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The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 26,736 users  
Reviews: 276 user | 164 critic

When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to re-animate as they go on a rampage through ... See full summary »

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Title: The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

The Return of the Living Dead (1985) on IMDb 7.2/10

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Jewel Shepard ...
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Spider (as Miguel Nunez)
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Mark Venturini ...
Jonathan Terry ...
Cathleen Cordell ...
Colonel's Wife
Drew Deighan ...
Paramedic #1
...
Paramedic #2
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Storyline

When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to re-animate as they go on a rampage through Louisville, Kentucky seeking their favorite food, brains. Written by Todd A. Bobenrieth <TAB146@PSUVM.EDU>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

They're Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!

Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

|

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Return of the Living Dead  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

A book entitled 'The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead' by authors Christian Sellers and Gary Smart was released in 2010. The book includes hundreds of previously unseen images, exclusive interviews with various cast and crew and charts the rise and fall of the franchise. See more »

Goofs

Immediately after Trash emerges from the mud, the movie fades to a clip of rain with smoke rising. The clip is looping in forward and reverse, as you can see the rain and smoke rising and falling several times, pausing briefly between each cycle. See more »

Quotes

Paramedic #1: You have no pulse, your blood pressure's zero-over-zero, you have no pupillary response, no reflexes and your temperature is 70 degrees.
Freddy: Well, what does that mean?
Paramedic #1: Well, it's a puzzle because, technically, you're not alive. Except you're conscious, so we don't know what it means.
Freddy: Are you saying we're dead?
Paramedic #2: Well, let's not jump to conclusions.
Freddy: Are you saying we're dead?
Paramedic #2: No conclusions.
Paramedic #1: Obviously I didn't mean you were really dead. Dead people don't move around and talk.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The credits play over the hilarious scenes of the movie that involve Frank and Freddy. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Frasier: Tales from the Crypt (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Dead Beat Dance"
Performed by Straw Dogs
Composed by Straw Dogs
Produced by Straw Dogs
(Used in Hemdale's 1991 Release in lieu of Dead Beat Dance)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
"Straight comedy..."
13 March 2002 | by (USA) – See all my reviews

The best comedy is played straight, and there are few films "straighter" than horror movies (in which the intent is, ostensibly, to terrify). Dan O'Bannon's "straight comedy" is gut-bustingly funny. [I also remember being impressed by his performance in the delightful DARK STAR, which turned up at an art house showing along with the STAR WARS parody, HARDWARE WARS.] Intense, and boasting great music and some of the best performances ever seen in a fright film (including Clu Gulager, James Karen and Don Calfa, veterans all, whose frantic on-screen antics are the cornerstones of this film), RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD is one of those "must-see" movies no serious fan should miss. The cinematography is simply stunning, and the fx are 100% believable. It's amazing that O'Bannon hasn't directed more often: it's clear that he belongs behind a camera.


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