Jesse Dayton Walks With a 'Zombex'

Jesse, where you been? Rocker-turned-filmmaker Jesse Dayton on the set of 'Zombex' with John Doe (Photo by John Anderson)

It seems like we've been waiting for years for the first footage from Zombex, the undead horror from local rockabilly transplant Jesse Dayton. Actually, it has been years, but now it's time for some flesh-rending fun.

It was back in 2011 when we visited the set of Zombex, and Dayton laid out the story for us. His feature, which he also wrote, is set in a post-Katrina New Orleans, where survivors of the hurricane are pounding down anti-anxiety medication to deal with PTSD. Unfortunate side-effects may include, well, becoming one of the living dead.

There's a running joke that, considering the state of film incentives, this may be the first time in years that Texas has filled in for Louisiana. But Dayton tried to keep as much of production as possible close to his home town (freeze the trailer at just the right moment and you'll see local burlesque legend and Best of Austin winner Cardinal Cyn bumping and grinding in the inside bar at Mohawk.) Now Dayton is out in Cannes with the finished product, and we dare you to spot the moments were ATX is filling in for the Big Easy.

Austin stage regular David Christopher leads the cast, but Dayton's friendship with Rob Zombie seems to have helped on rounding up more talent, with three of the hellbilly's regulars turning up. Malcolm McDowell (Halloween) chews the scenery as only he knows how as the most sinister man in big pharma, backed by grindhouse king Sid Haig (The Devil's Rejects, The Lords of Salem) and The Walking Dead's Axel, Lew Temple (also The Devil's Rejects), plus cameos from John Doe of X, Slayer's Tom Araya, and Corey Feldman. No, really.

Thanks to joblo.com for the early peek.