The Return of the Living Dead

[Trioxin245]

Can't seem to find a thread as this, but anyway discuss the ROTLD series here. In an overall excellence, I'd say that ROTLD surpasses even Romero's masterpiece, Dawn Of The Dead. Maybe it's like comparing apples and oranges (satire does not equate to spoof), but they're both zombie flicks, and ROTLD is the best goddamned zombie flick I'll might have ever seen. The whole film just screams 80's style, wich just turns up the atmosphere in the film into the classic it has become. The 80's punk beats of the soundtrack is by far excellent, and seize to keep me attached throughout the entire film. The golden actors James Karen and Thom Matthews brings out most of the comical moments through their terrific and hilarious performance(in both ROTLD & ROTLD II) You can't get enough of them. The black humor with an sense of slapstick, and yet serious level. Makes The Return of the Living Dead one of the most unique and quite orignal Zombie film out there, as it introduce a new set of elements for the Zombie genre, The first Zombie film ever featuring running ones, The hunger for Brains and damn a heck of alot other things to spread an eager of delight. I would say ROTLD is quite possibly the most cult classic and influential Zombie flick ever, right up there with Dawn of the Dead.

[Svengoolie]

I couldn't have said it better myself, Trioxin. I agree with you 100%. And, whether or not the GAR die-hards like to admit it or not, ROTLD was a great flick that gave as much to the zombie genre as GAR did. Hell, I even read an interview with a zombie extra for Land that talked about "eating zombie brains"! The script was top-notch, and brought to us by the same guy that did the original Alien. It had a rip-roaring soundtrack, excellent effects, a plot and pacing that kept us on the edge of our seats, and a little something that GAR never heard of--character development. In short, it was everyting Day of the Dead wanted to be. Kudos.

[Trioxin245]

I couldn't have said it better myself, Trioxin. I agree with you 100%. And, whether or not the GAR die-hards like to admit it or not, ROTLD was a great flick that gave as much to the zombie genre as GAR did. Hell, I even read an interview with a zombie extra for Land that talked about "eating zombie brains"! The script was top-notch, and brought to us by the same guy that did the original Alien. It had a rip-roaring soundtrack, excellent effects, a plot and pacing that kept us on the edge of our seats, and a little something that GAR never heard of--character development. In short, it was everyting Day of the Dead wanted to be. Kudos. Ouch thats gonna hurt GAR fans, right up to the crouch I must say the characters were better then overall any you can find in horror films...even in the GAR franchise The Nazi Ernie was great, The Anti hero Burt kicked ass, Uncle Frank comically rules and Tarman stole the show. What more do you need?

[Svengoolie]

Hey! You forgot about Trash and Suicide! "What do you think this is about? Do you think this is a f*ing costume? This is a way of life!"

[Trioxin245]

Hey! You forgot about Trash and Suicide! "What do you think this is about? Do you think this is a f*ing costume? This is a way of life!" How unprofessional! you forget Chuck, the horny turd in Tuxedo "Wow the shiit is really hitting the fan out there"

[Tullaryx]

I'd have to disagree only on the point that its better than GAR's series. But the first two films in the ROTLD franchise I see as way up there in terms of horror-comedy. I think its a better comparison to films like Dead Alive and Shaun of the Dead. GAR's series goes for straight horror and social commentary with each film, even though after NOTLD the scare became more existential than primal. With ROTLD scare was really there to be a break from the comedy just like in Jackson's film and Wright's and Pegg's film. With GAR's franchise the characters were really basic in terms of characterization. I always thought this was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It was an advantage since it helped push the notion that the characters represented a small microcosm of human society. It was a disadvantage for the fact that we don't really get to know the characters and sometimes don't care much if they died. Though the character of Ben and Peter seemed to be the exceptions. In the ROTLD series the characters had to be fleshed out, so to speak. The films weren't trying to commentate on a social issue. O'Bannon wanted to spoof the past zombie films and at the same time pay abit of a tip of the cap to NOTLD. And with the comedy aspects of the film, the characters had to be more well-rounded to allow the audience to either hate certain characters or love certain characters. I know one thing ROTLD did better than anyone else until Jackson and Wright/Pegg came along and that was pull off both horror and comedy. Drama is easy to do, but pulling off a horror comedy without it turning into one big joke is a very big accomplishment.

[Trioxin245]

I'd have to disagree only on the point that its better than GAR's series. But the first two films in the ROTLD franchise I see as way up there in terms of horror-comedy. I think its a better comparison to films like Dead Alive and Shaun of the Dead. GAR's series goes for straight horror and social commentary with each film, even though after NOTLD the scare became more existential than primal. With ROTLD scare was really there to be a break from the comedy just like in Jackson's film and Wright's and Pegg's film. With GAR's franchise the characters were really basic in terms of characterization. I always thought this was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It was an advantage since it helped push the notion that the characters represented a small microcosm of human society. It was a disadvantage for the fact that we don't really get to know the characters and sometimes don't care much if they died. Though the character of Ben and Peter seemed to be the exceptions. In the ROTLD series the characters had to be fleshed out, so to speak. The films weren't trying to commentate on a social issue. O'Bannon wanted to spoof the past zombie films and at the same time pay abit of a tip of the cap to NOTLD. And with the comedy aspects of the film, the characters had to be more well-rounded to allow the audience to either hate certain characters or love certain characters. I know one thing ROTLD did better than anyone else until Jackson and Wright/Pegg came along and that was pull off both horror and comedy. Drama is easy to do, but pulling off a horror comedy without it turning into one big joke is a very big accomplishment. True, but I wouldn't compare Dead Alive with SOTD and ROTLD. While They were Horror comedies, same as Dead Alive. Shaun and Return are Satire with an level of seriousness, while Dead Alive was generally one big comical gore flick with outrageous special effects and an crazy ass concept.

[Tullaryx]

True, but I wouldn't compare Dead Alive with SOTD and ROTLD. While They were Horror comedies, same as Dead Alive. Shaun and Return are Satire with an level of seriousness, while Dead Alive was generally one big comical gore flick with outrageous special effects and an crazy ass concept. But Jackson was being serious. Well serious of making the goriest movie on film, at least. But seriously, Dead Alive had its serious moments when one really looked beyond the slapstick and pools and pools of gore. It really was just a film about a boy and his mum.

[Trioxin245]

But Jackson was being serious. Well serious of making the goriest movie on film, at least. But seriously, Dead Alive had its serious moments when one really looked beyond the slapstick and pools and pools of gore. It really was just a film about a boy and his mum. I certainly did not see any Two Towers, invincibility rings neither dwarfs. So why are you saying Santa Jackson was being serious with this film

[Tullaryx]

I certainly did not see any Two Towers, invincibility rings neither dwarfs. So why are you saying Santa Jackson was being serious with this film Gotta look in deep, my man. Start channeling within you all the pretentious, elitist film academics who pooh-poohs the zombie genre. Then you shall see it.

[Trioxin245]

I did. But all I saw was a big bright light coming at me

[Tullaryx]

I did. But all I saw was a big bright light coming at me Well, you might've been having a heart attack...hence the big bright light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. I mean nothing can be more serious than a heart attack. Though there's castration, cuckolding, cancer, disembowlment....

[axlish]

ROTLD is firmly entrenched as my 3rd favorite zombie film of all time. Heck, it may even be my 3rd favorite film of all time. This film literally caught lightning in a bottle. I truly do not have a single complaint about it. It is audio/visual crack for the zombie fan. The Gore: Excellent in every way. My young mind had trouble dealing with certain scenes such as the hacksaw across the neck. Atmosphere: Completely F'ed. If you had the option, you'd fall on your sword, but in this world even that wont help Characters: Loved every one of them! Freddy - The punk-gone-right, but still cool enough to know that Frank is a dweeb. Frank - Represents the snivelling wuss in all of us Completely over-the-top performance. "Oh Jeezus!" Burt - Nobody ever mentions this but Burt is total badass. He'd give Ash from Evil Dead a serious run for his money. I also love the unscripted "Black bastard" line he says to Spider. He was so entrenched in the character that he didn't even flinch after saying the line, although Spider seemed to take notice. He is the enforcer in this flick. Suicide - This character really sold the punks to the audience. Sure they could have gone cheezy and spray painted his hair liem green and teased it out. This guy was believable as the real deal. My favorite line of his "Hey F you ballbuster!". I'd still like to know how this actor met his fate. IMDB says it was a set accident. Spider - He ran the gambit from tough as nails to damn near Frank-like. I love the scene where is tripping out over the half lady. "I'll bust it in the damn head!" Oh yeah, the soundtrack kicks arse! I'm not old enough, but I imagine that the audience watching Dawn in the theatres were hooting and hollering. ROTLD captured that same Hoot and Holler vibe. IMHO, Romero forgot to have fun with Day of the Dead and that is why it played 2nd fiddle to ROTLD in the theatres.

[Trioxin245]

Well, you might've been having a heart attack...hence the big bright light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. I mean nothing can be more serious than a heart attack. Though there's castration, cuckolding, cancer, disembowlment.... Or it was the film vision of elitist film academics

[Tullaryx]

ROTLD also, I was a youngin still, gave me shots of Quigley bush.