Non si deve profanare il sonno dei morti (Let Sleeping Corpses Lie) (Don't Open the Window) (1974)

79% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(3,205 ratings)

When state officials test out a new experimental pest-control device that uses subsonic waves to kill insects, it produces an unwelcome but interesting side-effect: the noise is enough to wake the dead -- literally -- and the corpses of the recently deceased begin to rise from their dirt-naps with… More When state officials test out a new experimental pest-control device that uses subsonic waves to kill insects, it produces an unwelcome but interesting side-effect: the noise is enough to wake the dead -- literally -- and the corpses of the recently deceased begin to rise from their dirt-naps with ravenous appetites for warm human flesh. Since the predicted zombie jubilee starts off with more than a whimper than a bang (actually it's more of a wheeze, since these are particularly asthmatic undead), viewers are left with a rather mundane police drama as clueless detectives try to pin the mutilation murders on a group of free-wheeling hippies. Despite high production values and some audacious gore effects by Giannetto De Rossi (who would later lend his splattery talents to Lucio Fulci's Zombie and many more Italian zombie films), this Spanish/Italian co-production falters in the middle thanks to sluggish pacing and dull investigation scenes, which are devoid of suspense since the zombies' existence is already made known. Also released under the quaint title Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue, among others. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Jorge Grau
Written By: Sandro Continenza, Marcello Coscia
Genres: Horror, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Nov 28, 1974 Wide
On DVD: Sep 1, 2005
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Brian Juergens, CampBlood.org
Scenic settings, guts, and a residual contact high from the counterculture movement converge in one of the zombie genre's most unique and enjoyable entries.
Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
Much of the pleasure of this UK take on Night Of The Living Dead comes from seeing the undead wandering round the grey landscape of '70s Britain as if they've accidentally lurched into an early Mike Leigh film.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's artfully atmospheric, capturing a nightmarish landscape in the idyllic English countryside.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Doom hangs over the thing like a pall.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
Blue Underground has now delivered a 2-Disc Special Edition with a nice array of new supplements.
Felix Gonzalez Jr., DVD Review
... Grau delivers the gore with a certain amount of restraint, never allowing the violence to overwhelm the film and building up a good amount of suspense between attacks.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... Jorge Grau delivers the gruesome goods in a cinematic blood frenzy with satisfyingly dark dramatic twists.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Despite some satisfyingly gut-busting moments, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue retains a very British stiff upper lip.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
This minor cult classic has its fans, to be sure, but it never really pays off.
Bill Gibron, PopMatters
If you're looking for the missing link between George Romero's zombie epics and his splattery Italian copycats, The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue might just be that absentee connection.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
Artfully builds its atmosphere of spiritual (and social) unrest.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Cópia nada ambiciosa de A Noite dos Mortos Vivos que, apesar de tudo, se revela bastante interessante e incômoda.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Director Jorge Grau has an incredible eye and creates a lavish horror spectacle.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
offers everything a genre fan would want in a good zombie flick

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Those dang dirty hippies and their satanic rites!
Melvin W

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie or Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is an easily forgettable zombie movie. It doesn't offer anything that is memorable or that makes the movie worth the watch. The two main actors really annoyed me, especially the woman. Her voice got to me after 10… More
Let Sleeping Corpses Lie or Living Dead at Manchester Morgue is an easily forgettable zombie movie. It doesn't offer anything that is memorable or that makes the movie worth the watch. The two main actors really annoyed me, especially the woman. Her voice got to me after 10 minutes of the movie and I just wanted the zombies to come and rip her open. The characters were stupid like in most horror films. But damn, just kick the fucking ladder down and they'll stop climbing up. I have three positives about Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. The zombies although not the best we've seen, look decent. And the settings are really cool and add a lot to the movie. If this was done somewhere else, I'd probably be giving it a one and a half. The third and final thing I liked about the movie was the ending. It was pretty fitting.
Jeff "

Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is one of the zombie genres greatest masterpieces. A near flawless film with a phenomenal story, the dead start rising after experiments with sonic waves. Released under several titles, this neglected zombie film has resurfaced once again under the… More
Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is one of the zombie genres greatest masterpieces. A near flawless film with a phenomenal story, the dead start rising after experiments with sonic waves. Released under several titles, this neglected zombie film has resurfaced once again under the supervision of Blue Underground and they have restored this film in all it's glory. Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is a must see film for zombie and horror fans alike. This film has been called one of the greatest zombie films ever filmed, and I have to agree. This is definitely one of the best zombie films and it shouldn't be neglected. The story at times is a bit uneven, but the film manages to provide enough zombie action to compensate for the films uneveness. This film is a classic of the genre and it's a film that zombie fans should check out if they haven't already. Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is a well crafted film that strong on atmosphere, and thats what makes it such a good, and effective horror film. Atmosphere is everything in a horror film, especially in a zombie film. Living Dead At Manchester Morgue is definitely one of the top zombie films ever filmed, and it stands as one of the best films of it's kind. A must see film.
A.D. V

An above average 70's Italian zombie tale that has some creepy atmosphere and a few gory, gut-munching scenes. Also known as The Living Dead At the Manchester Morgue (and a whopping 17 other alternate titles), Let Sleeping Corpses Lie is an early entry into what would become the… More
An above average 70's Italian zombie tale that has some creepy atmosphere and a few gory, gut-munching scenes. Also known as The Living Dead At the Manchester Morgue (and a whopping 17 other alternate titles), Let Sleeping Corpses Lie is an early entry into what would become the Italian zombie craze and well worth a viewing just to see how it would be an influence on future undead films like Fulci's Zombi 2.
Tim S

The fantastic little splatterpiece that could. Really enjoyed this one. Nice to see a downer ending with a swift comeuppance. The gore isn't that glorious, but the make-up effects were terrific. Not boring at all. The main cast does some great work. Not to mention shot… More
The fantastic little splatterpiece that could. Really enjoyed this one. Nice to see a downer ending with a swift comeuppance. The gore isn't that glorious, but the make-up effects were terrific. Not boring at all. The main cast does some great work. Not to mention shot wonderfully.
Brett W

The village green zombie society. If you're curious just how uneventful an English undead apocalypse would be, well, here it is.
Quinto W

The gore definitely does not disappoint in ths movie but unfortunately it was surrounded by all things dull. Pretty uneventful and not very memorable.
John M

Also known as "The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue". This is a very good zombie film. It is very well made and is intelligent as well as visceral. It is one of the best and most underrated of its sub-genre, which is atmospherically spooky and ghastly creative. I would… More
Also known as "The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue". This is a very good zombie film. It is very well made and is intelligent as well as visceral. It is one of the best and most underrated of its sub-genre, which is atmospherically spooky and ghastly creative. I would unequivocally recommend it to fans of zombie movies and European exploitation cinema in general.
Christopher B

Looks like I'll be double dipping a DVD yet again. A fantastic and eerie zombie film that finally is getting the acclaim it deserves. The mood is creepy and fun until the amazingly hardcore climax. This is a must see, great hero, great zombies and great fun.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

Fernando Hilbeck
as Guthrie
José Lifante
as Martin
Ray Lovelock
as George

Arthur Kennedy
as Inspector McCormick
Cristina Galbó
as Edna
Jeannine Mestre
as Katie

See full cast

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