This Lucio Fulci effort is one of his better known ones (most are aware of it under its alternate title, The Gates Of Hell) but that doesn't necessarily mean its one of his best movies.

Opening in Dunwich (a haunt for many a H.P. Lovecraft story) where a priest hangs himself in a graveyard which opens a gateway to Hell and unleashes a slew of maggot dripping zombies on the townsfolk. Soon along comes reporter Christopher George and Katriona Mac Coll (who's been having visions of the priest and survived being buried alive) to try and shut the gateway.

Despite the many memorable gore moments and above average musical score this still manages to be a bit tedious and suffers (like most Fulci films do) from haphazard plotting, poor dialogue and a general lack of interest.

If you're a fan of gruesome scenes then for sure you'll want to see this as there's a handful of bugs smushed in someone's face, a girl spitting out her intestines, a drill through the temple, a quite cheesy "maggot storm" and many other scenes of over-the-top grue. Fulci does manage to come up with some striking moments (such as the memorable "coffin" moment near the start - though George's characters choice of a pick-axe is stupid of him) and directs this steadily its just not that good.

Followed by a no-budget fan-made non-sequel, Dead Awakening:Gates Of Hell 2.

Directed By: Lucio Fulci.
Written By: Lucio Fulci, Dardano Sacchetti.

Starring: Christopher George, Katriona Mac Coll, Carlo De Mejo, Antonella Interlenghi.

aka: The Gates Of Hell; Twilight Of The Dead.