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Isn't it funny how certain events can have such an impact on one's life.  As a youngster I was afraid of the dark (as many kids are....at least I'd like to think so :) and I was so easily scared by things that went bump in the night.  Who would have thought all these years later  the one thing that scared me half to death as a young'n would become something that I now love and cherish......horror films.

At the tender age of 10, my eeeevil sister (Karen) made me watch the original A Nightmare On Elm Street from start to finish.  My parents refused to buy one of them technological fandagle VCRs (relenting only as I became a teenager....hmmmm.) and so when Dad was away on a business trip, Mum secretly hired out a machine for us ....but for that weekend only.
For some reason,  the 'sister of eeevil' wanted to see A.N.O.E.S.  Why? I have no idea (she's still a mystery to me :)....she HATES horror films (or at least does now).  And because my 'sister of eeevil' was a big fraidy cat, her poor innocent little brother was made to watch it with her  WELL!  Did I ever have the crap scared out of me or WHAT!  To make the situation even more like it's straight out of a bad horror movie, that night, Cairns had one of the worst thunderstorms ever recorded.  Suffice to say we both snuck into bed with mum that night.

As the years rolled on and poor little 'ol me didn't have a VCR of my own :(  I would visit friends who did (and not just because they had a VCR....honest.   Quite often, we would watch horror movies...aaah I still have fond memories of the day-time VCR screening of "The Video Dead"  (man what a crap film that turned out to be rewatching it some 10 years later )
After sampling a few good horror flicks I soon discovered/developed a love for horror films.... especially ones with as much blood, guts and gore as possible...mmmm.  Dawn of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead, Demons..the list goes on and on.  

After watching many a horror film these near 20 years (eeek) the best and funniest all out guts and gore film is without a doubt Peter Jackson's comedic gem, Brain Dead.   [AKA Dead Alive for those of you living in the US of A]  Yes that's right, before the Oscar winning Lord of the Rings Films came around, Mr Jackson made SPLATTER!!!!! (and did a damn fine job i might add). 
It would seem he's not the only one from down under to get his start in the movie business making vile, gross and disgustingly fun filled films :)

In Brisbane, QLD, Australia,  twin brothers Peter and Michael Spierig, have been making short films [of all varieties] for quite a few years now, and even picked up first prize for their 13 minute short film "the big picture" at the Roadshow/Warner 15th New Film makers Awards.  The Spierig Brothers have finally embarked on a feature length zombie/splatter/gore film of their own, UNDEAD.  Without studio backing Peter and Michael have taken the independent route with UNDEAD, fully financing the film with their own money, which is quite a gutsy move if you ask me.  (yes that pun was sooo intended it's not funny...I know I know :)

UNDEAD has been a work in progress for over 3 years, from the time the Spierig brothers developed the script, to getting principal photography underway in August 2001, and as of May 2002, the final stages of editing the film together.

Michael and Peter were kind enough to lend their time to an interview with DVDown Under.   So if you want to find out a bite more on the aussie made zombie-fest UNDEAD, read on..............................

All UNDEAD Images Copyright Spierigfilm (c) 2002. Photographs by Grant Marshall and Peter Spierig (c) 2001.