This is Sussex -- IF you spot a host of bleary-eyed and pasty-faced adults staggering out of a pub you would assume they had over indulged on beer or wine.But when just such a scene occurred in Northgate the individuals in question were playing the "undead" in a pivotal scene for an upcoming film.
The Black Dog pub, in Barnfield Road, became a movie set last month as the cast and crew of Meet The Cadavers took over the stage and social club area for a day and night.
The independent film is written and co-directed by "Zion", who also co-produces and co-stars with Vikki Spit – his real-life partner. The couple are also members of the band Spit Like This.
The film follows a family of zombies, in the style of The Addams Family and The Munsters, and is a comedy horror.
Zion, who grew up in Furnace Green and now lives in Burstow, said: "Zombie films seem to be really popular at the moment but we haven't seen a movie like The Addams Family with humour similar to The Inbetweeners before.
"I wanted to turn the film concept on its head by making the zombies a friendly family whose image has been ruined by Hollywood giving zombies a bad name.
"They simply want to be a part of society."
The film follows the zombie family on a camping holiday and has mainly been shot at Blacklands Farm Campsite, in the village of Henfield.
Zion, 41, who performs as Lord Zion as lead singer of his rock band, explained that the scene shot in The Black Dog is the key moment when the film turns from a comedy into a horror.
"We were looking for a venue to shoot the Hallowe'en Fancy Dress Party scene and The Black Dog had the space we needed," he said.
"It worked perfectly as a venue.
"A lot of the crew and cast are from here so it has turned into a community project."
Sean Connar, landlord at The Black Dog, hopes the film give the neighbourhood a boost.
He said: "We have only been in charge of the pub for two months but we know Northgate's reputation has gone downhill in recent years.
"Hopefully being involved in a project like this can help to turn that reputation around."
The low-budget labour of love includes a celebrity cameo from Big Brother winner Pete Bennett.
The film is set for release in 2014 and Zion hopes to have it shown at the famous Cannes Film Festival. Reported by This is 7 hours ago.