The iconic film by master of the genre, George A. Romero's 1968 film is still the standard by which all zombie movies are measured. This is why you should see it.
There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of zombie movies in existence. Here's a must-see movie if you're interested in the genre, or just looking for a great movie to rent this weekend.
Three Zombie Movies You Should See #1: Night Of the Living Dead
Made with a small budget by director (also co-writer and editor) George A. Romero's Night Of the Living Dead isn't the first film to feature zombies, but is considered to be the first of the modern zombie movie genre. Made in 1968, Night Of the Living Dead tells the story of a group of strangers who seek refuge in a isolated farmhouse after corpses mysteriously come back to life and begin stalking the living (who become zombies themselves after being bitten). There's little explanation to why the corpses are returning to life and the plague has spread so quickly, and there's little known about how to protect yourself. As night falls, the farmhouse becomes surrounded by zombies and the five strangers are forced to plan their escape while personal tensions and panic threaten the group's survival from within.
The film has no sound or special effects, is shot in black & white, filmed mostly at night and features no movie stars.Because it's made in such a simple way with an uncomplicated plot, Night Of the Living Dead makes for an extremely effective horror movie.
It is much more than just a scary movie, however. Romero's use of a zombie horror story as social commentary has become as integral to the zombie genre as their rotting bodies, dead faces, hollowed blank eyes, and stiff, shuffling gait are. Distrust of your fellow man from the relatively minor - will he abandon you to save himself? - to the unthinkable extreme - will he tear out your intestines and turn you into a zombie?, the breakdown of everyday society - there's no-one to explain why this is happening, or what to do to survive and it's every man for himself - and distrust of the authorities - they've turned into zombies too - are the main themes. The inclusion of a black man as the film's central heroic figure at a time when racial tensions were still simmering adds to the unsettling nature of Night Of the Living Dead and what dawn brings at the film's conclusion is arguably just as frightening as the zombies scratching at the hastily boarded-up windows and doors.
Starkly visual, chilling and stripped down in a way that's unsettling, Night Of the Living Dead has achieved the status of cult classic and elements of its plot and the way the film looks can be found in nearly every zombie film made since.
