Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Genre: Horror
Director: George A.Romero
Starring Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman

A small group of people are trapped in a house when the dead rise up and walk again, hungry for human flesh.

Shot in grainy black and white on a tiny budget, Night of the Living Dead surprised even its investors when it became the most successful independent film of its time, uniting audiences and critics alike, lavishing it with many an accolade.

The first of a trilogy from George Romero, Night of the Living Dead is his most successful social commentary, challenging some of the anachronistic beliefs still prevalent even in the late 1960’s. One of the more obvious examples of this is the casting of African American Duane Jones in the lead, particularly effective after a blonde actor is seemingly set up for the role and then killed early on. Jones is excellent, the dominant presence in every scene, he inevitably takes on the role of leader within the metaphorical society that develops inside the house. But it’s not all politics; Romero is equally comfortable with the straight horror. Notable highlights include the now famous scene of a sickly young girl suddenly recovering enough to lunge at her mother is one of horror cinema’s great moments. Night of the Living Dead marked the debut for almost all involved, but without considering this fact it’s still one of the genre’s finest examples.