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Comedy Cult Classic

A rock band faces small-town hostility, Nazi werewolves, and undead retribution in this cult horror-comedy.

HARD ROCK ZOMBIES

They came from the grave to Rock n' Rave and misbehave.

1985 · 1h 38m · R · Comedy / Horror · IMDB TMDB

A freshly-out-of-the-grave band of Hard Rock Zombies is thirsting to take their sweet revenge, as they give the performance of a lifetime.

Quick Answer

What is Hard Rock Zombies about?

Hard Rock Zombies is a 1985 American comedy horror film directed by Krishna Shah about a rock band that visits a conservative small town, only to face violent hostility and supernatural dangers.

Programmer's Pick

Hard Rock Zombies slaps together small-town paranoia, sleazy mansion hijinks, and a killer soundtrack—then raises the stakes with undead revenge. If you ever wondered what would happen if punk rockers faced off against Nazi werewolves, this movie has your answer.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Holy Moses, a hard rock band fronted by lead singer Jessie, is lured to a conservative small town with the hope of landing a record deal from a big-time executive. Before they even hit the stage, they’re warned by a mysterious local girl to steer clear, and soon encounter a chilly reception—including outright bigotry and legal trouble from the town's authorities. The band is invited to stay at a lavish mansion by a peculiar young woman, Elsa, but their stay quickly turns unsettling as the locals’ hostility intensifies. This setup blends fish-out-of-water comedy, rock-and-roll rebellion, and the ominous promise of something far more sinister lurking beneath the town’s surface.

Details & Specs

Director
Krishna Shah
Writers
Krishna Shah, David Allen Ball
Release
1985
Runtime
1h 38m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Comedy, Horror
Also Known As
Rock Zombies, Хард-рок зомби, Heavy Metal Zombies

Why This Matters

Released by Cannon Film Distributors, this 1985 film blends comedy, horror, and heavy metal culture, centering on a resurrected rock band battling a Nazi cult, exemplifying the era's penchant for genre-mashing and outrageous premises.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

View all →
Director: Krishna Shah Writers: Krishna Shah +1 more

Why Cult

Rock Band vs. Town

A hard rock group faces off against hostile locals and an even weirder family in rural California.

Nazi Werewolf Mansion

The band is lured to a mansion run by a family with a monstrous secret—including Nazi and werewolf ties.

Zombie Retribution

Freshly raised from the grave, the band dishes out supernatural payback, blending horror and comedy.

Heavy Metal Hijinks

Loaded with headbanging music, wild performances, and outrageous cult energy.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Band plays resurrection song

Threat

Murderous family and later, zombies

Effect

Band and townsfolk are killed and resurrected as zombies

Countermeasure

Song is used to reanimate the band for revenge

Setting

Small conservative town and mansion

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Hard Rock Zombies? +

Hard Rock Zombies was directed by Krishna Shah.

How long is Hard Rock Zombies? +

Hard Rock Zombies has a runtime of 98 minutes.

What genre is Hard Rock Zombies? +

Hard Rock Zombies is a comedy horror film.

Where can I watch Hard Rock Zombies? +

You can watch Hard Rock Zombies on SassyFlix.

How does music play a role in reanimating the dead in Hard Rock Zombies? +

Jessie writes and performs a song based on an ancient Latin text, discovering that playing it can resurrect the dead—including himself and his bandmates.

Trailers & Clips