Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
The Return of the Living Dead
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Return of the Living Dead (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 18 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   11,498 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Dan O'Bannon
Writers:
Dan O'Bannon (screenplay) and
Rudy Ricci (story)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Return of the Living Dead on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 May 1985 (France) more
Tagline:
They're Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!
Plot:
When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air... more | add synopsis
Awards:
4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Lists of Doom XI: Billy & Jon from Unholy
 (From Fangoria. 30 April 2009, 4:51 PM, PDT)

Ripsnorter - Infected (Musick Review)
 (From Fangoria. 24 February 2009, 10:02 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Rabid Weasels? more
US TV Schedule:
Sat. July 1812:30 AMAMC   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Clu Gulager ... Burt

James Karen ... Frank

Don Calfa ... Ernie
Thom Mathews ... Freddy
Beverly Randolph ... Tina
John Philbin ... Chuck
Jewel Shepard ... Casey

Miguel A. Núñez Jr. ... Spider (as Miguel Nunez)
Brian Peck ... Scuz

Linnea Quigley ... Trash
Mark Venturini ... Suicide
Jonathan Terry ... Colonel Glover
Cathleen Cordell ... Colonel's Wife
Drew Deighan ... Paramedic #1

James Dalesandro ... Paramedic #2
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Return of the Living Dead (USA) (video box title)
more
Runtime:
91 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 (2002) | West Germany:18 (video premiere) (cut) | Norway:(Banned) (1985-2003) (cinema release) | Denmark:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM14 (new rating) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | West Germany:18 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Iceland:(Banned) | Mexico:C | UK:18 | USA:R | Finland:(Banned) (1985) | Germany:BPjM Restricted
Filming Locations:
Burbank, California, USA more
Company:
Hemdale Film more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The executive producers attempted to contact George A. Romero several times in order to offer him the choice of producing the movie, but he never answered. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the Zombie calls for more paramedics, you can see where the white paint on his hand ends and his real skin is visible. more
Quotes:
Col. Horace Glover: [on the telephone] It seems we've found that lost assignmant of Easter eggs. We're getting confirmation on this from the Louisville Police Department. Well, sir, that would be good news, but the eggs have hatched. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror III (#4.5)" (1992) more
Soundtrack:
Nothing for You more

FAQ

Is this film a sequel to "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)?
What movies are in the "Dead" series (and which aren't)?
more
61 out of 64 people found the following comment useful:-
Rabid Weasels?, 2 November 2003
10/10
Author: Gafke from United States

This is one of those very rare films that combines good black humor with bloody, messy gore and does it perfectly. Where `Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things' fails miserably, `Return of the Living Dead' succeeds triumphantly. It takes a tired plot (zombies eat teenagers) and makes it new again. The teenagers here are not faceless, stupid, oversexed victims at all. They are misfits and outsiders, the kind of kids who probably go to horror movies every day and make fun of the faceless, stupid, oversexed victims who populated the majority of the slasher films made in the 1980s. The nihilistic punk rock teens can identify with the zombies, and even though it is their ultimate fate to be consumed by them, you like them, you want them to survive and you're sorry to see them go even though the zombies are every bit as cool.

Long before `28 Days Later' appeared, `Return of the Living Dead' presented us with FAST zombies, zombies who could run, jump and work together like a football team, tackling people and making it a group effort to tear their victims apart. There are very few slow, shuffling monsters here; these are zombies to contend with. They talk, they think, they problem solve. Who could ever forget the Tar Man (my personal favorite) rigging up a device to tear down the metal closet doors, behind which our heroine has locked herself?

The adult characters in this film are no less interesting than the teenagers. James Karen is absolutely hysterical in his role as a medical warehouse manager, whose bumbling irresponsibility leads to the zombies being unleashed. Clu Gulager is a stressed out corporate jerk who will do anything to save the name and reputation of the warehouse he owns. And Don Calfa is excellent as the slightly shady mortician who may or may not be an ex-Nazi. The mismatched cast really comes together and forms a bond here, fighting back and growing more desperate as the zombies grow stronger. This film never lets up, not for one minute. There are no long explanation scenes, no boring set-up, just in-your-face excitement from the very first scene. It is the perfect homage to the Romero films; there is no happy ending here, only an ironic twist which will make even the most cynical doomsayer grin. This film is already a cult classic and deserves its status. It's as close to flawless as you can get.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Nazis playing poker nights_n_dreams
The Cannisters SnacksForAll
Dead Community Message Board commandofans
What would you do if this happend Phillie_Roller22
What does it say on the canisters? valiquetteillustration
Has anyone ever noticed???? Funniest thing ever!!!!!!!! theking10179
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Bad Boys II Dawn of the Dead Dawn of the Dead Grindhouse Day of the Dead
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.