Now available in the UK as a 4K & Blu-ray release via the Criterion Collection, is seminal horror movie, Night of the Living Dead. Directed and co-written by George A. Romero, and originally released in 1968, the film stars Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea, and follows the story of a small group of strangers who suddenly find themselves in the midst of a zombie outbreak.
In the movie, Barbra and Johnny arrive at a cemetery in Pennsylvania to visit their father’s grave. Within moments of arriving, the pair are approached by an unknown man in a tattered suit.
The man attacks and kills Johnny, causing Barbra to flee in terror. Shocked and confused she hot-foots it to a nearby farmhouse, where she discovers the owner has been killed and partially eaten.
Before long Barbra is accompanied by another stranger named Ben, as well as a family who have taken refuge in the basement. Everyone is at the farmhouse for the same reason: The dead have risen and are keen to feast on the living.
Shot in black-and-white and produced on a budget of around $125,000 (a pittance in movie making terms), Night of the Living Dead is a low-budget horror movie with bite. Often referred to as the granddaddy of zombie movies, the film essentially set the template for all the zombie flicks that would follow, has often been imitated (but rarely bettered), and thankfully has never been forgotten.
Not that it would, the movie is deeply atmospheric and even though it is of course dated by today’s standards, it is incredibly compelling. Plus a cock-up over the copyright has kept Night of the Living Dead in the public domain since day one, so it’s never going anywhere anyway.
But copyright mistake aside, the film is a solid indie horror regardless. Night of the Living Dead is a claustrophobic picture which does so much with so little, and proves you don’t always need mega bucks or a witty script to make an impact.
Utilising a simple premise (a bunch of strangers holed up during a zombie outbreak), Night of the Living Dead is all about low-level storytelling and an ever-present sense of dread. The movie introduces the undead threat from the get-go, then keeps these ghouls circling the lead characters throughout the film.
News reports inform the survivors (and the audience) the threat goes beyond the farmhouse, making it clear there is little chance of escape. This then allows the film to concentrate on the characters and their predicament and it is here where the film is most effective.
Ben, Barbra and Co. do their best to survive under unprecedented circumstances but it’s never quite clear if they will make it. The drama comes from their reactions to the unfolding horror, as well as the stark realisation the nightmare could continue even in death.
This makes for a horrid situation for all involved but a gripping tale for audiences. And it’s a tale which never loses its edge.
Throw in some colourblind casting (a black lead in 1968), some decent visual effects, and a brutal ending, and Night of the Living Dead has a lot to offer. There is a reason it has stood the test of time with audiences and why university scholars continue to study the movie, its meanings and connotations in depth.
Should you wish to pick up a copy of Night of the Living Dead for yourself, this Criterion Collection release is available from HMV, Fopp, and all good online entertainment retailers. The three-disc set (1 x 4K disc & 2 x Blu-ray) is priced at around £30, and boasts a 4K digital restoration, as well as a restored monaural soundtrack.
As you would expect from Criterion this set comes loaded with a wealth of special features including a dailies reel, archive interviews, a trailer, radio and TV spots, vintage newsreels, and an essay by critic Stuart Klawans. In addition, the set includes a work print edit of the movie (Night of Anubis), two audio commentaries, and multiple programs covering the production, style, score, and even the film’s iconic ghouls.
Sounds fab and suitably timed for Halloween? It is!
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