CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (aka THE GATES OF HELL) (1980) d. Lucio Fulci (Italy) Tonight we're returning to the eerie and bonkers world of Italian horror with a film that defies conventional storytelling — Lucio Fulci’s City of the Living Dead, known to American audiences as The Gates of Hell. Following up on the success of Zombie the year before, City of the Living Dead marked a turning point in Fulci’s career, steering him away from the multitude of genres he had previously worked in, into the surreal, apocalyptic horror that would ultimately come to define his legacy within the genre. Working with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti, composer Fabio Frizzi, and special effects wizard Gino de Rossi, Fulci crafted a story where atmosphere outweighs logic, favoring mood and shock value over a linear plot. Despite — or perhaps because of — its fragmented narrative, this is a film that you feel more than follow, a surreal, almost metaphysical approach to horror, one that leaves audiences disoriented, fascinated, deeply unsettled, and hungry for another viewing Join AC and his amazing panel of guests (Jonathon Lucas, Dave James Parker, Larry Sternshein, Nathaniel Thompson) as we explore City of the Living Dead’s place in Fulci’s career and in Italian genre cinema, and why it continues to resonate with horror fans 45 years later. ------------------------------------------- JONATHON LUCAS is a horror fiend from Australia whose love for the genre predates his brain’s ability to form memories. He contributed the essay for At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul for Hidden Horror. DAVE JAMES PARKER is a YouTube film reviewer, collector, and former indie actor who has been running the Mr. Parka YouTube channel and podcast for over 15 years. In recent years he has started a deep dive into 1980s horror films where he often collaborates with horror journalist, podcasters, and authors to discuss an assorted mix of genre films. He has made appearances in notable indie horrors Headless and Applecart. LARRY STERNSHEIN is a lifelong movie fan in Colorado and host of the movie memories podcast "Reel Early." Not only does he love talking about horror and action cinema, but is also a big pro wrestling fan. NATHANIEL THOMPSON has recorded 300 audio commentaries and written five books, most recently The FrightFest Guide to Vampire Movies. You can see him in shows like Eli Roth's History of Horror and Horror's Greatest, and read him yammering about all kinds of movies at mondo-digital.com. ------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!