Back in August, we told you a little bit about the Dismember the Alamo Zombie Film Fest happening at the Alamo Lake Creek this week. And because we love us some zombies (who doesn't?), we figured we'd remind you about it, and quickly run down the programming, which is mostly focused on intentionally goofy flicks, but still looks pretty great. Check it!

Pathogen with Writer/Director Emily Hagins Live!
Tuesday October 23rd, 7:30pm

We're kind of ashamed to admit that we haven't seen Pathogen--it's a feature length zombie flick written and directed by soon-to-be-15-year-old Austinite Emily Hagins. The film is a bit of a twist on the traditional zombie flick in that the "zombie infection" is contracted by drinking Austin's tap water. Apparently, Hagins was inspired to make the film after a screening of Undead during the 2003 Butt-numb-a-thon, and last year Pathogen premiered to a full house at the Alamo Downtown. This kid is going places.

Re-Animator
Tuesday October 23rd, 10:30pm

This one's a classic, schlocky horror film. Based on the Lovecraft short story "Herbert West: Re-animator", Stuart Gordon's 1985 flick has attracted legions of fans, and has spawned two not-too-shabby sequels (plans are also reportedly in the works to produce three more). The film follows the exploits of Dr. Herbert West, a medical student who develops a serum to revive the dead. Hilarity ensues.

Dead Alive (aka Brain Dead)
Wednesday October 24th, 7:30pm

Before Peter Jackson became president of Hollywood, he directed a string of supremely weird but completely kickass low-budget films including Meet the Feebles, Bad Taste and Dead Alive. Considered one of the goriest films ever made, Dead Alive follows the exploits of Lionel Cosgrove, a young man whose mother is bitten by a "Sumatran Rat-Monkey" and subsequently becomes a zombie. Unable to put her out of her misery, Lionel instead keeps her sedated in their basement--which turns out to be the wrong thing to do. Dead Alive is, hands down, one of our favorite films ever, and it's worth watching if only for a single, ultra-bloody sequence involving a lawnmower. Or how about that part with the zombie baby?! Oh, just go see it already!

Sugar Hill
Wednesday October 24th, 11pm

Not to be confused with the 1994 drama starring Wesley Snipes, Sugar Hill is a 1970s blaxploitation horror about a woman who calls on a gang of zombies to help exact revenge on the men who killed her boyfriend. We've been waiting to see this for a long time (as far as we know, it's not available domestically on DVD), so we're particularly excited about this screening. Horror and blaxploitation go together like nuts and gum.

Fido
Thursday October 25th, 8:15pm

The newest film being shown at the festival, Fido is a Canadian zombie comedy set in a parallel reality where zombies are kept as pets. But when young Timmy Robinson's zombie (played by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly) begins eating the neighbors, things get weird(er) in the zombie-infested suburbs. Honestly, we're not too into the recent "zom com" craze, but this one ain't bad.

Return of the Living Dead
Thursday October 25th, 10:45pm

This splatter-punk classic is the first (and best) installment in the long-running "Living Dead" series. But unlike Romero's zombie films, it's intentionally goofy and pop-centric. Probably best known for its punky soundtrack (including tracks by The Cramps, The Damned, TSOL and Austinite Roky Erickson), Return of the Living Dead is a fun watch for any horror fan, and a great way to cap off the festival.

[Festival Info / Tickets]