Despite what the packaging quote states, Hide and Creep (Asylum) is not "Even better than Shaun of the Dead," but the deadpan Southern humor of this Alabama-lensed zombie opus does deliver a number of good chuckles. Directors Chuck Hartsell and Chance Shirley (the latter also scripted) have evident affection for their forebears, and even when the movie doesn't quite work, their hearts are clearly in the right place. Their movie has been given a pleasing 1.85:1 transfer with strong colors, and sharp if limited Surround 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks. The genesis of the project (and its laid-back aura) can be seen in the amusing short The Birthday Call, and a behind-the-scenes segment is instructive on the finer points of directing topless zombie chicks.

The filming of that scene is called "the worst day of shooting" on Hartsell and Shirley's commentary, though the tension doesn't really show. The duo's talk is friendly and ingratiating as they reveal that they originally wanted to make Hide an improv feature, give plenty of credit to their cast (and discuss their varying approaches to the characters) and admit that the movie could've been gorier than it is. There's also the occasional pithy observation like, "Male nudity once in a movie is funny; twice is mean."

DVD Rating: 2.5 (out of 4)


Reprinted from issue 246 of Fangoria magazine.