Now that fans have explored the gruesome world of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it’s time to rediscover a hidden gem from the 1990s zombie scene. Michele Soavi’s Cemetery Man is a darkly funny and atmospheric horror film that, alongside Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, stands out as one of the decade’s most creatively made and gory zombie movies.
Often called Dellamorte Dellamore, the film Cemetery Man has a straightforward story but delivers it brilliantly—and literally. The movie follows Francesco Dellamorte (Rupert Everett), a quiet cemetery caretaker whose job gets complicated when foaming-at-the-mouth ghouls start climbing out of their graves. It’s a truly excellent and scary film that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves, and it’s currently available to stream on AMC+ or watch for free on YouTube.
‘Cemetery Man’ Fuses Italian Zombie Gore With Lynchian Surrealism
Audifilm/Distribuzione Angelo Rizzoli Cinematografica
Based on Tiziano Scalvi’s 1983 novel, the film Dellamorte Dellamore takes place in the tiny Italian village of Buffalora. The story centers on Francesco Dellamorte (played by Everett), a quiet and dedicated caretaker who lives on the grounds of a decaying old cemetery. His peaceful existence is shattered when the dead begin to rise as violent, rabid corpses, attacking anyone still living, and he’s left to deal with the chaos alongside his somewhat clueless assistant, Gnaghi (François Hadji-Lazaro).
Unlike many other zombie movies, Cemetery Man creates its own distinct world and rules. A key example is the Buffalora Cemetery, which warns visitors that some bodies will come back to life after a week. These revived corpses, known as “Returners,” are brutally destroyed by Francesco, who is responsible for dealing with them.
The movie has a unique style, blending the over-the-top gore of Italian horror films with the strange, dreamlike quality of David Lynch’s work. It’s darkly funny throughout. One particularly shocking scene involves Francesco trying to seduce She, the widow of a rich man buried in the cemetery. Their encounter in the dead man’s bone crypt is violently interrupted by the gruesome Returner.
‘Cemetery Man’ Revived the Moribund Zombie Genre in the 1990s
Audifilm/Distribuzione Angelo Rizzoli Cinematografica
As a horror fan, I always felt like the 90s were a bit…safe. The Reagan-era censorship really seemed to neuter things – most horror movies felt pretty tame, with kills happening off-screen, and honestly, a lot of them were just goofy. But Cemetery Man stood out. It definitely had that playful 90s vibe, but it was also genuinely creepy and beautifully made, with fantastic direction and acting. It’s one of the best zombie films of the decade, honestly. Maybe Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive and Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness come close, but they lean so heavily into camp and kitsch that it kind of undercuts the scares. Cemetery Man strikes a really unique balance.
That sets Cemetery Man apart. It’s not surprising that Martin Scorsese considered it one of the best Italian films of the 1990s. Rupert Everett’s performance—a deeply moving portrayal of a man losing his mind amidst increasingly bizarre and nightmarish events—is comparable to Ralph Fiennes’s acclaimed work in The Bone Temple.
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However, viewers who crave extreme gore won’t be let down. The film features relentlessly graphic violence, including gruesome decapitations, throat slitting, and brutal attacks reminiscent of classic horror director Bava. Unconventional camera angles, like those filmed from inside a zombie’s mouth, add to the shock value and will likely satisfy even seasoned horror fans. What sets this film apart, especially for a 90s zombie movie, is its artistic European style and eerie atmosphere, created partly by filming in an actual abandoned cemetery, which surprisingly elevates the otherwise low-budget and intensely violent death scenes.
With its spooky, beautiful, and surprisingly funny tone, and a touch of romance, Cemetery Man is widely considered the best zombie movie of the 1990s.
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