Night of the Seagulls

"Blind Dead" tetralogy(1971-1975)is among the best and most famous Spanish horror films of their time.These movies are surprisingly well-made and creepy.The best feature of the films is their title menace:the Blind Dead,mummified zombies which rise from their graves to drink the blood of their victims."Night of the Seagulls"/"La Noche de las Gaviotas" is regarded as the weakest film of "Blind Dead" series(the other three movies are "Tombs of the Blind Dead","Return of the Blind Dead" and "Ghost Galleon").I think that this film is unfairly criticized-there is actually plenty of atmosphere here.Particularly effective is the sense of stoic dread that hangs over the village.Every seven years,these people must give up seven of their children,so that the others might live.Unfortunately the Templars are treated with far less mystery and awe than they are in other films.Still the climax is quite suspenseful and the Templars look terrifying.Overall I enjoyed this film,so if you liked this highly original and imaginative series give this one a look.

A doctor and his wife open his practice in a traditional coastal town, where they are met with distrust and hatred from the locals. The couple soon find out that town harbours an ancient evil - offering resident women for sacrifice to the zombie dead Knights Templar then to be eaten by crabs.

Although only connected by the Knights returning to life Night of the Seagulls (La Noche de las gaviotas) is the fourth and final zombie Templar film from Director /Writer Amando De Ossorio.

Although it takes about 20 minutes for the Knights to rise from their graves in the seaside town, Night of the Seagulls is the faster paced of the bunch. This borrows from H. P Lovecraft, possibly The Shadow Over Innsmouth.

There's more fog, more eerie music and the dreamlike visuals come thick and fast, odd townsfolk, zombie knights on horseback and screaming seagulls. There are fewer leads, the couple and the village girl are adequate enough and there are plenty of worn and old faces on display, Amando De Ossorio throws in the obligatory slow 'village idiot' that is hounded by the community.

Debatably I maybe being to critical here but as a standalone film it works better if you haven't seen the other Blind Dead films, but for those familiar with them it's old trodden ground, a remake of a remake, that's it hard to enjoy fully without fresh eyes.

The dubbing and seventies jumpers aside this last Blind Dead retains it's creepy atmospheric factor and trades the better sets for some character development. Technically it's put together well but the closing act with a siege on the a house has been done and despite some good makeup effects is somewhat anti-climatic. That said, it redeems itself with the church showdown and conclusion.

All in all a mix bag of enjoyable bones.

Deny all logic you living ones but enjoy the many shades of horror! Night of the Seagulls is the last one of the "quadrohorrorphonia" of the Blind Dead series. If you liked the first entries of this horror franchise you will like this one too. Of course, as the 4th movie in the franchise, it lacks a little of originality but it is still pleasure to watch. Nostalgic horror trip.

I can not think of anything bad to say about this movie. It has everything- Goth, zombies, gore, virgin sacrifices, good acting, likeable characters, scares, and fun. If you have not seen this movie you are not leading a complete life! See it now!!!!!

You certainly can't reproach Amando De Ossorio of being lazy or repetitive, as this fourth & final installment in his terrific "Blind Dead" series is again very different in tone and content than any of the previous three. "Night of the Seagulls" is more mysterious and atmospheric than the other films and De Ossorio also throws in an compelling, albeit unoriginal, outsiders-in-a-closed-community sub plot. Young doctor Henry and his wife Joan arrive in a remote seaside village where they're given a VERY unfriendly reception by the oddly behaving locals. Only the town's nut Teddy and maiden beauty Lucy make acquaintance with the new arrivals and also inform them about the village's inescapable "pact" with the undead Templar Knights. For seven nights every seven years, the villagers have to sacrifice their virgin daughters to these eyeless zombies during a nocturnal ceremony on the beach. Okay granted, the sacrifice element in the story is definitely not new and the Templars are given less screen time than usual, but still this is a genuinely creepy exploitation highlight! You can either begin to sum up all the shortcomings and stupidities in the script (and yes, there are quite a lot of them), or enjoy the tense atmosphere and unique filming locations instead! The very weakest moments of the film – like that horribly lame ending – are somewhat more difficult to forgive, but there's graphic gore and sleaze to make up for that. By the way, did you know that skeletons that are dead for more than six centuries still bleed when you destroy them? Oh yeah, massively even! Throughout filming four similar movies, Amando De Ossorio's directing always remained solid, the choreography was always stylish, the music was always petrifying and the acting performances were always above average! That's definitely praiseworthy, too. Every single entry in the "Blind Dead" saga is highly recommended to every true horror fan.