Just so...so bad

Expected more

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The hero of THE UNDEAD's got it made: on the one hand, he has Pamela Duncan lusting after him; on the other, Allison Hayes has the hots for him- that's a win-win situation, if you ask me... THE UNDEAD milks this sexual tension for all it's worth- and THEN some. "My lance would bend," moans the gravedigger. Uh-huh... Not in THIS world. Allison Hayes would've made a great Wonder Woman, had Hollywood had the foresight to see it; she and Pamela Duncan BOTH do commendable work in THE UNDEAD. A great deal of credit also has to go to the writer (the script is surprisingly literate for a Low Budget quickie), as well as director Corman himself: once again, he demonstrates remarkable competence behind the camera.

This film is one of a long line of science fiction films with a great plot, good dialouge, gorgeous actor/actresses and crappy execution. I first saw it on the eighth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and as a fan of the show I am very familiar with Roger Corman and his reputation. But even a broken clock can be right twice a day, and one of those moments was with The Undead.I don't know where he got the script, but it is a solid piece of science fiction. Don't let the witches and knights fool you, this is no fantasy film--the primary theme is one of time travel and its ramifications, as well as the hubris of man to toy with such powers. The climax is masterfully written and the cast is competent enough to pull it off so long as you're not distracted by the wonderful Allison Hayes'...ah...considerable acting talent. Two talents, as the case may be. Nevertheless, she performs her role admirably, as does most of the cast, and by the time the climax roles around the tension has been built with a practiced hand finally able to use tools worthy of the job. The joy at being able to do so is plainly evident in the last half hour of the film. I would give it a higher rating were it not for the poor production value and the fact that it was evidently just another movie-of-the-week for Corman, who should have realized it was worth just a little bit more effort. Regardless, he managed to pull together a solid film with a heartbreaking and moving theme with actors capable of handling the busy dialouge. This film gets a short shrift but it deserves much more recognition. Allison Hayes steals the show up to the brilliant climax. There's a reason Leonard Maltin gave The Undead three out of four stars, and you'll see it if you're willing to look past the production value and the MST3K crew's skewering.

Undead, The (1957) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Interesting Roger Corman film could have been a lot more with a bigger budget. A psychic researching pays a hooker to be hypnotized but he accidentally sends her back to the Dark Ages. While talking with the woman he learns that she was a witch who's to be executed. The film has a lot of interesting ideas but this is one film where the low budget actually works against Corman. There's some nice atmosphere throughout and Allison Hayes is always worth watching. Also stars Pamela Duncan, Richard Garland, Dick Miller and Mel Welles.

Through hypnosis, a woman is able to visit a previous life where she is to be put to death for being a witch – a charge of which she is innocent. But if she is able to change her fate and avoid the executioner's ax, what will that mean for her future? How will changing history affect the present?Come on people! While The Undead does present a few interesting ideas and a couple of entertaining moments, it's not worthy of the praise it has received in many of the reviews on IMDb. I started to think that maybe all these people watched a different movie. The Undead is a low-budget Roger Corman quickie that's just not very good regardless of what Leonard Maltin thinks. I just don't get it. When one of the most positive aspects of the film I can think of is the fit of Allison Hayes' outfits, you can get a good idea of my thoughts on the movie. My 4/10 is incredibly generous.