DVD Reviews

I Sell the Dead – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Mar 31, 2010, 16:15 GMT

Never Trust A Corpse! It was a time of ghouls, ghosts and most ghastly of all, the fine art of grave robbing. Dominic Monaghan of LORD OF THE RINGS and LOST stars as 19th century corpse snatcher Arthur Blake, who pilfered the cemeteries and coffins of England until his capture by police. But just before Blake is to meet the hangman s noose, he will confess to a peculiar priest (Ron ...more

Talk about shovel ready jobs.  A bumbling pair of Burke and Hare wannabes has some comedic adventures in this gravely amusing film. 

If you’re a horror fan this horror/comedy will remind you of those Corman Poe films as well as give you a chuckle and a healthy burst of nostalgia.  

Willie Grimes (Larry Fessenden) has just has his appointment with the guillotine.  His partner/protégé Arthur Blake (Dominic Monaghan) sits in a cell and awaits his execution by the same.  However, he’s been given five hours grace by Father Duffy (Ron Perlman). 

The good father has arrived to take his confession as to how he’s gotten into this pickle.  Blake recounts his graverobbing ways and his associations with the vile vivisectionist Dr. Quint (Angus Scrimm), the undead, alien bodies, and the devilish bodysnatching clan the House of Murphy.  Hilarity ensues.  

I Sell the Dead doesn’t need to be a tough sell.  Are you a horror fan who likes Hammer films, American International’s Edgar Allen Poe films, or old school stars like Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, or Basil Rathbone?  If you’re in need of a mirthful grin then you can’t do wrong in picking up this homage to all of the above.  The low budget film was a favorite at festivals and has a quirky charm. 

The film certainly wears it’s joyously ghoulish old school horror loving heart on its sleeve.  There’s also a comic influence with scenes starting with the look of a comic book.  Larry Fessenden usually is behind the camera, he also produced this film, but he steps in front of the camera to adopt a gravely English accent to dig up graves. 

Lord of the Rings and Lost actor Dominic Monaghan stars as the other half of the team and again appears to be having a ball in the less-than-societal acceptable profession.

Add in some cameos by genre stalwarts Ron Perlman and Angus “The Tall Man” Scrimm and you’ve got a consummation devoutly to be wished.  The titular House of Murphy is also an intriguing idea though it seems to get a little less fleshed out that I would’ve liked, but I was having such a good time I barely noticed. 

I Sell the Dead is a delicious poisoned meat pie of horror goodness.  It’s the first film from Glenn McQuaid and I hope that we step into the world of Grimes and Blake once again some day.  I hope I’m not in the ground before we once again stalk the foggy streets of London Towne again.  If I am I hope they dig me up so I can watch that sequel.  

I Sell the Dead is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Special features include a commentary with director Glenn McQuaid and another with stars Monaghan and Fessenden.  Next is the 64 minute “Making of,” a 13 minute look at the visual effects, and the 1 minute trailer.  The case contains a comic book reproduction of the film.  

I Sell the Dead is a happy throwback to times when grave-robbing was such a hot profession and horror films were less torture porn.  Nowadays you can see the dead on the Discovery channel 24/7. 

In those days if you wanted a glimpse, for fun or profit, you’d have to grab a shovel and dig.  Guess what?  I dug I Sell the Dead (wakka, wakka, wakka).  It’s all in ghoulish fun. 

Visit the DVD database for more information.