The Return of the Living Dead
by Dan O'Bannon
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Cathleen Cordell, David Bond, Don Calfa, Drew Deighan, James DalesandroDirector: Dan O'Bannon
Primary Contributor: Clu Gulager
Primary Contributor: James Karen
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-08-27
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of The Return of the Living Dead
Movie Review: BRAINS! BRAINS! BRAINS! BRAINS! 9.25 OUT OF 10
Summary: 5 Stars
When it comes to zombie parodies, you won't find many. Although I loved Shaun of the Dead, I would have to give my nomination for best zombie parody to this film. This film is a kickass, funny as hell good time. This film is basically a parody of Night of the Living Dead (even making references to the film). This film also introduced a new kind of zombie; the super zombie, a zombie that can run, talk, and can't die from having the brain destroyed (they need to be burnt to ashes). Although it wasn't the best zombie film of the 80's (Day of the Dead all the way), it certainly is one of the most memorable zombie films of all time, and has become a cult classic.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: The story starts with an uncle and nephew working at medical facility, then the uncle tells his nephew about containers that were accidentally shipped to the facility from the Army containing corpses that had been re-animated by a substance known as Trioxin and talks about how the events in the film Night of the Living Dead were actually true, but had been switched around a bit. Then the uncle takes his nephew downstairs to show him the containers, and then when he hits one of the containers, a gas spews out and they are knocked out cold and the gas spreads around the building. When the two wake up, they realize all the dead specimens in the building have been re-animated and must get rid of them. Meanwhile a group of goth partying teenagers are waiting for the nephew to get off work, so they wait in the graveyard until he comes out. When the uncle, nephew, and boss (who came after he was called) realize these things won't die, they cut them up, stuff them in garbage bags and take them across the street to the embalmer across the street next to the graveyard and ask him if he can burn them in the crematorium. He does burn them, but the smoke from the crematorium causes it to rain acid rain containing the deadly toxin, which is now raining everywhere, including the graveyard. Then dead people begin popping out of the ground, and the zombie mayhem and brain-eating begins. So now the teens and other survivors are trapped and surrounded by the undead, and if police and paramedics try to get to the area, they are immediately killed off by dead people, and as said before, these zombies don't die by having their brains destroyed.
MUSIC: This is definitely 80's music, and I love it. I don't what it is about this kind of music, but I really enjoy it for some reason. Also for some reason I can't stop singing part of the song when the zombies start popping out of the ground; "DO YOU WANNA PARTY! IT'S PARTY TIME!" It's very catchy and I like it.
ACTION: This film is loaded with brain-eating, fighting the undead, running away from the undead, partying in the graveyard, and even some shootouts. This film is loads of fun to watch and is very entertaining seeing these hapless teens trying to survive. I loved how the gore and zombies were designed because they are very well-done. This film is very funny when you see these people fight the zombies and hear their dialogue.
ACTING: The acting is bad, but in a funny B-movie way. If you're a person who gets offended by foul language, then this is certainly not for you. The dialogue generally consists of shouting, screaming, and obscenities. Here's a little piece of dialogue that is just between the uncle and nephew after they wake up and find out that all the dead things in the building have been re-animated; "What?! You stupid ***hole!" "Watch your tongue, boy if you like this job!" "Like this job?!" The dialogue is also loaded with the F-word which certainly earns the film's R-rating. You can't help but laugh when you try and see these people try and act and hear their dialogue, especially the really goth people like this piece of dialogue before the goth girl strips off her clothes; "Have you ever fantasized about your death? Like all the horrible ways you could die?" The film's main laughs come from the dialogue and acting. I loved every moment of this film.
OVERALL: If you love zombie films, then you got to have this film! It's hilarious and is totally kickass. Wonder if its four sequels are any good? Oh well, I'll just have to find out eventually.
THE GOOD: The zombies, the gore, the bad acting and dialogue, the music, and the film's overall cheesyness.
THE BAD: Some parts are a little too cheesy.
Summary of The Return of the Living Dead
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cemetery'those brain-eating zombies are back and hungry for more tasty mortals. A fiendish mix of outrageous humor and heart-stopping terror, The Return of the Living Dead is a veritable smorgasbord of fun (LA Herald-Examiner) filled with skin-crawling jolts, eye-popping visuals and relentless surprise! On his first day on the job at an army surplus store, poor Freddy unwittingly releases nerve gas from a secret U.S. military canister, unleashing an unbelievable terror. The gas re-animates a corps of corpses, who arise from their graves with a ravenous hunger for human brains! And luckily for those carnivorous cadavers, there is a group of partying teens nearby, just waiting to be eaten!"Do ya wanna party?" challenges the soundtrack to this freaky and funny reworking of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Paced to the beat of a pounding rock score, this comic flesh feast delivers both laughs and outlandish gore. No longer lumbering, moaning creatures, these lithe, feral, and cunning undead claw their way out of the cemetery and into the skulls of a human smorgasbord. They even master the art of home delivery: "Send more cops," croaks a corpse into a patrol car radio. Director Dan O'Bannon even takes pains to explain their motivation between the tributes to the granddaddy of zombie horrors ("Well, it worked in the movie!" screams James Karen when a pickax to the skull hardly phases a lively cadaver). Not that it really matters amid the gore and gallows humor, but it does add a kick to the cynically sinister climax. --Sean Axmaker
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