The Dead Are Alive

Alcoholic archaeologist Jason Porter (Alex Cord, THE LAST GRENADE) discovers an Etruscan tomb near the villa where his former lover Myra (Samantha Eggar, THE BROOD) and her orchestra conductor husband Nikos (John Marley, THE GODFATHER) are staying. The tomb includes a fresco of the Etruscan demon god Tuchulcha who demanded grisly sacrifices of his worshipers. When a young couple making love in one of the nearby open tombs are clubbed to death – their bodies arranged on top of the sepulchers like offerings – the police are called in. As the murders continue – including an attack on Nikos son Igor (Carlo de Mejo, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD) who survives – the investigation becomes murky. While Jason tries to determine how the first murders can mirror the scenes on the fresco in the tomb, the police have to sift through the Jason/Myra/Nikos triangle, Nikos’ unexplained nocturnal wanderings and temper tantrums (if you’ve seen THE GODFATHER, you know what Marley can do with a violent outburst), Jason’s past institutionalization (and a violent attack on Myra), a park guard with blackmail on his mind, effeminate red herring Horst Frank skulking around, and the presence of Igor’s mother (Nadja Tiller) who was disfigured by a drunken Nikos years before. – www.dvdbeaver.com