelling.^[16] Sclavi's signature style—fusing horror with dark humor and philosophical undertones, as exemplified in Dylan Dog's blend of gore, existential musings, and satirical elements—influences the film's tone, even as the screenplay expands beyond the novel's confines for visual and narrative experimentation.^[14]

Pre-production

Michele Soavi developed Cemetery Man (originally titled Dellamorte Dellamore) as his fourth feature film, following his earlier horror works Stagefright (1987), The Church (1989), and The Sect (1991), viewing the project as a significant opportunity to blend horror with broader thematic elements inspired by Tiziano Sclavi's novel.^[17] Soavi initially sought to adapt Sclavi's popular Dylan Dog comic series but turned to the 1991 novel Dellamorte Dellamore when rights to the comics proved unavailable; he read an early 300-page manuscript of the book.^[17] The screenplay was written by Gianni Romoli, who adapted Sclavi's novel into a 105-minute script that retained its core surreal tone while incorporating comedic and fantastical sequences to enhance its international marketability.^[18] Soavi collaborated closely on revisions, trimming an initial draft he found overly lengthy and tonally inconsistent—particularly excessive humor that undermined the horror tension—resulting in a more balanced narrative focused on existential themes of death and love.^[17] Visual inspirations drew briefly from the Dylan Dog comics, with character designs echoing the series' noirish, weary protagonists.^[17] Casting emphasized international appeal, with Soavi selecting British actor Rupert Everett to portray the cemetery caretaker Francesco Dellamorte for his physical resemblance to the Dylan Dog lead character, which facilitated global distribution efforts in an era when Italian cinema rarely featured English-speaking leads in prominent roles.^[17] Everett's portrayal captured Dellamorte's charismatic yet world-weary demeanor, a beleaguered everyman grappling with routine violence and romantic disillusionment, marking a departure from typical Italian horror archetypes.^[3] The film was financed through an Italian-French-German co-production, involving companies such as Audifilm and Urania Film (Italy), K.G. Productions and Canal+ (France), and Silvio Berlusconi Communications, with an estimated budget of approximately $4 million that supported its ambitious scope despite the genre's declining market in the early 1990s.^[19]^[20] Soavi intended Cemetery Man as a capstone to his horror directing career, deciding shortly after its completion to take an extended hiatus from feature filmmaking to focus on family amid reports of personal health challenges involving a terminally ill child.^[21] This break lasted several years, during which he shifted toward television work before sporadically returning to features.^[21]

Production

Filming

Principal photography for Cemetery Man (originally titled Dellamorte Dellamore) commenced in 1993 and spanned several months across various locations in central Italy, primarily in the Lazio and Umbria regions. Key sites included the rural town of Arsoli near Rome, where the film's central cemetery sequences were captured using an actual abandoned cemetery grounds transformed into a versatile soundstage for both interior and exterior shots, and Guardea in Terni province for town plaza scenes. These authentic locales lent the production a grounded, atmospheric quality, with set designer Antonello Geleng enhancing the cemetery with added foliage, elaborate graves, and practical structures to evoke the fictional town of Buffalora.^[22]^[23] The shoot faced logistical hurdles typical of mid-budget Italian genre cinema, including coordination between an international cast and local crew, as lead actor Rupert Everett delivered lines in English while much of the dialogue was later dubbed into Italian for the domestic release. Night sequences, essential for the zombie resurrections, were particularly demanding due to unpredictable weather in the hilly terrain, leading to scheduling adjustments and actor fatigue during extended outdoor hours. Cinematographer Mauro Marchetti employed in-camera techniques to maximize the limited budget, drawing on German Expressionist influences for moody lighting that blended horror with surreal humor.^[24]^[25] Special effects emphasized practical techniques, with renowned artist Sergio Stivaletti overseeing the creation of the undead zombies through detailed makeup, prosthetics, and animatronics to achieve grotesque yet whimsical transformations. Stivaletti's work, honed from collaborations on Dario Argento films, included innovative designs for crawling corpses and a massive winged manifestation of Death, integrating seamlessly with live-action footage to heighten the film's blend of gore and comedy. Director Michele Soavi, a former assistant to Argento, encouraged improvisational elements during performances to infuse the horror with spontaneous wit, allowing actors like Everett to ad-lib amid the chaos of rising dead.^[22]^[24]

Visual effects and music

The visual effects in Cemetery Man relied heavily on practical techniques, given the film's $4 million budget and the technological limitations of 1994, which made extensive CGI impractical and cost-prohibitive for an Italian horror production.^[26]^[25] Special effects by Sergio Stivaletti and Gino Zamprioli, using gelatin-based prosthetics to simulate decomposition and gore, resulted in visceral, tangible undead appearances that enhanced the film's grotesque humor.^[22] These in-camera methods, including squibs for bullet impacts and mechanical props for reanimation scenes, avoided digital augmentation, allowing for seamless integration with live-action footage during post-production.^[4] Editing was handled by Franco Fraticelli, a veteran of Italian genre cinema known for his work on Dario Argento films, who employed non-linear cuts to blur the boundaries between reality and hallucination. His approach featured abrupt transitions and fragmented sequencing, such as intercutting Francesco Dellamorte's mundane cemetery duties with surreal dream sequences, creating a disorienting rhythm that mirrored the protagonist's psychological descent and amplified the narrative's existential absurdity.^[27] The score, composed by Manuel De Sica and Riccardo Biseo, fused orchestral horror elements with jazz-infused comedic undertones, reflecting the film's tonal shifts from macabre tension to whimsical satire. De Sica's music incorporated recurring motifs, including a somber "funeral march" theme that underscores key resurrection scenes, while lighter saxophone-driven cues accompany romantic interludes, drawing from his father's legacy in Italian cinema scoring.^[28]^[29] Sound design complemented this by layering exaggerated zombie groans—achieved through vocal performances and foley work—with surreal ambient noises, such as echoing whispers and distorted environmental sounds, to emphasize the film's blend of horror and fantasy.^[30] In post-production, color grading enhanced the film's vibrant, technicolor palette, contrasting the decay of its zombie elements with saturated hues in landscapes and costumes to evoke a dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere.^[31] This process, applied during the original photochemical finishing, heightened the visual irony between the macabre subject matter and the lush, almost operatic aesthetics, a hallmark of late-era Italian horror.^[32]

Release

Premiere and distribution

_Dellamorte Dellamore had its world premiere in Italy on March 25, 1994. The film subsequently screened at international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival in September 1994, where it attracted attention from cult audiences for its blend of horror, comedy, and surreal elements.^[33] In Italy, the film was distributed by AudiFilm and opened on a limited number of screens amid modest expectations for the genre.^[34] Its theatrical run underperformed commercially domestically. The French co-production involvement, with companies like Le Studio Canal+ contributing, facilitated broader European distribution, including a release in France on May 10, 1995. To mark its 30th anniversary, a limited theatrical re-release occurred in Italy on October 14, 2024, featuring a 4K restoration.^[35]^[36] The film reached the United States in 1996, distributed by October Films under the anglicized title Cemetery Man to enhance marketability and appeal to English-speaking audiences familiar with zombie tropes.^[19] October Films released it theatrically on April 26, 1996, emphasizing star Rupert Everett's charismatic performance and the film's unique zombie comedy hybrid in promotional materials, including posters featuring its dreamlike, macabre visuals.^[3] The U.S. box office was similarly underwhelming, grossing just over $250,000.^[37]

Home media

Following its limited theatrical run, Cemetery Man received its initial home video release on VHS in the United States in 1996, distributed amid growing interest from its festival screenings.^[38] Anchor Bay Entertainment issued the film's first DVD edition on June 13, 2006, presenting an anamorphic widescreen transfer in 1.66:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, though it included minimal extras such as trailers and no commentary or featurettes.^[39]^[40] In the United Kingdom, Shameless Screen Entertainment released a region-free Blu-ray edition on October 15, 2018, featuring a high-definition restoration from the original negative, English and Italian audio tracks in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and supplementary materials including a new interview with writer-producer Gianni Romoli, an archival interview with director Michele Soavi, and a featurette on the film's production.^[41]^[42] Severin Films launched the film's 4K UHD debut in the United States on May 28, 2024, as a two-disc set (4K UHD and Blu-ray) with a new 2160p restoration scanned from the original Cinecittà negative, a remastered English audio track in Dolby Atmos, and over three hours of extras comprising an audio commentary by Soavi, new and archival interviews with cast and crew including visual effects artist Sergio Stivaletti, a featurette exploring ties to the Dylan Dog comic series, and reversible artwork options.^[43]^[44]^[45] The film became more widely accessible through streaming, appearing on platforms such as Shudder starting in early 2024 and Tubi around the same period, which helped renew interest among horror enthusiasts.^[46]^[47]^[48] International home media editions have shown variations in content due to regional censorship standards, with Germany receiving an uncut DVD from Laser Paradise in 1999 and subsequent uncut Blu-ray releases, while early UK video versions faced trims for violent content before uncut editions like the 2018 Shameless release became available.^[19]^[49]

Analysis

Themes

The film's central motif, encapsulated in its original Italian title Dellamorte Dellamore—translating to "of death, of love"—intertwines romantic obsession with mortality, as protagonist Francesco Dellamorte repeatedly pursues manifestations of the same enigmatic woman, portrayed by Anna Falchi, across life, death, and resurrection. This recurring archetype symbolizes the inescapable fusion of eros and thanatos, where Dellamorte's affections lead inexorably to loss and undead return, highlighting love's fragility in the face of inevitable decay.^[50]^[51] Existential themes permeate the narrative through Dellamorte's monotonous routine of dispatching zombies, which serves as a metaphor for the futility of human existence and the absurdity of daily labor. As the cemetery caretaker, he embodies a Sisyphhean figure, questioning the purpose of his actions in a world indifferent to meaning, ultimately rejecting societal norms by embracing violence against both the dead and the living. This culminates in his philosophical detachment, exemplified by introspective musings like "We all do what we can to take our mind off living," underscoring a profound ennui and the search for authenticity amid existential void.^[51]^[50] The blurring of reality and illusion is evident in the film's surreal sequences, which challenge perceptions of what is real versus imagined, drawing from author Tiziano Sclavi's gothic absurdism in the source novel. Dellamorte's experiences grow increasingly ambiguous, such as his encounters with Death personified or the town's oblivious response to the undead, prompting viewers to question whether the resurrections are literal or projections of his crumbling psyche. This motif peaks in symbolic imagery, like a kiss veiled in fabric reminiscent of René Magritte's The Lovers, emphasizing perceptual unreliability and the fluidity of truth.^[50]^[51] A satirical critique of small-town bureaucracy and religion underscores the film's commentary on institutional complacency, portraying the mayor and priest as comically detached from the zombie plague ravaging their community. The mayor's administrative hurdles for Dellamorte's reports on the undead highlight bureaucratic inertia, while the priest's hypocritical sermons ignore the supernatural chaos, mocking organized religion's failure to address existential crises. These elements expose societal denial and the absurdity of authority in confronting mortality.^[51]^[50] Zombie resurrections function as an allegory for unresolved grief and the cyclical nature of life, subverting traditional horror tropes by transforming the undead into symbols of persistent emotional wounds rather than mere monsters. The dead's return after seven days represents how grief loops endlessly, forcing confrontation with loss, as seen in Dellamorte's inability to escape his romantic hauntings and the broader town's refusal to acknowledge the phenomenon. This inversion critiques linear narratives of closure, portraying resurrection as a metaphor for life's repetitive, inescapable patterns.^[50]^[51]

Style and influences

Cemetery Man exemplifies a genre hybrid, fusing zombie horror with black comedy and romantic fantasy elements, creating a distinctive Italian take on the undead narrative that parallels the slapstick gore of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II while infusing it with operatic emotional intensity.^[52]^[53]^[54] Director Michele Soavi draws from the source material's absurd humor, rooted in Tiziano Sclavi's Dylan Dog comics, to underpin this blend, resulting in sequences that oscillate between visceral zombie attacks and whimsical romantic encounters.^[53] Soavi's visual style features lavish gothic sets that evoke a melancholic cemetery atmosphere, complemented by dynamic camera work including sweeping shots over moonlit graves and vibrant lighting that recalls the saturated colors of 1970s giallo films.^[52]^[55]^[56] This approach prioritizes a surreal, darkly romantic tone over graphic excess, with immersive compositions that heighten the film's dreamlike quality.^[52]^[57] The film pays homage to Italian horror masters, incorporating echoes of Lucio Fulci's visceral gore in its zombie resurrections and Dario Argento's surreal imagery in hallucinatory sequences, while grounding its undead premise in George A. Romero's Living Dead series.^[52] Soavi, who served as assistant director on Argento's projects, tempers these influences with a more restrained aesthetic, avoiding Fulci's extreme splatter or Argento's frenetic camera swirls in favor of ethereal, atmospheric dread.^[52]^[55] Reflecting its Dylan Dog origins, Cemetery Man employs comic book aesthetics through panel-like framing in key scenes and exaggerated character expressions that amplify the grotesque and the poignant.^[58] This graphic novel influence manifests in an episodic structure, with self-contained vignettes that nod to the comic's serialized style.^[52]^[59] Tonal shifts define the narrative flow, rapidly alternating from slapstick humor—such as the mute assistant Gnaghi's chaotic antics with a severed head—to moments of profound pathos in Dellamorte's romantic obsessions, fostering a dreamlike progression that defies conventional pacing.^[52]^[55]

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Upon its release in Italy in 1994, Dellamorte Dellamore (released internationally as Cemetery Man) received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Rupert Everett's charismatic performance as the brooding cemetery caretaker Francesco Dellamorte while noting uneven pacing and tonal shifts that occasionally disrupted the narrative flow. The film achieved commercial success domestically, appealing to audiences with its blend of horror, comedy, and existential themes, though some reviewers highlighted its ambitious but sometimes disjointed structure as a drawback.^[60] In the United States upon its 1996 release, reviews were similarly divided. Variety lauded it as a "hip, offbeat horror item" with stylish direction from Michele Soavi and strong performances, particularly from Everett, describing it as a "stylish zombie romp" that balanced gore, romance, and philosophy effectively.^[61] However, Roger Ebert awarded it a rare half-star out of four, criticizing its incomprehensible plot shifts from zombie horror to romantic comedy and surreal fantasy, calling it one of the most confusing films he had seen.^[62] The New York Times echoed this sentiment, noting that the film's efforts at comic outrageousness led to increasing chaos, undermining its earlier promise. Other outlets, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, faulted the awkward mix of jokes and graphic gore, which clashed in the English-dubbed version and amplified dubbing issues that felt amateurish. Across reviews, common praises centered on Soavi's visually striking direction, influenced by Italian horror masters like Dario Argento, and the film's thematic depth exploring love, death, and existential despair, often highlighted through Everett's nuanced portrayal and inventive practical effects. Criticisms frequently targeted the overly chaotic and meandering plot, inconsistent tone, and problems with the English dubbing that marred the U.S. release, making dialogue feel stilted and detached.^[61] Aggregate scores reflect this mixed reception: Cemetery Man holds a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 32 reviews, with the consensus noting its frustration for those seeking coherent storytelling but appeal as a surreal horror-comedy for genre enthusiasts.^[3] On IMDb, it scores 7.0 out of 10 from over 25,000 user ratings (as of November 2025), indicating stronger audience appreciation over time compared to initial critical responses.^[25]

Cult status

Following its initial limited release, Cemetery Man experienced a resurgence in popularity starting in the early 2000s through home video formats like VHS and DVD, which introduced the film to international audiences and fostered appreciation for its quirky subversion of zombie tropes with surreal humor and existential themes.^[63] This growth continued with restored theatrical re-releases and high-definition editions, such as the 2024 4K UHD from Severin Films, drawing new viewers to its blend of horror, comedy, and philosophical undertones.^[64] The film's cult status received notable endorsements from prominent figures in cinema, including director Martin Scorsese, who praised it as one of the best Italian films of the 1990s for its innovative genre fusion.^[1] It has also been recognized in influential horror publications, ranking at number 45 on Fangoria's 2012 list of the top 100 horror movies of all time, highlighting its enduring appeal among genre enthusiasts.^[65] A dedicated fanbase has emerged around Cemetery Man, with ongoing discussions and analyses in horror retrospectives and podcasts that celebrate its unique style.^[20] Screenings at genre festivals and specialty cinemas, including recent events at venues like the Roxy Cinema, have sustained its visibility and community engagement.^[66] Culturally, the film is frequently referenced in essays and podcasts as a "philosophical zombie film" that explores themes of death, love, and absurdity beyond typical undead narratives.^[51] Its connections to the Dylan Dog comic series—created by screenwriter Tiziano Sclavi, with the protagonist visually inspired by star Rupert Everett—have inspired fan creations that bridge the movie and the long-running Italian horror comics tradition.^[67] No official sequel to Cemetery Man has been produced, though director Michele Soavi expressed interest in one during a 2011 interview, planning to develop it as a bold Italian horror project that ultimately did not materialize.^[63] Rumors of adaptations tied to the Dylan Dog universe circulated in the 2000s, culminating in the unrelated 2011 film Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, but none directly extended Soavi's work. Soavi's return to directing in recent years, including television dramas after a period focused on other projects, has sparked renewed interest in his horror legacy, including Cemetery Man.^[68]

References

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Scorsese Called This Zombie Movie One of the Best Italian Films of ...
Jul 7, 2024 · Based on Tiziano Sclavi's novel, Dellamorte Dellamorte, Cemetery Man follows Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett), the primary caretaker of ...
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Based on the novel by Tiziano Sclavi and directed by Michele Soavi (THE CHURCH), CEMETERY MAN is a late masterpiece of Italian horror.<|control11|><|separator|>
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Cemetery Man | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 63% (32) Synopsis Something is causing the dead to rise from their graves as flesh-eating zombies, and cemetery custodian Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett) grows ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
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Cemetery Man (Severin Films) Blu-ray Review - Rock! Shock! Pop!
Nov 23, 2023 · Cemetery Man remains a high mark in the late period Italian horror, with some great performances and superb art direction. The new release from ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
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FILM REVIEW;Zombie-Bashing and Necrophilia - The New York Times
Apr 26, 1996 · When his dead sweetheart (Anna Falchi) rises from her grave and opens her decomposing arms, the reunited lovers swoon into a passionate kiss.Missing: plot summary
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Cemetery Man (1994)
### Summary of Cemetery Man (1994) Plot
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Cemetery Man (1994) - Plot - IMDb
A cemetery man must kill the dead a second time when they become zombies. This movie is based on a novel of Tiziano Sclavi, and it always reflects the "sclavian ...
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Cemetery Man (1994) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
Cast ; Rupert Everett · Francesco Dellamorte ; François Hadji-Lazaro · Gnaghi ; Anna Falchi · She ; Mickey Knox · Marshall Straniero ; Fabiana Formica · Valentina ...
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Apr 26, 1996 · In any event, “Cemetery Man” affords the versatile, risk-taking Everett one his most challenging roles. Most recently, he's been seen as the ...
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Rating 3.4 (329) HorrorFictionItalyFantasy. 169 pages, Paperback. First published January 1, 1991 ... Tiziano Sclavi is an Italian comic book and novel writer, who has also worked ...
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Dec 28, 2020 · ... Cemetery Man, based on Sclavi's novel Dellamorte Dellamore. His name, Dylan, is inspired instead by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. “I read his ...Missing: plot summary
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Cemetery Man (1994) Of Death and of Love - Eternal Family
Oct 21, 2025 · Cemetery Man suggests that many of us are spiritually dead long before death comes for us. Death, in the fictional town of Buffalora, is not ...
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Review: DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF NIGHT - Fangoria
Apr 29, 2019 · ... Cemetery Man/Dellamorte Dellamore was derived from Tiziano Sclavi's Dylan Dog comics, when it was actually based on an unrelated novel by the ...
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Nov 24, 2023 · As Severin Films debuts three of his classics on 4K, the Italian horror legend sits with FANGORIA for a deep dive into his career.
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Dellamorte Dellamore (1994) - Moria Reviews
Apr 5, 2013 · Director – Michele Soavi, Screenplay – Gianni Romoli, Based on the Novel Dellamorte Dellamore by Tiziano Sclavi, Producers – Tilde Corso, Gianni ...
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The film's story concerns the beleaguered caretaker of a small Italian cemetery, who searches for love while defending himself from dead people who keep rising ...
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1994's 'Cemetery Man' Might Be Just About As Cult As Cult Ever Gets
May 23, 2024 · Cemetery Man is a vision contemplating life itself by way of exploring death as its dynamic duo – Francesco Dellamorte and his sidekick Gnaghi – struggle ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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The Horror Geek Speaks: Director's Spotlight - IGN
Mar 31, 2004 · After Cemetery Man, Soavi retreated from filmmaking. Reports circulated that he had a terminally ill child and wanted to spend time with his ...
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Nov 23, 2023 · ... screenwriter Gianni Romoli commentary (also Italian only), a trailer, cast and crew bios, and liner notes. Later and less satisfying is the ...
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Jun 8, 2015 · Dellamorte Dellamore / Cemetery Man Michele Soavi. 1994 Cemetery. Strada Statale 5, 00023 Arsoli RM, Italy.
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May 16, 2019 · Yet in addition to the grisly shocks (with ace makeup FX by Sergio Stivaletti), Cemetery Man is also shot through with mordant humor, surreal ...Missing: effects | Show results with:effects
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The Test of Time: Cemetery Man (1994) - JoBlo
Jul 21, 2021 · Key makeup and FX men Gino ... THE VERDICT: We stand convicted, CEMETERY MAN is the single most underrated zombie flick ever made.
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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109592/
[26]
Dellamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man) (Original Soundtrack)
Rating 4.3 (17) The original motion picture soundtrack for the 1994 Michele Soavi cult horror film, Dellamorte Dellamore (aka Cemetery Man) composed & performed by Manuel ...
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Cemetery Man (1994) [Severin 4K UHD Review] - AndersonVision
Rating 91% · Review by TroyAndersonOct 14, 2024 · It's a surreal, often absurd, journey that touches on big themes like the meaning of life, love, and death, while also delivering plenty of dark ...
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Cemetery Man (4K UHD Review) - TheaterByte
Rating 3.9 · Review by Brandon A. DuhamelMay 15, 2024 · This is another 4K transfer of a low budget film that respects the grain structure, providing a layer of dense grain and crispy detail. Some ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[29]
CEMETERY MAN (1994) (Severin Films 4K UHD + Blu-ray Review ...
May 14, 2024 · The tracks are clean and well-balanced, dialogue is delivered cleanly with precision, and gunfire and other loud sound design elements like ...
[30]
TORONTO, TOPPLING KING CANNES? - The Washington Post
Sep 24, 1994 · For cultish crowds, "Midnight Madness" offered such films as Michele Soavi's "Dellamorte Dellamore," an ingenious dark comedy set in a graveyard ...
[31]
Cemetery Man (1994) - Michele Soavi - Letterboxd
Rating 3.7 (39,670) Cemetery watchman, Francesco Dellamorte, is tasked with dispatching the recently deceased when they rise from their graves.Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[32]
Les recettes mondiales des films de zombies
Recettes mondiales (Millions de $). Recettes U.S. (Millions de $). Entrées France (millions de spectateurs) ... Dellamorte Dellamore. 1996. -. 0,3. -. 4.
[33]
Cemetery Man (VHS, 1996) for sale online - eBay
In stock Rating 5.0 (3) Cemetery Man (VHS, 1996) ; Condition: Very GoodVery Good ; Product Information. A gory blend of zombified horror and black comedy, this Italian-produced feature ...
[34]
Dellamorte Dellamore - Cemetery Man DVD - Blu-ray.com
730-day returnsCemetery Man DVD Release Date June 13, 2006 (Dellamorte Dellamore). DVD reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap DVD movies and deals.<|separator|>
[35]
Anybody interested in Cemetery Man? - 6/13/06 - DVD Talk Forum
Apr 8, 2006 · ... Anchor Bay will be releasing Cemetery Man on June 13. Features include a widescreen presentation, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and a ...
[36]
DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE Blu-Ray - Shameless Films
Out of stockMeet Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett), the cemetery-man, gravedigger and guardian of the mythical Buffalora Cemetery where the dead just don't stay dead.
[37]
'Cemetery Man' Rises from the Grave for a New UK Blu-ray Release ...
Sep 12, 2018 · The Blu-ray will be released by Shameless on October 15. Related Topics:Cemetery ManShameless Films. John ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
[38]
https://www.ebay.com/p/3275250
[39]
Cemetery Man 4K Blu-ray (Standard Edition | Dellamorte Dellamore ...
730-day returnsCemetery Man 4K Blu-ray Release Date May 28, 2024 (Standard Edition | Dellamorte Dellamore). Blu-ray reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots.Missing: VHS | Show results with:VHS<|separator|>
[40]
Cemetery Man - Severin Website Exclusive 4K UHD - Ultra HD
Jan 8, 2024 · Cemetery Man is about a cemetery guardian who must keep the dead from rising. The 4K release is a four-disc set with a new 2160p presentation ...
[41]
Cemetery Man | Ad-Free and Uncut | SHUDDER
Feb 12, 2024 · i have this on dvd from years ago seeing it . i have always LOVED this movie. please watch,give it TIME & a chance. you may walk away wondering - but the ...
[42]
Watch Cemetery Man (1994) - Free Movies - Tubi
May 27, 2024 · When a cemetery watchman tasked with dispatching the recently deceased falls in love with a widow, will his lust for life eclipse his bond with death?
[43]
Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man Streaming on Shudder with New 4K ...
Feb 14, 2024 · Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man dropped on Shudder yesterday and you should watch it. It rarely streams so I'm guessing this is to promote the new ...Horror film Cemetery Stories on various streaming platformsThe Decedent (tubi uk) Starts off with lots of cctv shots in funeral homeMore results from www.facebook.com
[44]
Dellamorte Dellamore [Uncut German Import]
£6.39 Rating 4.4 (473) Description. aka The Cemetery Man...Please Note These Dont Come Sealed, Import with English Language, Fast Post From The UK.
[45]
DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE - THE MALADAPTED
Jul 1, 2024 · Ultimately, 'Dellamorte Dellamore' invites us to contemplate the thin membrane separating life from death, love from loss, sanity from madness.
[46]
"Cemetery Man": A philosophical film, with zombies! - Cinephiled
But for a director who said that he wanted to challenge himself with each film that he directed, Soavi certainly accomplished that feat with “Cemetery Man”– ...Missing: production | Show results with:production
[47]
CEMETERY MAN - The Bedlam Files
An interesting item from director Dario Argento disciple Michele Soavi, who seems to have at last come into his own. The story concerns a cemetery caretaker ...Missing: improvisational | Show results with:improvisational
[48]
Intertwinings of Death and Desire in Michele Soavi's Dellamorte ...
Aug 6, 2025 · This article engages in an in-depth discussion of Michele Soavi's Dellamorte Dellamore/Cemetery Man, a 1993 film based on a bestselling ...
[49]
Cemetery Man: By Keeping Things the Same, We Can Change ...
Mar 30, 2011 · Cemetery Man: By Keeping Things the Same, We Can Change More Effectively. ... humor found so commonly in films like Evil Dead II and Dead Alive.Missing: black | Show results with:black
[50]
Italian Horror: A Primer - Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies
Oct 16, 2012 · Cemetery Man's influence can clearly be seen on recent comedies that use zombie motifs, most noticeably in Shaun of the Dead. Once again style ...
[51]
Michele Soavi - News - IMDb
Based on the novel Dellamorte Dellamore by Tiziano Sclavi, Cemetery Man was directed by Michele Soavi from a screenplay by Gianni Romoli. The film has the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[52]
https://thebedlamfiles.com/film/cemetery-man/
[53]
Of Death, Of Love: Dellamorte Dellamore (1994) - consideringstories
Jan 17, 2024 · Dellamorte Dellamore is a perfect cinematic experience for anyone who loves the gory and moody (and often illogical) dark fantasies of Italian ...Missing: plot summary
[54]
54 Best Comic Book Movie Adaptations of ALL Time - PopOptiq -
Sep 28, 2021 · 35. Cemetery Man. Based on the wildly popular Italian comic book Dellamorte, Dellamore from Tiziano Sclavi's Dylan Dog series, Cemetery Man is ...<|separator|>
[55]
Cemetery Man (Dellamorte Dellamore) - Reviews - Reverse Shot
Jul 25, 2006 · The film's gruesome slapstick-romantic comedy-provincial satire-existentialist fantasy amalgamation proved a popular success in Italy.Missing: Patrice | Show results with:Patrice
[56]
Dellamorte Dellamore - Variety
Mar 28, 1994 · Based on a famous Italian comic strip, film toplines Rupert Everett as a romantic gravedigger more at ease with zombies than human beings.
[57]
Page Not Found | Roger Ebert
Insufficient relevant content. The provided URL (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cemetery-man-1996) returns a "Page Not Found" error, and no review content, rating, or key points are available in the given text.
[58]
Cemetery Man (1994) - IMDb
Rating 7/10 (25,718) The film is directed by Dario Argento's talented understudy, Michele Soavi and finds an unlikely lead in Rupert Everett. The story follows Everett; the keeper ...Full cast & crew · Quotes · Plot · Release infoMissing: reception | Show results with:reception
[59]
CEMETERY MAN Sequel May Begin Shooting This Year
Though Cemetery Man (Dellamorte Dellamore) initially failed to grab audiences and critics alike in 1994, the film began to acquire a cult following on VHS years ...
[60]
Cemetery Man: Michele Soavi's cult film returns to theaters in October
Aug 4, 2024 · Cemetery Man (1994) returns to theaters Oct. 14 in a restored version. Based on the novel by Tiziano Sclavi, Michele Soavi's cult film starring Rupert Everett ...
[61]
Fangoria's Top 100 Horror Movies (2012) - IMDb
... Cemetery Man (1994. 45. Cemetery Man. 19941h 43mR. 7.0 (26K) Rate. Mark as watched. A cemetery man must kill the dead a second time when they become zombies.
[62]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cemetery-man-1996
[63]
https://www.destroythebrain.com/movies/movie-news/cemetery-man-sequel-may-begin-shooting-this-year
[64]
Michele Soavi - IMDb
Recently, he returned to directing with two made-for-Italian-TV dramas. Despite his absence from the entertainment world in recent years, Michele Soavi is ...