OK, I need to start off by saying that I've always been a fan of The Laughing Dead. I've still got a dupe of it from at least 10 years ago that I break out and enjoy every once in a while. I was thrilled to get Dragon's new DVD and couldn't wait to pop it in the ol'DVD player.

A priest takes a group of rift rafts on a bus tour to the Mayan Festival of the Dead. It's supposed to be educational and fun, but of course it turns out to be neither. The bus is full of every stereotype in the book. You have your annoying gigolo out for the score, the annoying bratty kid with his unapologetic single mother, the hippie couple, and so forth (I think you get the idea). Father O'Sullivan becomes possessed after his heart is torn out and replaced with that of a demon in an ancient Mayan ritual. Needless to say he goes nuts, and starts offing tour members left and right. Now, I know there's not much in the story here, but the fun stems more from the execution than anything else. I'm talking fun in a Peter Jackson, Dead Alive kind of way. The kills are gruesome and inventive, and there are plenty of them. Plain and simple The Laughing Dead is a fun ride. It's silly, and campy, and a heck of a good time. Round things off with a fun demon battle sequence toward the end that is sure to please. Did I mention the guy who has his own torn off arm shoved down his throat?

Dragon presents The Laughing Dead full frame (presumably its original aspect ratio). The quality is decent with a soft focus and colors that are a bit muted. It's debatable as to what this film should actually look like as I've only seen it in a 3rd generation bootleg up until now. I can easily say this is the best I've seen this film look, but it's still a far cry from reference quality, so bear this in mind. There is also some slight artifacting, which is worth mentioning, primarily during the darker scenes. On a plus note, there is no print damage whatsoever, no scratches or film dirt, etc. However, there is an over abundance of film grain, which is to be expected from such a low budget feature. The image did fare much better on my computer monitor than it did on the TV after the PAL conversion.

Sound is presented in Dolby Stereo; 2.0. Sound is adequate with some minor distortion during selected scenes. For the most part dialogue is clear with fine separation between the score. Extras are limited to an effective theatrical trailer (full frame and in decent shape) and selected filmographies.

Well, here we are and it's time for the bottom line. The Laughing Dead is a great fun film. Nothing to take too serious, the performances and story verge on silly, but the key word is camp. If you're looking for a lighthearted gore-fest The Laughing Dead could be for you. This is definitely the best the film has looked as far as I can tell, but this is still a far cry from reference quality. If you have the means, I highly suggest you check it out, and take it for what it's worth, a good time.

Note: The Laughing Dead is a Region 0 PAL DVD. You will need a player that can convert PAL to NTSC in order to enjoy this fine film, and enjoy you shall.