City of the Living Dead (1980) - full transcript

I am there.

Yes, i am there

i see...

i see

there's the contact.

He's just entered.

The contact has entered

the contact...

the dead...

i see the dead

the city of the dead

hold the link,

don't break it

hold the link

it's critical for mary.

Don't break the link,

don't break it

mary

mary...

the soul that pines

for eternity...

shall outspan death.

You dweller of the twilight

void come dunwich.

I'm afraid mary's dead.

No...

alright,

maybe i've got

no imagination,

but your story is

a little tough to swallow.

James mclewin,

busted twice for peddling

and possession.

That's right. So?

And you expect me

to believe that

mary woodhouse died

out of sheer fright

while you were

having a seance?

Ok fellas.

You help us

and we'll help you.

What were you on?

Coke? Grass?

Where's the stash?

Down the toilet?

- You don't deserve any help

you're a comic book version,

sergeant.

You look better in

your mugshot, you know.

The great theresa.

The master medium.

Yeah,

for you it's all in the book

your book of...

what's it again?

Enoch.

Yeah, enoch.

According to you this

poor girl is dead

because of a book that

was written 4000 years ago.

Correct?

That's right.

I'd find such

an unusual paradox

of tremendous appeal

terribly stimulating

if i were a sleuth.

The explanation in every

detail of a crime

before it's been committed.

Lady,

you're either on grass or

you're pulling my leg.

No...

the problem is in your mind.

It can't accept the truth,

but i'll help you just same.

In the book of

enoch the killer is...

sergeant...

come here and look

who's playing games here?

Come out of the floor,

out of nowhere.

Who lives downstairs?

It's vacant,

has been for 26 years.

But how the heck did...?

Don't you start

acting up too.

It's only a prank and i'll

find out

what's behind it even if

i have to tear the whole

building apart.

Keep refusing the truth.

At this very precise

moment,

in some other distant

town,

horrendously awful

things are happening.

Things that would shatter

your imagination.

Hi officer.

I'm looking for

sergeant clay.

And who are you?

I'm peter.

You see, i'm with the...

- don't tell me

you're a newspaper

reporter, right?

I can smell you guys

a mile away.

You're right,

i'm a journalist.

Look, there's a rumor down a

the station house

that someone kind

of died mysteriously

and i wanna talk to

the sergeant about it.

It's not going to be any

mystery

how the next guy dies

if i let any unauthorized

people in that house.

Look...

isn't there a way that

maybe you and i

could come to a sort of

gentleman's agreement?

You're talking into deaf

ear, pal.

Now take my advice and

beat it before

the sergeant comes out.

Ok, i'll take your advice.

It's like we're in the wrong

season suddenly.

Damn dusty

all these high winds,

pretty unusual.

By the way,

i hear cindy heran

never went home last night.

So?

It sure wouldn't be

the first time.

I remember once she was

sitting in...

you know something?

Ever since father thomas

hanged himself

dunwich ain't been the

same.

Kind of scary

a few beers and you fellas

start seeing ghouls and

devils all over the place.

Well, you saw what

happened, didn't you?

Sure, but that doesn't

mean that

there isn't any explanation.

It could have been a truck

passing by

the vibration

anyway,

i've lost my mirror.

You forget who our

ancestors were?

No.

I've forgot how many

beers you have drunk.

So let's have another.

House buys.

I've gotta go

but wait, what about...

- see you

me too

wait up, mike.

I'll see you around

wait, guys... guys...

brand new building...

new construction.

I tell you,

more garbage like this...

i'm gonna loose

all of my customers.

The language is scary,

i admit it.

But the overall message

couldn't have been more

puritanical.

Then why did you choose

the topic of incest?

When i was 8 years old

i wanted to marry

my father.

I guess all girls that age

want to marry their fathers.

Anyway,

i got over it pretty quickly

he was a drunk.

One day he just picked up

and left

my mother and me.

Did this leave any

particular emotional

feeling in you at the time?

Emptiness.

That and pity for my

mother.

I began to hate all men

and i...

excuse me jerry.

Hi, sandra.

How are you?

Hello emily.

How come so early?

I mean i thought

we made it for eight.

That's the trouble.

I can't make it tonight.

I have to see bob.

Bob?

You're not upset are you?

No, i'm not upset.

Maybe a little worried

perhaps.

You've been seeing

an awful lot of him,

haven't you, lately?

Poor bob.

He's a sick and ionely kid.

I don't see why people

hate him so.

His mother was what you call

a woman of easy virtue.

No husband. No morals.

Here in dunwich,

anybody like that

is also branded a witch.

Look sandra.

I don't believe those

idiots who tell me

that our ancestors were

salem witch burners alright?

Okay, okay

jerry, i'm sorry.

- Don't worry

i'll see you tomorrow.

Around 9?

Sure thing.

Bye.

So long sandra.

Bye bye and take it easy.

Jerry, bye.

- Bye

okay sandra,

where were we?

On the same old problem,

men.

Why do they have to

make life so difficult?

Sandra

sandra...

did he hurt you?

Did he claw you?

He must have been

frightened.

Strange.

It's the first time he

ever acted up like that.

He loves to have you

pet him.

He always comes to

you when you're here.

Something must have

frightened him.

...give me the

dirtiest thoughts...

i'm telling you,

you're gonna end up

a dirty old man.

A pervert.

Peeping tom.

Talk about

box lunches man

saw a porno flick once,

where this guy got so

carried away

he humped himself to death.

Too much of good thing

but what a way to go

what's the matter?

Never seen a body

in the earth before?

Any law against looking?

Yeah

okay, i'm leaving.

What time you got?

Let's flip to see who

goes in the hole

alright.

Call it.

Heads.

Tails.

In the hole, sucker.

Shit...

what are you still

doing here, pal?

Come on fellas.

What do you want from us?

- Nothing

i'm just curious about

this girl here, that's all.

Look, why don't you guys

go ahead with your work

and just pretend i'm not

around.

Well move, cause we're

almost finished.

It's 5 o'clock.

We've busted our

balls enough, let's go.

You're not going to leave

her like that, are you?

Union hours.

Anyway, what does she care?

She's not in any hurry.

Is she?

Oh, my god...

but for you,

mary would have suffered

a terrible death.

I was just lucky.

No

it was written.

Are you acquainted with

the book of enoch?

A text which dates back to

more than 4000 years ago.

It contains man's first

recorded description of

his boundless

mortal fear

in the face of malice itself

the demanding implacable

enemy who's search for blood

is never satiated.

Mary, tell your experience.

Everything you've witnessed

during our last seance.

The city of the dead...

the living dead.

A cursed city

where the gates of hell

have been opened.

Where exactly is this city?

I don't know where it is.

All i know is that it is

called dunwich.

I've never heard of it.

How do you know?

I mean how can you

be so sure?

I read the name

on a tombstone

mr. Bell,

if those gates are left

open it may be

the end of humanity.

We gotta try to get them

shut again.

At midnight on monday

we go into all saints day.

The night of the dead

begins then.

And if the portals of hell

don't get shut before then,

no dead body will ever be

able to rest in peace again.

And so the dead will rise

up and take over the earth.

You've got to get to

dunwich.

You must re-close those

gates

bob?

Bob, are you here?

Bob?

Bob?

Bob...?

Bob

bob...

what happened?

Did you hurt yourself?

Bob

bob...

bob

bob...

don't leave me alone

i'm afraid...

hello?

It's you, mr. Robbins.

No, emily's not here,

i'm afraid.

What's that?

She's usually home

this hour of the night.

I hope that nothing's

happened to her.

There's been a lot of

strange talk circulating.

Come on now

mr. Robbins.

Ignore it.

People here in this town

thrive on that stuff.

You should know it

by now.

She'll be home in another

couple of minutes.

If you need me for any

reason though,

feel free to call.

I should be at the studio

for at least

another hour or so, okay?

Goodbye mr. Robbins.

Goodbye

no, no...

come on tommy, please.

No please, tommy

what the devil's the matter

honey?

You treat me like i was a

stranger.

What have i done?

Tell me.

How come you picked out

here to park?

This place gives me

the willies.

Oh, rose. Come on.

You're not a little child

now.

You don't really believe in

that stupid

salem witch stuff, do you?

Of course not.

Now what's wrong?

Sorry tommy, but...

but i keep thinking that

someone's out there

spying on us.

Come on.

There isn't anyone out there

watch.

I'll turn on the headlights.

You know this dunwich

it's not even on the map.

So, you don't believe me,

do you?

That's not the point.

It's just going to be harder

to find, that's all.

We don't even know

where to start, do we?

You know i get my inner

visions too. You know.

Just let me meditate

over a bottle of scotch

...and?

And i'll take you anywhere.

Well, she certainly wasn't

strangled.

Doesn't seem to have been

any kind of physical abuse.

What was the cause of her

death then?

Some kind of cardiac arrest.

Only that expression on her

face looks like pure fear

like something scared

her to death.

Scared her?

- Excuse me, mr. Robbins

do you know if your daughter

had a heart condition?

No...

oh god...

well, what's our procedure?

Sit tight.

Everything depends

on the autopsy.

I'll sit tight

you'll get your order after

that from the d.a.

Okay, but let me hear

from you, joe

what's your opinion,

jerry?

What's there to say.

I'm at a total loss.

It was bob...

that pervert?

- You can bet on it

they should have

put him away for life

after what he tried to do

with poor little anne ross

listen, i'll call all three

cars out after that boy

and i wouldn't be surprised

if he could tell us

what happened to rosy

kellman and frank's kid, too

sheriff russell...

sheriff

what the dickens is this?

Good lord...

that kid is gonna fry...

mark my word.

So, your newspaper editor

wouldn't believe you?

Listen.

When adrian deniro told me

about 2 years ago

that i'd meet a girl who

would be buried alive,

i didn't believe him either.

I mean, i laughed right

in his face.

Deniro was aware of

many things.

He knew all about the

city of the dead.

Okay, okay.

Say i believe you.

Did you see...

when you were in this

trance did you see anything

besides that tombstone?

Oh yes.

I saw a priest

who by hanging himself

opened the gates of hell.

He must be destroyed...

...amen.

The lord is my shepherd...

this way please.

Where is she?

Where is my emily?

She's in heaven now,

mrs. Robbins

mrs. Holden?

Yes. Mrs. Holden died

last night

and according to

dr. Thompson,

was frightened to death.

Frightened to death?

That's what she

said, fear.

Of what?

Damned if i know, doc.

It's the strangest thing

i've ever heard of.

Fear?

There's been talk that

rose calvin and tommy

fisher disappeared too.

They went to the movies

last night

and nobody has

seen them since.

That makes five people

that have

disappeared in the last

48 hours.

I think it's bob.

I don't believe in this

superstitious nonsense.

Yeah, maybe you're right

sure, remember two years

ago when

bob took little anne into

the woods?

It was a miracle we found

him in time.

Yeah, and i say it's him

he's the one causing all

the trouble around here.

God only knows what he

did to poor emily.

All i know is that the air

in dunwich

is getting awful thick...

soon as i can find

somebody to buy my

shop and my house

i'm vamoosing.

You can bet your ass.

Calm down, dear.

Take it easy.

Calm down.

My baby, my poor baby

you better take

john john out.

Yes, of course.

John john

come on.

Let's go outside.

Let's take a walk.

You have to be

strong now.

You have to find courage

to face reality.

You have to be a man.

Do you know what i mean?

I'm hungry

good.

There's a lollipop in the

glove box

look. I'm not joking.

I'm starved.

Look, you're the one

who got me out here

in the armpit of the world

chasing your galloping

cadavers.

Come on.

Let's go have a snack

someplace

okay.

You want to give up?

Why don't you get in

the car

we'll go and check out

the local cuisine.

Don't be upset.

Upset? Who's upset?

According to your

theory we have less than

48 hours before

this... aii saints day.

Oh please. Not now.

Do you mind?

Come on.

Let's go check out

the local cuisine

mommy...

daddy... mommy... daddy...

mommy...

what's the matter, honey?

Emily is back.

I saw her

looking in the window.

She wanted to catch me.

Emily went away forever,

john john

she's in heaven.

I saw her...

i swear, i saw her

i really did

you better call the doctor.

I'm alright...

i don't need a doctor.

I don't want a doctor...

i saw her

you had a big day.

You're upset.

We all are.

Off you go now.

Go to bed.

I don't wanna go, mommy

i'm scared...

emily's gonna get me

i know it...

hello?

It's me, sandra.

You have to come

right away.

No, there's no time

to explain.

You wouldn't believe

me anyway.

Just come, please

i'm having a

nervous breakdown...

yes, okay. Sandra,

just calm down

and control yourself.

What is it?

There's only two

possibilities.

Either i'm going out

of my mind or

something very very strange

is happening.

Look, take it easy.

I'll be there

in 10 minutes, honey.

Bye.

Jerry, is that you?

Yeah, it's me.

Come in...

come in

what do you need

that for?

I don't know,

maybe a crucifix

would be better.

A crucifix?

What the hell are

you talking about?

Tell me the truth.

Do you consider

me a basket case?

No, not at all.

Why?

Your nurturing a pet

neurosis, that's all.

Like about 70% of the

female population

in this country.

So according to you i'm

not stark raving mad,

at a least not yet.

Don't be silly.

Of course not.

Sometimes you may

drink a little more

than you should,

but that's no reason to be

taken away

and put into a looney

house.

No, i'd rather not right

now

and you really shouldn't

either.

Alright.

You better see for

yourself.

It's in the kitchen.

The kitchen?

Oh, christ

was i just imagining

things?

It can't be...

it's her. Mrs. Holden.

This morning she was inside

a coffin at the funeral home

and now she's here in my

kitchen.

How?

How did she get here?

I don't know.

I heard a noise.

I came to look and

there she was on my floor.

I called you right after.

I thought i was loosing

my mind.

Okay.

Let's use our heads

and not panic.

Calm down.

We've gotta find out how

she got here, alright?

I couldn't give a damn

how she got here.

I just want her gone.

Let's get her out of here.

I can't take the sight

of her.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

At this point, a good stiff

drink is the only medicine

what are you gonna do?

I don't believe in the

twilight zone

so i guess i'll call the

the sheriff on this matter.

And what do you tell him?

I'll tell him exactly what

you told me.

That you heard this noise.

That you came running

and that you saw her there,

and the rest is up to them.

What was that?

The door is closed

but we left it wide open.

Someone took her away.

Or maybe she just left.

Don't be ridiculous

bodies don't just

get up and walk away

by themselves.

She's still here

she's still in the house...

sandra...

sandra...

get a hold of yourself

i don't want to stay

here anymore

jerry get her out

calm down...

- please...

tell her to go...

she's in here

you hear her.

Jerry, she's in here,

i can't take it anymore.

Sandra

sandra, calm down.

Don't let imagination

run away with you.

I don't know what the hell

is going on here either,

so were going to take it

step by step

and search every room in

the house, alright?

And we'll find the reason,

alright sandra?

And you're going to

follow me.

Follow me now

come on, that's it.

Alright?

Alright.

I'll do whatever you say.

I don't think i'll manage to

sleep here tonight.

If you want to stay at my

studio or my house

you're always welcome.

Good god...

it's blood...

blood...

dunwich?

Yes. Yes. I know it.

Odd that you're looking

for dunwich.

Yes, as a matter of fact...

yes, that's the town

where father thomas...

terrible... terrible

you know that dunwich

was built on the ruins

of the original salem.

That village of witches

and heresy.

And evil...

yes, but can you tell us

how to get there?

It's not easy.

You'll have to go back

towards the highway

and as you approach it

there's a road going left

blocked by a landslide.

That will take you to

dunwich.

Thanks a lot.

Just out of curiousity...

why are you folks going

down there?

We're just looking up a

friend.

I see.

Thanks again.

Good lord, help us.

Bob...

hi ann.

What are you doing in

the back seat

of my dad's car?

I didn't know where

to sleep.

You won't tell anyone

will you?

No, of course not.

Although you get some

awfully weird ideas.

Come on, smoke

only then you better split,

okay?

Ann...

it's him

go on...

get out of here

what are you doing?

Get in the house...

i can explain everything,

mr. Ross

shut up you bastard...

what were you trying to

do with my daughter?

Please, let me explain,

mr. Ross.

I was only looking for a

place to sleep.

I swear

pervert...

murderer...

i guess there's nobody in.

That's strange.

What do you plan on

doing?

I have a feeling this is

where the answer is.

We've gotta find the

undertaker

or someone from the

funeral parlor.

Maybe they have gone

to the cemetery.

You go.

I'll wait in your office.

I don't think i can take a

cemetery right now.

Fair enough.

"Dweller of the twilight

void..."

well?

Yes...

that's it

that's the very same

tombstone

that i saw in my trance.

Great.

Welcome to

the city of the dead.

Now what do we do?

We must find the priest's

grave and uncover him.

There isn't much time left.

All saints day begins at

midnight.

Where do we start?

Okay...

it's gonna be one of these.

Good thing he didn't hang

himself in arlington.

Yes?

Excuse me.

I wonder if you could

give us some information.

Sure.

Well, we're looking for

a tombstone of...

of a priest who

hanged himself.

Father thomas?

We don't know his name.

Well, why are you looking

for his burial site?

It's a long story.

One you might not want to

believe.

Try me.

I'm just about ready to

believe anything

at this point.

That's the whole story.

My god in heaven...

the living dead.

And that's why you're here

in dunwich?

What do you wanna do?

What are you

hoping to accomplish?

The death of father thomas

gave birth to some...

some evil.

They're worms...

who's speaking?

Alright, john john

now listen to me

you take it easy.

Stay right there and

don't move.

I'll be right over.

What happened?

That was emily's little

brother, john

he just told me that emily

killed her parents...

emily died 2 days ago.

Jerry, jerry

i'm scared, jerry,

i'm scared...

it's all over.

Everything's going to

be all right.

You girls take care of him,

please?

Sure.

Come on

my car?

Yeah, okay

in you go.

Oh god.

Oh god all mighty

totally butchered.

Literally ripped to shreds.

You're sure it was emily?

Yeah, but she was all

different.

She looked like,

she was like...

like she was dead.

And she was eating

mommy and daddy

poor kid.

You poor darling.

Jerry...

jerry, listen.

We've got to go to the

funeral parlour

and then we've got

to look for that...

that grave of the priest

- alright.

Well?

Is the kid alright?

Scared to death.

John john...

it's all right.

It's going to be all right.

It's all over now

now listen, sandra

go to the studio with

john john

stay there and don't let him

out of your sight

yeah, sure

jerry, we'd better

get a move on

we only have

god knows what else

will happen

emily?

No...

no

go away

no...

go away...

emily...

john john, thank god you're

safe, boy.

There's a police car

around the corner

mary's there too,

you go straight to it

go...

i'm in car two in

with sheriff russell

we're in main street...

we got to look for

father thomas' grave

you want some of my men?

No, i think it's better if

you guys

took care of the kid

alright, i'll take care

of the kid

mary?

- Coming

did you call?

Yeah

- let's get going

we interrupt this program

to bring you a

special broadcast

dunwich

a state of emergency,

effective immediately

within dunwich county

all citizens are requested

to return to their homes

as quickly as possible

in case of necessity

contact this station,

radio wdwc

the telephone number is

825...

mind telling me what's

going on?

The dead are leaving their

tombs

that's a load of crap

crap or not

i'm taking my money

i'm closing my doors until

tomorrow morning

and i'm not opening it

for anybody

i believe father thomas is

buried in the family tomb

over there

guess what?

It's all saints day

oh no...

well...

thomas family tomb,

now what?

I wish i had a cigar

shall we open it?

The lady had a vision

are you sure?

Mary?

Ready?

Here we go...

be careful

there you go

hold on to this and let me

try to give bill a hand

for god's sake, hurry

it's past midnight

my god

someone must have broken in

from the other side

or broken out

now what do we do?

I want to go take a look

give me a hand

having receive no further

bulletins on police

emergency operations

which is still in progress

we can only confirm our

previous special broadcast

citizens are requested to

remain in their home

under no circumstances

should anyone try to reach

the state turnpike

we repeat

do not panic,

remain in your home

stay tuned to wdwc

for further bulletin

for those who just tuned in

we repeat our previous

bulletin

dunwich police authority

has declared

a state of emergency

effective immediately

within the dunwich county

all citizens...

stop...

sandra...?

Mary

jerry...

jerry

no, no...

no...