The Grapes of Death (1978)

MOVIE 1 - 2025 Edition of 100 Horror Movies in 92 Days

Kicking off #100HorrorMoviesIn92Days with 2 of my favorite things: promoting women in film - especially horror - and wine. 

I was pretty sure I was going to love this film, and I did. First, the title. The Grapes of Death? C’mon, Tom Joad!  

Is Les raisins de la mort aka The Grapes of Death aka also apparently Pesticide a perfect zombie film? 

No, in fact, it’s neither perfect nor zombie (maybe more like “rage virus” - though it’s a poison.) Anyway, it’s  probably better off that it's not really a zombie film since it released the same year as the pinnacle of zombie films, Dawn of the Dead. 

It was more of an atmospheric solo traveling girl romance with pro-worker (not to mention feminist and anti-fascist) commentary, and I found it charming and fun - from the Tom Baker crazy hair of the evil foreman to the purples and reds of the grapes and the blood to the decision to pause for some political chat mid-zombie apocalypse. 

There’s a classic scene in Seinfeld where Jerry says, “You yada-yada’d over the best part!”, and Elaine says, “No, I mentioned the bisque.”

Likewise, I will yada-yada over the acting but mention that even if they’re kind of gross and unrealistic, I love the practical effects and make-up, and the landscape shots were perfectly moody. 

Words I Liked: “Between the sane and the insane, I don’t know where I stand anymore!” 

A great start to #100HorrorMoviesIn92Days!