Although Alejandro Brugués' zombie comedy was clearly inspired by Shaun of the Dead, it doesn't quite measure up to the popular spoof starring Simon Pegg. Here, ne'er do-well Juan (Alexis Díaz de Villegas) and a small group of chums do battle against a horde of undead who have inexplicably taken over their city, enthusiastically dispatching the flesh-eaters by any means at hand. Essentially, that is the whole plot, and the humor is pretty spotty. What distinguishes the film is that the besieged city is Havana, so it can indulge in satirical swipes at the Castro regime along the way. So, the initial news reports on the outbreak from official sources predictably portray it as yet another attempt to undermine the revolution engineered by the dastardly imperialists in the north. Juan of the Dead is technically pretty primitive, but the easygoing disdain it expresses for the government represents an act of political courage deserving of note. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Juan of the Dead
Focus, 96 min., in Spanish w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $19.98 Volume 27, Issue 6
Juan of the Dead
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