Film Review - Diary of the Dead directed by Arvin Brown

Reading the video box, you might get the idea that Diary of the Dead is a supernatural horror film. (Apparently never released on DVD, I own a VHS copy).

The box says "Some people come back to haunt you no matter how deep you bury them."

Also: "A tale of horror from beyond."

Also: "This suspense-filled horror film proves that some people come back to haunt you no matter how deep you bury them ... his mother-in-law's power extends beyond her bloody grave."

Well, all that marketing is a lie. Diary of the Dead is not a horror film. And no supernatural elements. It's a crime/suspense film.

A hen-pecked 39-year-old son-in-law plans to murder his mother-in-law. To avoid spoilers, I won't reveal what happens in detail.

But people die. Then much of the film is about how the son-in-law must lie to cover up what happened. Then lie some more to cover up his past lies. The lies compound as events threaten to uncover the son-in-law's lies.

Will his lies be exposed? Will be be suspected of murder?

No supernatural or horror elements are even implied in the film. Only in the marketing.

As a suspense film, Diary of the Dead is okay. Low budget, but not bad. Hector Elizondo is a sympathetic son-in-law. Salome Jens is his sympathetic and attractive wife. Geraldine Fitzgerald does well as the nasty mother-in-law.

But if you're seeking a supernatural horror film, you'll be disappointed.

"Communist Vampires" and "CommunistVampires.com" trademarks are currently unregistered, but pending registration upon need for protection against improper use. The idea of marketing these terms as a commodity is a protected idea under the Lanham Act. 15 U.S.C. s 1114(1) (1994) (defining a trademark infringement claim when the plaintiff has a registered mark); 15 U.S.C. s 1125(a) (1994) (defining an action for unfair competition in the context of trademark infringement when the plaintiff holds an unregistered mark).font>