Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Director:

George A. Romero

Writers:

John A. Russo (screenplay) &
George A. Romero (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 October 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

They keep coming back in a bloodthirsty lust for HUMAN FLESH!...

Plot:

A group of people hide from bloodthirsty zombies in a farmhouse.

Plot Keywords:

Farmhouse | Zombie | Barricade | Gasoline | Panic

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Duane Jones	...	Ben
Judith O'Dea	...	Barbra
Karl Hardman	...	Harry
Marilyn Eastman	...	Helen
Keith Wayne	...	Tom
Judith Ridley	...	Judy
Kyra Schon	...	Karen Cooper
Charles Craig	...	Newscaster / Zombie
S. William Hinzman	...	Cemetery Zombie (original and new scenes) (as Bill Heinzman)
George Kosana	...	Sheriff McClelland
Frank Doak	...	Scientist
Bill 'Chilly Billy' Cardille	...	Field Reporter
A.C. McDonald	...	Zombie / Posse Member
Samuel R. Solito	...	Zombie / Posse Member
Mark Ricci	...	Washington Scientist

Also Known As:

"Laugh Track: Night of the Living Dead" - USA (video title (redubbed comic version))
"Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition" - Philippines (English title) (recut version)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:Unrated (1968) | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Singapore:NC-16 (30th anniversary edition) | Iceland:16 | Canada:14A | Spain:13 | UK:15 (video rating) (2007) | Australia:R | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) (cut) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Italy:T (original DVD rating) | Italy:VM18 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | France:-16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (uncut) | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating) (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Basement, Latent Image - Carson Street, South Side, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Image Ten

Trivia:

The body upstairs in the house was made by director George A. Romero, who used ping-pong balls for the eyes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Barbra runs the car into the tree, it is already dented before the impact.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Barbara:They oughta make the day the time changes the first day of summer.
Johnny:What?
Barbara:Well, it's eight o'clock, and it's still light!
Johnny:A lot of good the extra daylight does us. You know, we've still got a three-hour drive back; we're not gonna be home until after midnight.
Barbara:Well, if it really bugged you, Johnny, you wouldn't do it.
Johnny:Heh, you think I'd wanna blow Sunday on a scene like this? You know, I figure we'll have to get mother to move down here or have the grave moved down to Pittsburgh.
Barbara:Well, she can't make a trip like this!
Johnny:Yeah, I know that she can't.
[Reach for the wreath in the backseat]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Children of the Living Dead (2001) (V)

Low Budget Horror That Redefined The Genre

Night of the Living Dead, directed by Geoage A. Romero, is a horror masterpiece and the first of three of his "Dead" movies. This low budget horror has changed the way movies are made. This didn't need an "A" grade cast and a huge budget to become one the world's greatest and most influential horror movies.

This is the simple story of seven strangers who board themselves up in a farmhouse from the ravenous hoards of flesh eating zombies that are rising. But peace doesn't last for long as the tension rises, chaos and tragedy breaks out.

This movie today is still shocking. There isn't a lot of gore but the scenes with gore a shocking and disturbing, even though they are in black and white. This is still regarded as one of the best horror movies in the world.

5/5.