Return of the Living Dead II (1988)

Curious kids unearth the barrels that previously helped revive the dead, which proves the second time's an undead charm.

Director:

Ken Wiederhorn

Writer:

Ken Wiederhorn

Stars:

James Karen, Thom Mathews, Michael Kenworthy

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Kenworthy	...	Jesse Wilson
Thor Van Lingen	...	Billy
Jason Hogan	...	Johnny
James Karen	...	Ed
Thom Mathews	...	Joey
Suzanne Snyder	...	Brenda
Marsha Dietlein	...	Lucy Wilson
Hanala Sagal	...	Aerobics Instructor (as Suzan Stadner)
Jonathan Terry	...	Colonel (as Jonathon Terry)
Dana Ashbrook	...	Tom Essex
Sally Smythe	...	Billy's Mom
Allan Trautman	...	Tarman
Don Maxwell	...	Billy's Dad
Reynold Cindrich	...	Soldier
Philip Bruns	...	Doc Mandel

Storyline

In this first sequel to The Return of the Living Dead, a group of kids discover one of the drums containing a rotting corpse and release the 2-4-5 Trioxen gas into the air, causing the dead to once again rise from the grave and seek out brains.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | zombie | psychotronic film | zombie comedy | grindhouse film | 

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Taglines:

Got an appetite for horror? This is your dish.

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The blue electrocution lines in the final sequence were all hand-drawn frame by frame and cost over $50,000.

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Goofs

Just before the severed hand scene, when the car roof zombie is still fighting with Ed, you can clearly see the actor hasn't makeup in his neck, revealing his true skin tone.

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Quotes

Joey: Let me eat your braaaiiiiiinnnnn!

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Alternate Versions

The Blu-ray release from Scream Factory restores the original theatrical soundtrack. Plus it restores the original Lorimar Pictures logo that was plastered on the Warner DVD release.

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Connections

Referenced in El Rato Muerto: Top 20 películas de Zombies según un Zombie (2019)

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Soundtracks

A.D.I./Horror of It All
Performed by Anthrax
Written by Joseph Belladona, Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante (as Charles Benante) and John Rooney
Produced by Anthrax and Eddie Cramer
Antrax Music/Black Lion Music
Recording courtesy of Megaforce/Island Records

User Reviews

Funny Zombie Cult Movie

While transporting drums of the dangerous Trioxin gas, one of them falls from the army truck into a river. In the morning, the boy Jesse Wilson (Michael Kenworthy) is bullied by the older Billy (Thor Van Lingen) and Johnny (Jason Hogan) and he hides himself under a bridge nearby the cemetery. The two bullies find Jesse and they see the barrel. Then the bullies lock Jesse in a mausoleum and they decide to open the barrel, releasing the Trioxin and breathing the toxic gas. Meanwhile the grave robber Ed (James Karen) hires Joey (Thom Mathews) to help him to pillage the graves and they go to the cemetery in a van with Joey's girlfriend Brenda (Suzanne Snyder). Ed and Joey go to the mausoleum and Jesse is released and runs home. His sister Lucy Wilson (Marsha Dietlein) tells him to do the homework. Then the cable guy Tom Essex (Dana Ashbrook) arrives to fix the television and he recognizes Lucy from the high- school. Soon the Trioxin awakes the dead in the cemetery and the town is crowded with hordes of zombies. Ed, Joey and Brenda run to Jesse's house and team up with Lucy and Tom trying to survive to the brain eaters.

"Return of the Living Dead: Part II" is a funny zombie cult movie. This sequel is a comedy with action, with good special effects and creepy zombies. There are the usual stupid attitudes from the characters but it is highly entertaining. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Volta dos Mortos Vivos - Parte 2" ("The Return of the Living Dead: Part II")

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Revenge of the Living Dead

Filming Locations:

169 N. Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,647,254, 17 January 1988

Gross USA:

$9,205,924

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,205,924

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Motion Pictures, Greenfox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1