Juan of the Dead (2011)

Zombie movies have become vogue in the past few years, and now there's one from Cuba. Basically, the plot is that a loser and his friends form a Ghostbusters-style business after Havana and presumably the entire island sees itself overrun by the living dead. I understand that "Juan de los Muertos" ("Juan of the Dead" in English) is intended as part horror flick, part metaphor for the economic and political sluggishness that is considered characteristic of modern Cuba. One irony depicted in the movie is that the government claims that the zombies are dissidents, but what Juan and his friends do is a bigger form of dissent: they start a business to tackle the zombie problem.

Otherwise, it's a pretty fun movie. The zombie-busting group is an interesting mixture of people: Juan, his daughter, a muscle man and a flamboyant man, among others. It looks like the sort of movie that they had fun filming, and the special effects were probably fun to create. In conclusion, if there are zombies in your neighborhood, you know who to call!

Fmovies: After the popularity of Shaun of the Dead, the zombie film culture created by George Romero jumped back center stage with hundreds of films hitting the shelves. Just like every other genre, there are good and bad ones, but when they are bad they are usually unwatchable, but when they work they are great fun. The latest attempt at this genre Juan of the Dead, not only shares a similar title, but takes the same direction of Shaun, but could this Cuban zombie flick have any chance of living up to its potential? Juan of the Dead follows Juan and his rag tag group of friends that try to take advantage of the zombie outbreak by charging people to kill them. With his new found business motto "we'll kill your beloved ones" they set out on a rampage of survival, profit, and carnage. While this film is produced and could be looked at as a rip off of Shaun it sets its own tone to create a funny, bloody good time. The story is pretty simple with just enough story idea to keep the film moving, but not enough to clutter it with unnecessary plot holes. At first it seems like it may be a bit low budget, but quickly showcases some great make-up work with the zombie effects and does not hold back on the blood. Much like most these days it mixes CG and practical effects blood, but is executed great. This film also sports some interesting cast of characters and over the top humor that helps to step this film up to the level deserving of this genre. There is no shortage of zombie killing action as well as some surprisingly creative kills.

Don't let the fact that this movie is subtitled deter you from checking it out. This is easily one of the better additions to this genre to come along in some time. Everything about it works to create an over the top zombie killing gore fest that any fans of the genre will love. Even though they aren't directly connected to each other, this is a great companion film to Shaun of the Dead that will hopefully catch on and get the respect it deserves.

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It is rare that a film combines, satire, parody, thrills, scary zombies, and deadpan humor. Such is the film Juan of the Dead.

Plot is simple. Zombies try to take over Cuba. But the government says they are "dissidents" created by the Americans to undermine Cuba. In a very clever film, the director, Alejandro Bruques, takes us on a fantasy ride of zombie threats and humor with many political points along the way.

Several island residents form a motley crew of a trans gurl, a muscle bound dude, a hot babe and a guy named "California", is just the beginning of zombie mayhem.

They even open a business, "we kill your loved one" to earn a few extra bucks off the zombies...Cuban style.

The budget is not mentioned in the film overview, but I bet they really made a very low budge stretch quite a bit. From the beginning to end credits it is a delight. Every film student should see this movie to see what you can do with imagination and not the fancy cameras profiled in American media.

Their first kill has a harpoon go through a zombie to kill an old lady standing right behind the zombie. Ooops! A wooden oar weapon is so decrepit that we would never use it as an oar.

There is also the famous car/boat that many refuges use to flee Cuba used to escape the onslaught of zombies. In one scene, an attack by numerous zombies is thwarted by a single harpoon and a "rally around the flag pole". Heh, heh.

A slow motion arrow is an tick toward Matrix.

The film introduces a stereo type American and since the crew does not speak English, Juan introduces himself by saying "My name is Juan". Get it. It beginning Spanish class the first thing you learn is "Yo me llamo Juan". Very funny.

They spoof Bruce Lee with a freeze frame at the end. Ending credits are terrific. There are subtitles so get ready and just read them.

The ending credits are really inventive as is the entire film. I have never seen it in a bargain bin, so I will try and make my own copy from a TV showing. I recommend this highly as a very funny, highly inventive, well shot film about the zombie Apocalypse.

Juan of the Dead fmovies. The movie tries to combine serious matters (of political nature and I'm guessing there are even more stabs at the current political situation hidden in the dialogue if you understand it), with some very silly antics (almost slapstick territory). The lead actor will not be to everyones taste and the obvious comparisons to Shaun (of the dead) might do the movie more harm than good. But this is still a very decent effort/stab at comedy zombie movie.

I liked the performances and quite a few of the bits (and pieces, if you'll excuse the pun) in the movie. One particular "dance" scene was quite nice. Also the very first encounter of Juan and ... the other "group" (as named in the title) is quite funny (at least I thought/felt so). It might be uneven at times, but it's a fun ride that you can enjoy

Juan of the Dead is the first Cuban Zombie movie ever made. Juan and his friend, Lazaro, wake up one morning to a Zombie invasion in Havana. The Cuban government is reporting that the Zombie outbreak is "Americans trying to undermine the Cuban government". Obviously poking fun at the Cuban's political propaganda.

Juan and his friends decide that they can make a successful small business by killing and disposing of Zombies. For a small fee Juan can dispose of your unwanted loved ones for you. So an unlikely bunch of heroes come together and arm themselves to rid the city of Zombies for a profit.

What makes this movie special is that you get a real up close and personal view of what it is like to live in Havana under the Communist Regime. The scenery is beautiful and sad at the same time. Havana is depicted as a place where Elevators don't work, Medicine is outdated, and things just generally look run down. Zombies are merely thrown into the mix. What comes across loud and clear is how proud the Cuban people are. Even when facing the end of life as he knows it, Juan does not want to leave his homeland.

I saw this movie at the World Premiere in Toronto at TIFF, so I had the pleasure of hearing the Q&A after the film. The Director, Alejandro Brugues, and his crew were excited to be in Canada for the first time and mentioned that they were going to a Jay's game before flying back to CubaÂ…LOL He seemed surprised that the film comes across with a political message, because it was not his intention to do so.

i found this film by chance on cable, what a gem, as you probably know it is based in Havana, which makes for an added interest,similar in basic story line to 'shaun of the dead', but that's where the similarities end, except for the humour, which was very refreshing. the main character is very likable as is his sidekick. their cosy lifestyle is interrupted by zombies.I like how they don't explain where they have come from, they are just there, with typical govt reports on the television news, that anybody could imagine any govt in any country putting out. some other reviewers have mentioned the decaying state of where the main characters live, as being a sign of how Cuba is under the communist state, but there are very similar slums in America. I would recommend this film to anybody who likes zombie films.