The summer camp comes into view as we finally reach the top of the narrow and winding gravel road. As we approach the entrance gate, I notice guards with shot guns standing watch on a rickety old tower. I wonder if these guys are going to protect me from the locals, or if the locals might actually be the good guys. "This is the first time you've seen the tower, isn't?" Dave looks at me, his face is beeming with pride. "I helped Jeff build it. It was a mother of a job, especially getting that platform on top of it, but it was worth it! I think it turned out great!"

There suddenly comes a commotion from atop the tower. I can see one of the guards gesturing towards us as he shouts to someone off into the distance. As we pull around to park under a large ash tree, I can see to whom he is yelling at. On top of one of the larger buildings are two more armed guards. One of these guards yells something back to the tower guards and then proceeds to point their guns in our direction. The guards on the tower respond by raising their guns as well. I start to ask Dave just what in the hell has he gotten me in to, but before I can finish my sentence, my voice is drowned out by a loud roaring. To the right of us, around twenty five bikers come flying buy, whooping and hollering while waiving their guns into the air.

From the safety of Dave's truck, I watch as the carnage unfolds. The motor cycle gang get the first point. One of the tower guards clutches the fresh crimson spot on his chest before falling limp, half hanging over the side. The other guard returns fire, sending a gang member careening into a fence. A hot looking biker chick fires off a couple shots from the back of a cycle, sending one of the roof guards plunging to the ground. In a matter of seconds, the air is filled with dust, smoke, and the sounds of gun fire as all out war breaks loose. "Welcome," Dave says with an evil grin, "to the ZOMBIE CULT MASSACRE."

Then, as quickly as it had began, the fighting stops and the battlefield grows quiet. As the dust begins to settle, I hear a voice off in the distance yell, "cut!" With this, both the dead and wounded set up and wipe the dirt and blood from their clothes. The dead guard hanging over the edge of the tower is helped up by another dead guard. They both are laughing. One of the cycle gang inspects his bike for possible damage. A biker chick begins to pass out drinks to both bikers and non bikers. The two battling forces are now united and complimenting each other on their deaths.

The ZOMBIE CULT MASSACRE, not a description of a bloody biker war, but the title of the new gore-laden thriller being shot and produced by L.D. Filmworks of Cincinnati.

The story centers around the young couple of Sally, the dominating bitch, and Marvin, her whipping boy of a boy friend. After a horrible accident with a living corpse, the dysfunctional couple find themselves caught up in the madness of a freakish cult who have been preparing for "god's final battle." Through the use of powerful drugs combined with a zombie bite induced fever, Marvin is transformed from a meek, everyday citizen into a zealous fanatic. Soon Marvin becomes hell bent on leading the cult into a bloody "holy war" with a tough biker gang, while coming ever-closer to learning the dark secret of the living dead and his own terrible destiny.

Dipping into the local talent pool, L.D. Filmworks has put together quite an impressive cast that includes Bob Elkins from the major release, COAL MINOR'S DAUGHTER as well as the upcoming APRIL'S FOOL from New Line Cinema. Also featured is Hamilton Ohio's own Lonzo Jones, who can be seen in B+ Production's EVIL AMBITIONS, as well as episodes of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES and REAL STORIES OF THE HIGHWAY STATE PATROL. Also, not to be missed is Duffy Hudson's (Broadway's THE MISANTHROPE) over the top performance as Lenny, the mad scientist.

Rounding out the supporting cast is Randy Rupp (Satan in EVIL AMBITIONS), David Myers (WHERE'S THE CAP'N), Amy Ballard (LIVE NUDE SHAKESPEARE), Carri Minster (EVIL AMBITIONS), Bridget Otto from the musical group THE GRAVE BLANKETS, Cincinnati's B105 COUNTRY radio personality, Lani Ford, and close to a hundred bikers playing themselves.

I follow Dave as he zig zags through the crowd. Many recognize him and cheerfully greet him. "Hey Bart!" "What's up Bart!" "Hey Bart man!" "Have a drink Bart?" Dave waves his hand in protest. "I hate diet soda." One biker stands up with a can out stretched. "Aw come on, one Diet Coke won't kill ya!" Dave hesitates for a moment. "What the hell!" He takes the cola. There's a small victory cheer amongst the bikers.

After some small talk, Dave finally steps away and rejoins me. The first thing I ask is why everyone calls him Bart?

"Bart is the character I play in this production. He's basically a retarded guy who is allowed to live amongst the cult. I was attracted to Bart because of his innocence. All he really wants is to belong somewhere and to be accepted, just like all of us. Sadly though, Bart is an outcast even amongst this cult of religious outcasts. On the other hand, his handicap is also his greatest gift. He's not smart enough to quit or to develop low self esteem, so he never gives up. Hopefully, I've captured that spirit of Bart in my performance. I hope that everyone watching will see that little speck of Bart within themselves, and they will all be better people because of it."

I just stand for a second, letting it all soak in. Then I ask him the only thing I can think to ask. Are you for real? Cause that's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard! Dave begins to laugh.

"Actually, this is the only roll they would let me play, those bastards! They originally had some other guy in mind who read very well for Bart, but it turned out that he was really retarded! So I basically got the part by default."

Suddenly, a tall blond biker walks up and puts his arm around Dave like he was his best friend.

"Actually, the casting director got the phone numbers mixed up. Until a couple of days ago, we thought good old Dave here was the retarded guy!"

The now smiling biker, who in actuality is actor Lonzo Jones, gives Dave a soft jab in the side to show that he is just kidding around.

Dave chuckles, "I spent fifteen minutes yesterday convincing a fellow actor that I wasn't really mentally handicapped. I'm not sure yet, but I think that could be a compliment to my acting ability."

"I can relate to that," Lonzo responds, "I once had an old lady call the cops on me because she recognized me from an episode of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. She thought I was really the bad guy that I had portrayed in the show."

Okay, I have to ask, how is it to work for Zombie Cult director, Jeff Dunn.

"Jeff is so fucking cool, He's a real actor's director! He's totally open to other's peoples ideas. For instance, my character's name was Johnny in the original script, but Jeff let me change it to Roach. There's also a scene in the finished flick that takes place in a junk yard with me and my gang, that was my idea too man! I feel like I'm part of something as opposed to just working a job. This has just been one fucking great experience."

So I guess you'll be back if there should be a sequel.

"Well, it would be tough for my character to come back, but I have given Jeff a few suggestions on how Roach could return. I figure, if David Gale's character can return in Bride of Re-Animator after having his head squished in the original movie, Then bringing Roach back shouldn't be much of a problem. Actually, I came up with a really cool way, but it's to early to be talking about it, everyone needs to check this flick out first! I don't think anybody will be disappointed!"

Leaving Lonzo to return to the war, we venture inside the main building where we find make up artist David Molloy (Vamps, Simon Sex) and make up artist/ actor/ stuntman/ & director extraordinaire, Jim VanBebber (Dead Beat at Dawn, Charlie's Family) removing a bloody axe appliances from actor Bob Elkins' head.

As Dave (or Blood Boy, as we like to call him) and VanBebber concentrate on trying not to take any of Mr. Elkins' hair off with the gory appliance, I ask the old stand by "stupid" question.

Are you having fun?

Instead of smashing a chair over my head, which is what I would probably do if our rolls were reversed, Mr. Elkins begins to laugh.

"Believe it or not, I am. This has been one of the most fun projects I've ever worked on. The part of Jeffery, the cult leader, is the classic villain. I really got into the part and played it up. I went all out for the character. But now I'm afraid that I might of went too far. I was finally able to watch some of the footage today and I feel that some of the more sexual scenes may be a bit to excessive and pointless to the story. I asked (director) Jeff Dunn to cut a few scenes out, I don't know if he's going to or not, but I hope he does. Other than that though, this has been a wonderful experience."

It's at this point that I begin to notice how tired and beat that Blood Boy and VanBebber look.

"I've been trapped up here in cow country for two and a half weeks," Blood Boy says as he almost looses his balance, "I haven't slept in three days, and I've been out of cigarettes for four, but I'm having the time of my life!"

I watch him as he shakes his head, an effort to keep awake. Maybe you'll get a day off tomorrow, I say, feeling kind of sorry for him.

"This production can't afford a day off!" VanBebber pipes in. "They originally had some other local guy that was supposed to do the make-up effects, but then he decided that he couldn't do it just days before shooting was to begin! This guy knew about this project for at least a month, and he waits to the very last minute to cancel. He almost succeeded in shutting down the entire project. Luckily, me and "Blood Boy" were available and we both enjoy a good challenge. With out the prep time, that the other "FX" guy wasted, it's been around the clock non stop just trying to keep up!"

Suddenly, Blood Boy's head pops up from it's slump to add his two cents. "There's been a couple of times that we have just barely finished the effect when they've needed it. They're out there shooting with a prop and the paint is coming off on the actors hands because it hasn't had time to dry yet, and I have to go out there and keep putting more paint on! It's ate up man! You wouldn't have any cigarettes on you would you?"

Regretfully, I don't smoke.

After a bit of small talk, (in which I learn that Vanbebber's latest, CHARLIE'S FAMILY, is close to completion), I go off in search of director Jeff Dunn, the man responsible for all of this mayhem.

No stranger to the "B" film, first time director Jeff Dunn has worked as a camera man and/or Director of Photography on various other projects, including VAMPS: DEADLY DREAM GIRLS, RED LIPS II, CHICK BOXING UNDERGROUND, as well as the upcoming remake of CARMILLA. He has also shot music videos for the Playboy Channel, was D.P. on an award winning educational film called NO SECOND CHANCES, and has produced over 500 commercials for national television.

I find him sitting on the ground, one hand resting on his blood splattered camera, the other clutching a lit cigarette. Either lost in thought or vegetating, he seems to be unaware of all the activity going on around him. He just stares at the ground as the crew sets up for the next shot. Both he and his camera look as through they have been through a war.

"This is the biggest ordeal that I've ever been through." he says, when asked how he's holding up. "I feel like a sprinter who has just discovered that he's running a marathon! Let me tell you, it has been such a daunting sight to have a hundred bikers ride over the hill, and then wait for me to tell them what to do. I've gotten through it though, and I think it's all been worth it! We've gotten some incredible footage."

Not only does Jeff seem more alert now, but you can see the genuine excitement build as he talks about his creation.

"In my original vision, I sat out to create something more along the lines of Peter Jackson's early stuff, like BAD TASTE, or like Jim Muro's STREET TRASH, but over the course of the production it has evolved into something that is like neither one. It's become more like some kind of weird, bloody war flick of the dead."

"One of the thing's that hasn't changed was our original goal. From the very beginning, we sat out to make a film that would live up to all of it's promises. A film that would deliver all the things that the fans of the great zombie films of the past have come to expect. Things like blood, gore, action, exploitative sex, murder, mayhem, and good old American Rock & Roll! A roller coaster ride that will take the audience straight to hell. I think we achieved all of this and more, all in the context of a solid story with good performances and quality production values."

As if on cue, the production assistant calls Jeff back to the set. With out a word, Jeff picks up his camera and heads off in the direction of the roaring motor cycles, having already forgotten me as he focus on the scene at hand.

How lucky, I think, that all of these people are willing to put themselves through hell so that I can enjoy their suffering from the comfort of my living room.

I begin to turn away when I almost bump into Dave "Blood Boy" Molloy. He reaches out his hand with a bill clutched in it.

"I'm dying here, man! I'll give you twenty dollars if you go get me a pack of cigarettes! C'mon man, twenty dollars, It's all I've got."

How lucky indeed!