What makes it different from others?

Well Deserved Praise

Really Surprised!

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A group of archaeologists work on excavating Etruscan tombs. A series of murders start and they seem to be connected to these ancient ruins in some way. Is this the work of the vengeful god Tuchulka? The Dead Are Alive is a giallo/horror hybrid. It follows the conventions of the former but it also incorporates a supernatural horror angle. Like many similar Italian films from the time it's a pretty convoluted affair. Its central story isn't always very well presented and the film meanders a lot of the time. Things aren't helped all that much by an uncharismatic male lead actor who doesn't exactly elicit much sympathy. His character seems to be a bit of a sex pest in fairness. There are better actors in the support roles such as Samantha Eggar - who later starred in David Cronenberg's The Brood - and Horst Frank who plays a slightly sinister homosexual eccentric similar to the role he had in Dario Argento's Cat o' Nine Tails. There is a smattering of bloody violence throughout. And the supernatural angle does offer something different for this type of picture. But overall it's doesn't make very much of a connection.Its director Armando Crispino also contributed the later Autopsy, which was another unconventional giallo. Both films deserve some credit for at least trying to bring in different things to the sub-genre but truthfully neither of them are very good. Riz Ortolani contributes another lush score that tries its best to enliven events.

In Italy, a series of murders occur at a newly discovered Etruscan burial ground and when a tomb is opened, wall murals of sacrificial killings depict the current deaths ...but how could that possibly be? An American on the site, Professor Jason Porter (Alex Cord) -a violent alcoholic who also suffers blackouts- finds himself not only in the midst of a mystery, but a suspect as well. Was an ancient demon god unleashed when the burial grounds were disturbed -or are the murders the work of a mere (maniacal) mortal?Armando Crispino's clever and classy entry from the Golden Age of the Giallo (1968-75) has nearly all the conventions one expects from the genre: an innocent (?) American abroad somehow connected to a string of violent crimes, ineffectual police detectives, quirky suspects, nubile victims, red herrings, brutal bludgeonings, suicides, and an insane killer that may come as a surprise. There's also a shoe fetish, a homosexual, a bottle of J&B Whiskey, a wild car chase, and Riz Ortolani's score to hold viewer interest. One of my favorite gialli plot devices is used here to good effect: the protagonist had a clue to the killer's identity all along if only he had interpreted a certain event correctly. All that's missing are the ever-present black gloves -but you won't miss them. This colorful, well-made thriller, based on a short story by Bryan Edgar Wallace, was released in the U.S. as THE DEAD ARE ALIVE. Rounding out the cast are Samantha Eggar, John "Death Dream" Marley, and guest-star Nadja Tiller.

I'm a big fan of Giallo, and The Dead Are Alive has been one of my main targets for some time now. With that in mind, I've got to say that the film is something of a disappointment; but there's more than enough good elements to ensure that Armando Crispino's film is a more than passable Giallo attempt, and it's certainly one of the more unique entries in the genre. The film forsakes many of the common Giallo trademarks such as a black gloved killer and numerous sex scenes in favour of a supernatural angle and a plot that focuses on mystery rather than murder; although the convoluted plot that makes some Giallo and ruins others is very much in place. The central character is Jason; an alcoholic archaeologist forced to turn detective when he discovers an ancient Etruscan tomb and two people are murdered in the same way that is depicted on some ancient drawings inside the tomb, which haven't been seen by human eyes in over two thousand years. The line-up of red herrings is vast, and includes a composer, his fire-scarred wife, a sadistic torturer of insects and a homosexual choreographer. But of course, Jason is the prime suspect...I've seen a lot of Giallo's that are happy to merely wallow in the common genre elements, so it is very much to director Armando Crispino's credit that this Giallo breaks rules and develops it's own personality resulting from that. The burial ground central locale provides a good setting for this film, as it's dirty and gritty and suits the mysterious atmosphere. The plot does get a little too convoluted at times, and the film suffers from a few instances where there isn't a lot going on. The first murder takes place only minutes into the film; and it's a brutal affair as a couple are clubbed to death. However, there's not a lot in the way of bloodshed after that first murder; and the mystery plot isn't always enough of a distraction. The acting is a little flat, with Alex Cord not really convincing as an archaeologist, and the fact that the film lacks an established Giallo heroine is a negative point. The supernatural elements are well implemented at first, and it soon becomes obvious the killer is flesh and blood. The fact that the most obvious red herring is the murderer means that the ending isn't a surprise; but as far as atmosphere and absurdity are concerned, The Dead Are Alive is definitely a Giallo highlight.

Even though this film is entitled under its German title, 'L'Etrusco Uccide Ancora' - how it is called in Italian - is overall a typical Italian thriller of the Seventies. Directed with style by Armando Crispino, who also directed the breathtaking 'Macchie Solari' (aka Autopsy, The Victim), the film suggests supernatural forces involved in the plot. That makes the whole thing even more atmospheric and will keep you on the edge of your seats. The German video versions are heavily cut concerning the plot (one version is also cut concerning the violent killings), while only the Danish video version appears to be complete (according to the excellent English book 'Blood and Black Lace'). Nevertheless, if you are able to get this gem on video, get it: This giallo truly delivers!