Incubo sulla città contaminata (Nightmare City) (Invasion by the Atomic Zombies) (1980)

43% of users liked it
(3,307 ratings)

Miller (Hugo Stiglitz) is a reporter on to something when he sees passengers disembark from a plane and start attacking and murdering whomever they come across -- no, they are not upset with their service, they are zombies -- or more accurately ghouls who need human blood to stay alive. While flight… More Miller (Hugo Stiglitz) is a reporter on to something when he sees passengers disembark from a plane and start attacking and murdering whomever they come across -- no, they are not upset with their service, they are zombies -- or more accurately ghouls who need human blood to stay alive. While flight attendants may contend that more than one ghoul is on any flight, this group was contaminated by a man exposed to radiation that leaked from a nuclear plant, and they are hereafter identifiable by their black-face make-up, if not their eating habits. When Miller tries to notify the citizens that these monsters are on the loose, he is rudely stopped by a nasty general (Mel Ferrer) who does not want to make the public unnecessarily hysterical. The monsters have a molecular structure that is not affected by bullets, and so in imitation of the accepted code that zombies only die with a shot to the head, the general launches his attack "aiming for the control center" of each zombie head, before everyone is converted into the blood-thirsty monsters. With anemic acting, murky color, and other technical problems, this is simply another zombie film among the masses. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Umberto Lenzi
Genres: Art House & International, Horror

In Theaters: Dec 11, 1980 Wide
On DVD: Aug 6, 2002
Studio: 21st Century Distribution

Critic Reviews

Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Zombie fans: run, don't walk! Well, maybe just move briskly. Don't break a sweat, but keep yourself hydrated. With water, not blood. Oh, and wear clothing that breathes.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Both the crypto-zombies of Nightmare City and the film itself are fast-paced sons of bitches without so much as a whisper of a thought inside their heads.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
The movie is piled high with cheese, but makes for a tasty guilty pleasure.
Alan Simpson, Sex Gore Mutants
one of the craziest dumb *** zombie rides ever committed to celluloid

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Before there was 28 Days Later there was Nightmare City, a zombie film like no other. A totally different zombie experience, Nightmare City breaks ground in the genre by having faster, more sadistic zombies that George Romero's zombies. Nightmare City is a one entertaining… More
Before there was 28 Days Later there was Nightmare City, a zombie film like no other. A totally different zombie experience, Nightmare City breaks ground in the genre by having faster, more sadistic zombies that George Romero's zombies. Nightmare City is a one entertaining zombie flick with plenty of juicy bits to please the zombie connoisseur. The film is very original and Umberto Lenzi has crafted a little known gem thats waiting to be discovered by hardened zombie fans. Nightmare City is an underrated gem of the genre, and it is fairly obscure. But if you're lucky to find this film and you crave the zombie genre, then watch this film. The film is definitely a different type of zombie film, and it works well because it's so exciting to see something different in the zombie, a much more aggressive type of zombie, and who knows, maybe this gave the inspiration to the faster zombies of 28 Days Later. Nightmare City is a fine director, and he has crafted a memorable zombie film. Nightmare City is a refreshing and totally different zombie going experience, and considering that this was made in the early 1980's, Nightmare City could easily be seen as groundbreaking film in the genre where most zombie films of the era had slow walking zombies. Nightmare City is a must see if you love classic zombie films.
Tsubaki S

I think Hugo Stiglitz is a pretty cool guy, he fights infected people (NOT ZOMBIES) and doesn't afraid of anything.
Keiko A

Directed by Umberto Lenzi and Starring Hugo Stiglitz, Laura Trotter, Mel Ferrer, Francisco Rabal, Sonia Viviani and Eduardo Fajardo. Without a doubt the best title ever "NIGHTMARE CITY" and you would also expect the story to be cool as well with its Escape Theme. But… More
Directed by Umberto Lenzi and Starring Hugo Stiglitz, Laura Trotter, Mel Ferrer, Francisco Rabal, Sonia Viviani and Eduardo Fajardo. Without a doubt the best title ever "NIGHTMARE CITY" and you would also expect the story to be cool as well with its Escape Theme. But alternately the film is so DULL and what I can remember when I was around 6 when I first saw it the movie freeked me out a lot...But these days it took me more than one watch before I got throw the entire film. Umberto Lenzi is a very talented director but I don't think directing horror movies is a good idea for back then...Or maybe it's just me for not likening this. But as from what I have read the movie was very successful in my country during its first theatrical run in 1981 under the title of "City of the Walking Dead", and a matter of fact I saw this not long ago for a re-release when I was holidaying in Fukuoka with my younger brother and sister. An Uncharted plane lands that seems to be connected to a radiation spill in another city in Italy and reporter Miller is assigned to investigate it. But after the military open the plane hundreds of radiated Zombies escape across the airport and start infection all the citizens of that district. Miller wants to warn people about the disaster that is happening before it escapes into the city, But the army keep it secret so they can contain it. But Miller needs to escape the city after the zombies break loose and find his wife. First thing you might say is the story might sound awesome but the story can just drag most times and so much. 50% for story: I am 50% mixed on what I thought of it, Personally some scenes are just awesome with the zombies raiding place and the escape elements are really good...But it's the way the story drags on sometimes in to all these random events and complicated dialogue that ruins it. And the talking scenes can be so dull and boring. 55% for characters: Some characters are more interesting than others like our mad scientist but overall I am HMMM it throughout the film with their little backstories and some characters are so different to the film. 60% for acting: Our lead Mexican actor Hugo shows he can act with Lenzi's little direction given film but overall it's all just above average and can be pretty good and the dubbing is really good...But we do have our week points. 80% for special effects: I am not going to lie some of the coolest zombies to ever come out of Italy or any film and they look amazing, And the special effects are radical mad they might have their week points but overall I liked them a lot...And the special effects good with the jumping onto the helicopter scene. 68% for everything: Some creepy and dark settings on Rome when the zombies cut the city's power and people are crashing their cars. But overall the shadow effects are flawless and would make you jump I felt like some things in this movie was missing something. I think really the film could have been better but did a great job with the budget at hand but I think my expectations where to high because of the title of the film. Keiko's score 56-100 BBFC Rating 18 Eirin Rating R-15+
Lee ?

One of my favourites from Lenzi. Completely crazy and fast-paced from the start. Full of violence and decaying lunatics who run amok killing at will. Similar to The Cazies and 28 Days Later - this is an INFECTION movie, not a ZOMBIE movie. Felt a little cheated by the ending but… More
One of my favourites from Lenzi. Completely crazy and fast-paced from the start. Full of violence and decaying lunatics who run amok killing at will. Similar to The Cazies and 28 Days Later - this is an INFECTION movie, not a ZOMBIE movie. Felt a little cheated by the ending but it's thoroughly entertaining.
Drew S

Sit down and watch 80s Italian horror with me and I'll be your best friend. How could you hate something so blissfully inept and campy? I mean, unless you're a terrible person. The zombies look like someone shat all over their faces, but the only people really getting shat… More
Sit down and watch 80s Italian horror with me and I'll be your best friend. How could you hate something so blissfully inept and campy? I mean, unless you're a terrible person. The zombies look like someone shat all over their faces, but the only people really getting shat on are those expecting good acting, a logical script, or coherence in general. This one is utterly brainless popcorn fun and I want to watch it every day.
Patrick D

Goddammit. This film is really brilliant and amazing. This is for sure a zombie film and really sucks that it hasn't got it's rightful dues. My second Lenzi film, didn't and did dissappoint. For about 90% of the film it is quite good. Once it gets started it… More
Goddammit. This film is really brilliant and amazing. This is for sure a zombie film and really sucks that it hasn't got it's rightful dues. My second Lenzi film, didn't and did dissappoint. For about 90% of the film it is quite good. Once it gets started it doesn't really let up, and the zombies get these burns on them and can move as fast and as agile as normal humans (they are more of the Planet Terror or Last Man on Earth creatures). This film has definitely taken some cues from Dawn of the Dead, but what Italian zombie flick didn't. Umberto Lenzi, has proved himself to be a decent director once again. This is basically a great zombie film. But why the low rating? The last 5-10 minutes, really cheaps out and frustrates the hell out of the viewer who is really along with the ride. I would said that any so-called zombie fan should see this, it's great, bad end or not. But still can't get a better rating (also in my book at 6/10 is the rating for a good solid film) What kind of gets me while writting this is I see that the film on here says it's 92mins, the one I watched was 88mins. I feel there was 4mins edited out. I'll have to look into that.
Christopher B

One of the first examples of running zombies, plus these zombies are flat out insane. They use weapons and fighting moves, which makes them worthy adversaries for our hero, a block of wood. See our hero watch calmly as zombies terrorize the hospital, then watch him stare calmly as… More
One of the first examples of running zombies, plus these zombies are flat out insane. They use weapons and fighting moves, which makes them worthy adversaries for our hero, a block of wood. See our hero watch calmly as zombies terrorize the hospital, then watch him stare calmly as the zombies destroy everything he loves, then watch him run calmly as he is chased by the terrifying zombies! He truly is a hero in every sense of the word.