OVERALL: Draw

Difficult one. 

R2 Germany (from "X-rated", rated "FSK 18") has some extra-features, but has "forced" subtitles. 

R2 UK releases have a few trailers.

R1 USA has additional French track (no subtitles though). 

Finally, R2 Spain contains the original "Spanish version", but doesn´t have English subtitles.

General notes about "French version" vs. original "Spanish version"

Separate French and Spanish versions of the film exist, with the Spanish version featuring editing variations, scoring differences, and scenes featuring characters played by Henri Lambert and Myriam Landson replaced with equivalent scenes with Eduardo Fajardo and Lina Romay in the same roles. Since the Spanish scenes were shot later, Fajardo does not share the frame with the French actors during his death scene.

"Spanish version" is approximately 2:32 longer.

The soundtrack on the Spanish version (credited to Pablo Villa) is completely different; it is louder, and uses eerie organ music and "moans" instead of the electronic score on the "French version".
There are four sequences which have been "re-filmed" for the "Spanish version", basically using the same story outline, but with different actors (Lina Romay, Eduardo Fajardo, etc.). They are all longer than their English / French counterparts totalling 21:50 compared to 16:08 (an additional 5:42 overall).

1.) The first is immediately after the opening credits and shows Lina Romay waiting outside the house in a jeep whilst Eduardo Fajardo tries to extract information about the location of the oasis from Robert's father before killing him. (Spanish = 6:38, English = 4:04).

2.) The second is at the 30 minute mark and shows the arrival of the search party at the oasis. They set up camp and attacked at night by the zombies; Lina Romay is graphically killed and her intestines removed and Eduardo Fajardo escapes although he is bitten. The English / French version is nowhere near as graphic (a few brief shots of the zombies are the same in both versions); Spanish = 12:07, English = 9:28).

3.) The third is at the 45 minute mark and is just a brief sequence in which Eduardo Fajardo wakes up in the jeep and walks off. In the English / French version he wakes up in bed before getting up; Spanish = :23, English = :16).

4.) The fourth is shortly after the above sequence and shows Eduardo Fajardo laughing maniacally as he starts to turn into a zombie from the bite on his neck. He eventually falls conveniently onto a bed of straw before being burnt. There are several cutaway shots of the students watching this from the English / French version; Spanish = 2:42, English = 2:20.

5.) At the 60 minute mark there is a 3:17 sequence of a couple of the students making love in their tent in the oasis (Inga and friend). This has been edited out of the Spanish print entirely. There are two further brief sequences not in the Spanish version: at 75:10 the girl student (Inga) carrying a petrol can being grabbed by the ankles by a zombie emerging from the sand, and at 76:07 in which the zombies surround her and bite her leg.

6.) One sequence lasting 0:46 of a series of shots of the zombies approaching, close-ups of worms on their faces, and shots of the oasis, is in a different place in the Spanish version (just after 79 minutes instead of 74 minutes).

7.) Finally, at the 81 minute mark there is one extra shot lasting 0:12 in the Spanish version showing the zombies disappearing into thin air in front of the oasis.

8.) The opening credits are completely different on both versions, although they last the same time (1:10). The Spanish ones are in red lettering and play over a close-up of a zombie's face, whilst the English / French ones are in white lettering over a shot of the town. The Spanish print ends with :15 of additional credits after "Fin" which credit Jesus Franco as "montaje" and Lina Romay as "ayte. de montaje".

9.) The only other difference noticed was the fact that there is more narrative voice-over during the war flashback sequence.

Summary:

The Spanish version has 22:02 of footage not in the English / French version, but is missing 3:34 of original footage and 16:08 of alternate footage, giving a total difference of 2:20 + 0:15 at end + 0:3 minor jumps = 2:32. (This info is from Francis Brewster / "Mondo Erotico").

There are also at least two variations of the Eurociné edit's title sequence. In one, the credit for "special effects" (actually "sound effects") is followed by a credit for Eclair laboratories and then the image pans across the stock footage African rooftops. In the other, the image cuts from the special effects credit to three shots of the oasis before the establishing shot of Blabert's mansion.

This film is also known as:

- L' Abîme des Morts Vivants
- Der Abgrund der Lebenden Toten
- Bloodsucking Nazi Zombies
- El Desierto de los Zombies
- Grave of the Living Dead
- Oase der Zombies
- Le Trésor des Morts Vivants

CUTS:

• R0 Terror Spain- Divisa Red - No cuts - Spanish version (~87:00 PAL)
• R1 The Euroshock Collection America- Image Entertainment - No cuts - French version (81:54 PAL > NTSC)
• R2 Mad Movies Cult: The Curiosities of the Fantastic France- Eurocine - No cuts - French version (81:59 PAL)
• R2 Germany- Astro - No cuts - French version
• R2 Germany- X-Rated - No cuts - French version (81:57 PAL)
• R2 New Line Edition Germany- X-Rated - Yes - Rated "FSK 16" French version
• R2 United Kingdom- Arrow Films - No cuts - French version (81:57 PAL)
• R2 United Kingdom- Screenbound Pictures - No cuts - French version (82:05 PAL)

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Jari_Kovalainen on 09/05/04
Comparison last updated by Eric_Cotenas on 21/06/21

UPDATE LOG:

23/02/13: Revised Image DVD.
09/06/17: Added Amazon links where possible.
18/02/18: Added additional AKA. Added UK Screenbound release.
05/07/20: Updated version notes.