Directing
Bruno Mattei
Bruno Mattei (July 30, 1931 – May 21, 2007) was a prolific Italian filmmaker known for his eclectic contributions to the genre of exploitation cinema. Hailing from Rome, Mattei was immersed in the film industry from a young age, as his father ran a film editing studio. He embarked on his directorial journey in 1970 with the drama *Armida, il dramma di una sposa*, adopting the pseudonym "Jordon B. Matthews." Over his career, Mattei became famous for using an array of aliases, more than any other director of his time.
Mattei gained notoriety in the late 1970s with his daring Nazi exploitation films, including *Women's Camp 119* and *Casa privata per le SS*. He ventured into various genres, creating provocative works in the realms of nunsploitation and mondo films, with titles like *La vera storia della monaca di Monza* (1980) and *Mondo erotico* (1973). Known for his creativity, he directed the zombie film *Hell of the Living Dead* (1980) under the pseudonym "Vincent Dawn," which drew inspiration from influential films such as *Dawn of the Dead*.
His versatility extended to women's prison films and sword-and-sorcery flicks, with works like *I sette magnifici gladiatori* (1983) and *Zombi 3* (1988), the latter of which he partially directed after Lucio Fulci’s departure. Mattei’s output exceeded 50 films by the 2000s, showcasing his relentless work ethic. Tragically, his life was cut short by a brain tumor, leading to his passing on May 21, 2007, at the age of 75.
