Night Of The Living Dead

Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman
Written by: John A. Russo, George A. Romero
Director: George A. Romero
Year: 1968

Rating: * * * *  Stars       +       (Fan Bonus *  )  Total: * * * * * 

The dead have risen from the grave and seek out human flesh to sustain their damnation.

A Brother and Sister arrive at a cemetery to pay respects to their Father when they are attacked by a zombie. Then another zombie shows up. Johnny is killed, but his sister Barbra (Judith O'Dea) makes her way through the woods to an old farm house. The residents are missing, but there is an African American man named Ben (Duan Jones) who is also held up there. Ben tries to sort things out as Barbra is mute from trauma. 

But they're not alone. Several people are held up in the basement. A young couple Tom and Judy, and a middle age couple, Harry and Helen Cooper, along with their sick daughter Karen, who was bitten by one of the zombies.

Tension mounts as the farmhouse is surrounded by zombies. A few at first, then several dozen, and finally over a hundred. Those inside barricade themselves in best they can. The more zombies that show up, the less likely it is to escape. Eventually they begin to turn on each other, arguing over what to do next. Ben and Mr. Cooper come to blows, and Karen dies, but returns from the dead.

Romero proves that you can tell a compelling story on a shoestring budget. Despite being a horror film, with images of cannibalism, very risque for 1968, there is also a social commentary regarding human nature, survival instincts, and racism. The zombies pick right up, with no exposition explaining what caused them to rise from the dead. The film eludes to a cosmic radiation from a recently downed satellite as a probable cause when the survivors watch television for news on the situation.

Make no mistake, this film is the grandfather of modern zombie films, as well as the sub-genre of "survival horror." The actors, all unknowns, are compelling and very believable. Effectively a single set film, the eerieness of this film is just as strong as it was over 40 years ago. 

SEE THE TRAILER: Night Of The Living Dead