A group of performers is convinced by their eccentric leader, Alan Ormsby, to camp out for the night on a notorious island near Miami, an island known for its burial ground for people rejected by society. It’s there that he attempts to resurrect the deceased using an ancient spellbook. "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things” (1972) is a low-budget horror film created by Bob Clark and Ormsby, drawing inspiration from “Night of the Living Dead.” The production budget was only $70,000—$45,000 less than its predecessor—but it manages to create an unsettling mood through unusual sound effects instead of traditional music. The zombie makeup is skillfully done, and the characters feel lively thanks to writing and acting that bring out their individual personalities. Jane Daly makes a memorable impression among the women in the cast as Terry, the character wearing the yellow shirt, while Anya Ormsby’s portrayal evokes comparisons to Parker Posey; she was married to Alan when they filmed it. Valerie Mamches also provides some amusement as the woman who seems part Gypsy. During the viewing experience, I found myself thinking about Steve Gerber's Man-Thing comics from 1973 to 1975. The setting and overall feeling are comparable, even though there isn’t a swamp creature present; he clearly took inspiration from this obscure movie. The film has a running time of one hour and twenty-seven minutes and was filmed in the Coconut Grove area of Miami. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB