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All Movie Info
Starring:
Duane Jones, Russell Streiner, John A. Russo, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley, Kyra Schon, George A. Romero, John Simpson, Bill Chilly, Billy Cardille, Bill Hinzman, John Simpson, Vincent Survinski
Directed By:
George A. Romero
Written By:
John A. Russo, George A. Romero
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Night of the Living Dead (1968)
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I'm going all out here, giving this seminal film the big five stars. Yes, it is not my favorite in the Romero DEAD series, but it is the original, and as such deserves respect.
You all know the story: band of survivors in farmhouse battle cannibalistic undead.
What a lot of people don't think about is that for as trailblazing as this film is, it has many homages to the films that came before. Even though it chose (and rightly so) to eschew the campy, wink-wink, beach blanket bingoness of the 60's sci-fi/horror films that came before it, and chose to be much more visceral than the 50's entries, it still sent back valentines to classic horror films such as Frankenstein (the ghouls hating fire), Nosferatu (shadowy figures coming through doorways, menacing young people) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (the way it painted with shadows, and the silent-film feel when Barbara first gets into the house).
Which is not to take away from its originality. At the time, it was quite a shocking film: it had a cinema-verite quality that other horror films did not, and as such made most audience members at the very least uncomfortable. It was considered the goriest film ever made, if that gives you any indication of the state of horror at the time.
And all in all, the film still holds up well today. The ghouls are still creepy, the disparate people thrown together are still tense and effective, and the creepiness and moodiness of the shadowy black and white still command the attention of the viewer. So if you are a horror fan, kneel and kiss Romero's ring.
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 | Zara
Dec 14, 2007 6:23 PM
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I'm really rather impressed that you're taking my little challenge so seriously. I know you had previously mentioned that you preferred to only post reviews on stuff that no one could ever possibly want to watch or stuff that just was so good or bad that it moved you to, but I also know that there are just so many movies that you have well developed opinions on. Whether or not you've recently watched them. Since I know you're a repeat watcher.
Keep 'em coming. They're great. |
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Dec 15, 2007 12:47 AM
Now that I am done with the Romero films, I can turn my attention to even more zombie mayhem!
Dec 15, 2007 12:52 AM
http://www.trashvideo.org/zmdb/