When foreman, Frank (James Karen), shows new employee, Freddy (Thom Mathews), a secret military experiment in their supply warehouse, the two accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into brain-eating zombies. As the pandemic spreads to a neighboring cemetery, the creatures begin to satisfy their hunger in creative and intelligent ways. Frank and Freddy fight to survive the onslaught with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa), and Freddy’s punk rock friends.
Return of the Living Dead (1985) is one of those rare movies that probably shouldn’t work but it does in every way. It’s an unofficial sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968) from John Russo, George Romero’s former collaborator. It’s comedic, has a punk rock soundtrack, and it changes the rules set up in the original 60s classic. However, with a talented cast, clever script, and gruesome effects, this production delivers the goods, giving us a film that has not only spawned sequels but is rightly heralded as an 80s classic. Join us as we discuss the history of this film and its somewhat unusual evolution. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys barricades the doors and windows, defending ourselves from zombies that not only talk but whose sole purpose is to EAT OUR BRAINS!
SHOW LINKS
- Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Original trailer
- Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- George A. Romero
- John A. Russo
- Dual franchise history
- Dan O’Bannon
- James Karen
- Linnea Quigley
- Invaders from Mars (1953)
- Alien (1979)
- His Girl Friday (1940)
- The Birds (1963)
- Dark Star (1974)
- Tales of the Crypt (1989)
- Freaks (1932)
- The Walking Dead (2010)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
- World War Z (2013)
- Dawn of the Dead (remake 2004)
- DVD campaign story
- Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie
Get Tim’s Book THE DEAD NEXT DOOR
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