How can I let Halloween pass without spending a little time on what I still believe to be the greatest horror film of all time, George Romero’s original “Night of the Living Dead”. For most it’s probably impossible (and admittedly a bit silly) to narrow down a vast and diverse genre to one indisputable favorite. But for me, “Night of the Living Dead” has left a mark on me since first seeing it as an early teen.
So for this Halloween I’m going to toss out five big reasons (and there are so many more) why I love “Night of the Living Dead”.
#5 – The Music and Sound
One of the key ingredients of “Night of the Living Dead” is the fantastic sound design and music. In many ways it’s critical in developing and maintaining the film’s creepy tone. Interestingly, the music was purchased after previously appearing in other productions. Subtle but effective alterations were made to numerous tracks to better connect them to the film. The live sound effects were recorded on a budget by Richard Lococo. Echos and distortions were used to make things eerier and several small sound choices add to the tense atmosphere. Take the television newscast that plays in the background for much of the film. It and all of the sound design lends much to the film’s uneasy feel.
#4 – Duane Jones
He was a relatively unknown stage actor when George Romero hired him to star in “Night of the Living Dead”. But Duane Jones was stepping into what would become an iconic role particularly in the horror genre. His performance as the composed and resourceful Ben is a real strength of the picture. We’re not told much about his character’s backstory, but we do learn a lot about him. He’s cool, calm, and collective, and without him things would have instantly fallen apart. Jones’ casting was significant because at the time African Americans weren’t often considered for leading roles especially with an otherwise all-white cast. But he fits seamlessly as Ben and the movie wouldn’t be the same without his rock-solid performance.
#3 – The Setting
The first time I watched “Night of the Living Dead” was on a rented VCR. My parents let me stay up late to watch and I’ve loved it ever since. One of the main things that has stuck with me from that very first viewing was the film’s mostly one-location setting. The idea of being cornered in an isolated farmhouse with hordes of flesh-hungry undead gathering outside terrified me as a child and is still creepy today. The survivalist elements mixed with the “nowhere to go” angle remains effective and it has influenced countless movies since. No matter how many times I watch “Night of the Living Dead”, I still find myself immersed in that remote Pennsylvania farmhouse.
#2 – George Romero
“Night of the Living Dead” is known for many firsts and for paving several new paths. Perhaps most notable is being the feature film directorial debut for George Romero. He was the mastermind behind the project and what he was able to accomplish with a miniscule $114,000 budget is astonishing. Despite the monetary limitations, Romero showed an impressive creative savvy through his intelligent uses of sound, the camera, and minimal special effects. He also chose to shoot the film in 35mm black-and-white which was initially a budget constraint. But over time it has proven to be the only way the movie should be viewed.
#1 – The Zombie Craze
Zombies have found permanent homes in media of all kinds including comics, video games, movies, and television. And to think it all started with Romero’s vision. “Night of the Living Dead” wasn’t the first film to deal with the dead coming back to life. But it was the first to truly develop zombies into what they they are known as today. It would be impossible to list everything that has drawn inspiration from Romero’s classic. It’s influence goes beyond cinema and into the culture as a whole. So the next time you see a zombie movie, rewatch an episode of “The Walking Dead”, or play “Plants verses Zombies”, just remember that it can all be traced back to 1968 and “Night of the Living Dead”.
Keith & the Movies 