The hanging of a priest becomes the first act in the opening of the Gates of Hell, when the dead will rise and take over the world of the living on All Saints Day. Journalist Peter Bell (Christopher George) pulls a buried alive woman named Mary Woodhouse (Catriona MacColl) from a grave after she witnesses the hanging through a séance. Together with other residents of the New York town of Dunwich, they try to close the door to Hell following the announcement of a state of emergency, in a series of top-notch Fulci setpieces involving maggots, power tools and no shortage of brutal zombie attacks.

On the heels of Fulci’s most famous and successful film, Zombi 2 (or Zombie in the U.S.), the director re-teamed with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti for this shocker inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. It’s the first of two screenings for this edition of Cold Sweat depicting Hell coming to us – an invasion from beyond, with a lurching, throbbing, synth-heavy score.

This double feature is programmed in partnership with Lee Kepraios. Horror Afficionado and Dante’s Pizza owner Tim Murphy will be introducing this feature.