Apocalypse domani (1980)

Country of Origin: Italy/Spain
Year of Production: 1980
Running Times: 91m (USA - theatrical), 95m, 97m
Length:
Format: 35mm, Technovision
Colour Format: Technicolor
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Sound: mono

DIRECTION

Directed by: Anthony M. Dawson (real name: Antonio Margheriti)

CREW

PRODUCTION
Copyright 1980 New Fida Organisation
Production: Edmondo Amati presents a New Fida Organisation, Jose Frade production
Produced by: Maurizio and Sandro Amati
Production Manager: Lewis Pierce
Production Coordinator: Peggy Rogers

SCRIPT
Screenplay by: Jimmy Gould (real name: Dardano Sacchetti), Anthony M. Dawson (real name: Antonio Margheriti)
Based on an Original Story by: Jimmy Gould (real name: Dardano Sacchetti)

DIRECTION
Assistant Director: Joe Pollins (real name: Edoardo Margheriti)
Script Continuity: Sandy Jones
Script Supervisor: Paul Costello

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Fernando Arribas
Camera Operator: Monty Sanders
2nd Camera Operator: Phil Morrow
Assistant Cameraman: Edwyn Meyers
Gaffer: Fred Stander
Key Grip: Sonny Profiles
Action Stills: Tony Bernett
Still Laboratory: Benetti
Technical Equipment: A.R.C.O. 2 - Camera Service

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Film Editor: George Serralonga
Assistant Editor: Joe Sanders
2nd Assistant Editor: Julia Harris
Color by: Telecolor
Processing Laboratory: Telecolor spa

MUSIC
Music Composed and Conducted by: Alexander Blonksteiner

SOUND
Sound Engineer: Raoul Mountsaint
Boom Operator: Fred Dresh
Sound Effects: Fernando Caso, Alvaro Gramigno, Cineaudio Effects
Recorded at: Cinemontaggio Studios
[Dubbing] Supervision: Nick Alexander

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costume Designer: Lucy Morrison
Costume House: Mario Russo Sartorie
Footwear: I.C.P.
Make up Artist: Gianetto de Rossi
Hair-stylist: Liselotte Powers
Wigs: Rocchetti and Carboni

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Bob Shelley

TITLES AND OPTICALS
Titles and Optical Effects: Studio 4

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Walter Patriarca
Set Decorator: Vincent Barons
Props: Dick Ross
Set Furnishings: Rancati by Sormani Brothers, L'Immaginoteca
Drapes and Carpets: D'Angelo

LOCATIONS
Filmed on location at Atlanta, Georgia and at De Paolis Studios, Rome
Unit Manager: Jerry Stapleton

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Freddy Unger
Stunts: George Nikas, Lonnie Smith, Don Ruffin [all uncredited]

CASTING
Casting Director: Sylvia Mays

CAST

John Saxon (Norman Hopper)
Elizabeth Turner (Jane Hopper)
John Morghen (real name: Giovanni Lombardo Radice) (Charlie Bukowski)
Cindy Hamilton (real name: Cinzia De Carolis) (Mary)
Tony King (Tom Thompson)
Wallace Wilkinson (Captain McCoy)
Ray Williams (real name: Ramiro Oliveros) (Dr Phil Mendez)
John Geroson
May Heatherly (Helen)
Ronnie Sanders
Vic Perkins
Jere Beery (biker leader)
Joan Riordan (Aunt Tina)
Laura Dean
Lonnie Smith (biker)
Don Ruffin (Carlos)
Benjamin Rogers
William H. Gribble (doctor in ambulance)
George Nikas (biker)
Doug Dillingham (cop)
Ralph Vaughn

UNCREDITED CAST

Luca Venantini (Mary's brother)
Venantino Venantini (Lt Hill)
Eli Navarro
Sergio Testori
Renzo Marignano
Edoardo Margheriti (police officer)
Fernando Dell'Acqua
Nazzareno Zamperla

A group of Vietnam vets return to the USA infected with a virus that turns them into cannibals. The squad leader joins his infected former troops and a female doctor who has also fallen prey to the virus as they go on the rampage through Atlanta, Georgia.

It may not make a lot of sense and there are a few too many shoddy performances, but it's very difficult not to like Apocalypse domani. Radice is wonderful as a twitchy, mad-eyed cannibal and Saxon looks suitably befuddled throughout. There are some impressive gore effects and they're every bit as revolting as you could hope for. Eye gougings and dismemberments are topped only by the brilliantly sick moment when Radice, coming to his usual sticky end, has a hole blown in his stomach by a police shotgun. Margheriti just can't resist using it as a frame through which we see the police approaching. Audiences laughed all the way to their puke bags. A long way from Margheriti at his best but irresistable nontheless.

Australia
Video Distributor: Palace Explosive

France
Video Distributor: American Video

Netherlands
Video Distributor: CNR

UK
Video Distributor: VPD/Replay

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Almi Cinema 5
Video Distributor: Vestron Video
DVD Distributor: Image Entertainment (ID0640SRDVD)

West Germany
Video Distributor: Marketing Film

Australia
Rating: R

Finland
Rating: banned

France
Rating: -16

Norway
Rating: banned

UK
Rating: banned
Although there was an unrated video release in the early 1980s, this fell foul of the “video nasties” furore and the film is no longer legally available in the UK.

USA
Rating: R

West Germany
Rating: 18

1980
July
21: Italy - rated by the censor board

August
4: Italy - theatrical release

November
14: West Germany - theatrical release

1982
November
10: France – theatrical release

2002
March
19: USA - DVD release (Image Entertainment (ID0640SRDVD))

POW's in Vietnam...starved in captivity...released with a taste for human flesh.

In the jungle, or in the the city, still they must EAT!

Apocalipse Cannibal
Apocalipsis caníbal – Spanish title
Apocalisse domani – Italian title
Apocalypse Manana - Spanish shooting title
Asphalt Kannibalen – German title
Cannibal Apocalipsis - alternative title
Cannibal Apocalisse - Italian shooting title
Cannibal Apocalypse - UK title
Cannibali in Citta - Italian shooting title
Cannibal Massacre
Cannibals Are in the Streets, The - alternative US title
Cannibals in the City - alternative US title
Cannibals in the Street - US title
Demain l'apocalypse – French title
Hunter of the Apocalypse
Invasion of the Fleshhunters - US video title
Pulsions cannibales – French Canadian title
Savage Apocalypse - US advertising title
Savage Slaughterers - pre-shooting export title
Slaughterers, The - alternative US advertising title
Virus – Spanish title

SEE ALSO
Dawn of the Dead (1978)

PERIODICALS

Book of the Dead no.4 p.22 (UK)
credits, review

Cineinforme no.46 (November 1980) p.12 (Spain)
review

Delirium no.3 pp.8-9 (UK)
credits, review

L'Ecran Fantastique no.13 (1980) p.57 (France)
review

L'Ecran Fantastique no.16 (1981) pp.12, 33 (France)
illustrated article

Fangoria no.48 p.19 (USA)
review

Foreign Sales, Italian Movie Trade vol.6 no.6 (June 1980) p.12 (Italy)
credits

Gore Gazette no.88 p.4 (USA)
review

Halls of Horror no.27 p.18 (UK)
note

Hollywood Reporter vol.273 no.25 (9 September 1982) p.6 (USA)
credits, review

Is It Uncut? No.4 pp.9-10 (UK)
illustrated review

Starburst no.30 p.25 (UK)
review

Variety 18 August 1982 p.14 (USA)
review (by Lor)

Video Week 5 January 1987 p.8 (UK)
note

BOOKS

Aurum Encyclopedia of Film: Horror pp.344-355
Credits, review

Horror and Science Fiction Volume III p.41
credits

The Seduction of the Gullible (2nd edition) by John Martin p.39
Credits, review

Spaghetti Nightmares p.163
credits

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

KEYWORDS

bikers, cannibalism, cinemas, diseases, doctors, gore, helicopters, hospitals, sewers, video nasties, vietnam war, viruses, war

Last Updated: 11 May, 2010