There are two things in this world that I absolutely love: professional wrestling and zombie movies. So when you put those two things together—if you do it right—you’re going to have something that’s tailor-made for me.
And that’s exactly what The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre is: a perfect blend of body slams and brain splatters, a low-budget, high-energy mix of two of my favorite things. It’s a pro wrestling movie, it’s a zombie movie, it’s got action, horror, comedy, and—most importantly—it’s made by two guys who truly get it.
Now, I have a personal connection to this movie, and to its creators, which makes this review all the more special. I’ve been a host and moderator at Flashback Weekend—Chicago’s longest-running, wildly popular horror convention—since its inception in 2002.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of the coolest, most talented people in the horror world, but few have been as instantly likable and genuinely awesome as The Manson Brothers themselves—Chris Margetis and Mike Carey.
Chris and Mike are not just actors and filmmakers; they’re real-life pro wrestlers. They wrestled on the indie circuit, and their love for the sport—and for genre films—is absolutely infectious. These guys know wrestling inside and out. They also know horror inside and out. They’re students of cinema, connoisseurs of action, sci-fi, and all things horror.
And when you combine that knowledge with their real-world experience in the squared circle, you get The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre, a film that’s both a love letter to pro wrestling and a gore-soaked, action-packed blast of zombie mayhem.
I first met Chris and Mike at Flashback Weekend in 2022, and we became fast friends. They’re two of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys you’ll ever meet. I’ve had them on The Nick D Podcast, and every time we talk, the stories they tell about their years in wrestling and their journey making this movie are incredible.
They wrote and produced this thing on a low budget, hustled to get it made, and even premiered it at The Music Box Theatre here in Chicago with the full support of Flashback Weekend. These guys poured their hearts and souls into this movie, and it shows.
In my recent blog post ranking the Top 15 Best Pro Wrestling Movies of All Time, I highlighted some great films that celebrate the world of wrestling. But I wanted to give The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre its own separate feature—because it deserves it.
This isn’t just a wrestling movie. This isn’t just a zombie movie. It’s a passion project made by two guys who live and breathe both worlds, and the end result is something special.
So, let’s get into it. Here’s my full review of The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre—a movie that kicks ass, chews brains, and suplexes the undead into oblivion.
The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – A Bloody, Hilarious, Over-the-Top Tribute to Wrestling and Horror
There are movies that scratch a very specific itch, and The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre is one of them. It’s the kind of film that knows exactly what it is, embraces it completely, and delivers a ridiculous, blood-soaked, laugh-out-loud ride that’s a dream come true for anyone who loves professional wrestling and zombie movies. And trust me—I love both.
This is a movie made by wrestling fans, for wrestling fans. And it’s made by horror fans, for horror fans. It’s a passion project from guys who get it, who have lived the wrestling life, and who have spent their lives devouring the genre classics that inspired this film. When you take two real-life wrestlers—Chris Margetis and Mike Carey, better known as The Manson Brothers—and let them loose to write and star in their own insane, blood-drenched horror-comedy, you get something that’s as wonderfully absurd as it sounds.
It’s a movie that throws Rocky Horror, Evil Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn, and a Monday Night Raw steel cage match into a blender, and what comes out is 90 minutes of absolute carnage and chaos.
The Plot: Wrestlers, Rabies, and Zombies—Oh My!
It’s Halloween night, and Skull and Stone Manson—two wrestling brothers in the twilight of their careers—take a midnight cage match at a seedy wrestling venue. What they don’t realize is that the locker room is about to become ground zero for a mutated rabies outbreak that turns their fellow wrestlers, the audience, and pretty much everyone else in the building into raging, bloodthirsty zombies.
Armed only with their wrestling skills, their insane toughness, and some enchanted lucha libre masks (because why not?), The Manson Brothers have to battle their way through waves of the undead to contain the virus and prevent an all-out massacre.
And if that premise alone doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.
What Makes It Work? The Perfect Blend of Horror and Wrestling
First and foremost, this movie gets wrestling. The guys behind it—Chris Margetis and Mike Carey—are real-life wrestlers who know the business inside and out. And you can feel that authenticity in every frame.
The wrestling scenes are legit, the locker room dynamic is spot on, and the over-the-top personalities in the movie reflect the kind of larger-than-life characters that made pro wrestling what it is.
The dialogue is hilarious. This is a movie that knows wrestling is absurd and leans into it with self-awareness and humor. The banter between Skull and Stone is some of the funniest, most ridiculous buddy-movie dialogue you’ll hear all year. They rip on each other, they rip on the business, and they rip on everything around them, all while fighting for their lives against a horde of zombies.
And then there’s the horror. This isn’t just some cheap wrestling vanity project—it’s a full-blown zombie movie, and it delivers on that front. The gore is outrageous. There are heads getting ripped off, limbs flying, and blood spraying everywhere. And it’s done with a practical effects-heavy approach that calls back to the best of Evil Dead and Return of the Living Dead. Director Max Martini knows exactly what he’s doing, blending comedy, horror, and action seamlessly.
The Cast: A Mix of Legends, Fighters, and Maniacs
On top of our lead maniacs, the cast is stacked with familiar faces.
Randy Couture (MMA legend) is absolutely fantastic in his role, bringing a tough-as-nails presence to the film.
D.B. Sweeney (yes, that D.B. Sweeney) is a veteran character actor who’s been in some truly legendary films, and here, he chews the scenery in the best way possible.
Adrian Pasdar (Near Dark, one of the best vampire movies of all time) adds to the genre credibility and delivers a memorable, badass performance.
The supporting cast—filled with wrestlers, fighters, and horror vets—all bring the right amount of energy to this insane concept.
Why This Movie Deserved Its Own Spotlight
When I put together my Top 15 Pro Wrestling Movies of All Time, I knew that The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre deserved more than just a mention—it deserved its own feature. It’s not just a wrestling movie. It’s not just a zombie movie. It’s a love letter to both genres from people who love them as much as I do.
It’s also an independent film success story. These guys hustled to get this movie made, wrote the script themselves, produced it, and even landed a midnight premiere at The Music Box Theatre in Chicago, where it played to packed, rowdy crowds. That’s the kind of DIY, grassroots filmmaking that deserves support.
Final Thoughts: A Must-See for Wrestling and Horror Fans
If you love pro wrestling, you’ll love this movie. If you love zombie movies, you’ll love this movie.If you love midnight movies—the kind of wild, loud, over-the-top films that demand to be watched with an audience—this is the movie for you.
It’s big. It’s bloody. It’s ridiculous. And it’s one hell of a fun ride.
Mike and Chris—the real-life Manson Brothers—are working on a sequel, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.
Until then, grab some popcorn, crack open a beer, and enjoy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre the way it was meant to be seen: at midnight, with a crowd, screaming at the screen, and loving every second of it.
I love this movie.
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