Dellamorte Dellamore (also known as Cemetery Man in the United States and Of Love and Death in Australia) is a 1994 Italian horror film directed by Michele Soavi. The screenplay by Gianni Romoli was based on the 1991 novel by Tiziano Sclavi. The film stars Rupert Everett, Franзois Hadji-Lazaro and Anna Falchi. After directing a particularly stylish giallo, Deliria (1987), and a pair of atmospheric supernatural thrillers, La Chiesa (1989) and La Setta (1991), Dario Argento protйgй Soavi's fourth feature film would not be categorized so easily. Part supernatural romance, part satire of Italian politics, and part zombie splatter comedy, Dellamorte Dellamore's story concerns the beleaguered caretaker of a small Italian cemetery, who searches for love while defending the town from zombies.
The film was released in Italy to some acclaim, but United States distributor October Films changed its title to Cemetery Man and saddled the film with a campy ad campaign, finally releasing it on April 26, 1996. In the US, Cemetery Man received mostly negative critical reaction,[1][2] small theatrical distribution (opening on six screens), and a frequently delayed Region 1 DVD release. The film missed popular success, grossing only $253,969 in the US, but found a stateside cult following over time, via home video. Renowned director Martin Scorsese called Dellamorte Dellamore one of the best films of the 1990s.[3]