Irreverent Cuban movie promises a zombie revolution

The movie's plot is simple: A 40-year old layabout named Juan finds a zombie floating in the water while fishing off the coast of Havana. The zombie attacks but Juan makes a narrow escape, only to find that the undead are all over the city. State-run media blames the whole thing on government opponents backed by Cuba's archenemies in Washington, but Juan knows better — and comes up with a plan.

Together with his sidekick, Lazaro — described by the filmmakers as “just as lazy, but twice as stupid” — Juan puts out the word that he is open for business.

Has your grandmother been turned into a zombie? Is your uncle stumbling about with blood coming out of his mouth?

Juan and Lazaro promise to get rid of your undead loved ones for just 15 Cuban convertible pesos (US$16) a pop, and to clean up the mess for an extra 20 (US$21).

The duo are making good money until they find themselves the only non-zombies left in the city, with the rest of the population having either fled or been infected.

The movie is backed by Spain's La Zanfona Producciones, two Spanish television channels, the government of Spain's Andalucia region and the state-run Cuban Institute of Art and Cinematography. It has a budget of US$2.1 million, most of which is going to special effects that have to be added in Spain because the technology is not available in Cuba.

“Clearly, it is a very small budget for an international zombie movie,” said Claudia Calvino, the film's 27-year-old Cuban co-producer. “But that's a lot of money for a Cuban movie.”

Another co-producer, 34-year-old Inti Herrera, said most Cuban films are made for less than US$300,000. He said that the makers of Juan of the Dead are hoping to produce something that has a professional feel to it which can be enjoyed by audiences everywhere — even the United States.

“We really hope it comes out and is shown widely in theaters there,” said Brugues. “That is definitely our idea.”

Brugues says part of the movie's message deals with whether one should stay and face problems or get out of town when the going gets tough — a politically sensitive topic in a country divided between those who have lived through the revolution for better or worse, and those who have left for exile in South Florida and elsewhere.

But he insists the film is not political.

“I want people to have a good time at the theater,” Brugues says. “And I promise liters and liters of blood.”

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