Zombies. By now, these undead are as part of horror films as are classic characters like Dracula and Frankenstein. But, that wasn’t always the case. So, what was the first zombie film like? I decided to find out when I noticed the original Night of the Living Dead was available for streaming. Would this iconic film still be worth watching today, or has this original been left far in the dust by newer zombie fare like Shaun of the Dead, The Walking Dead (TV) and World War Z?
The actors were all unknowns, and while some would go on to other things, Night of the Living Dead is mostly what they are known for. While the acting varies, most of them stay true to the “real” situation they find themselves in. While other films tend to go for the over dramatic, this film plays like a real-world situation, and the characters fit into that scenario easily.
Obviously, like the original Godzilla, there is an obvious reference to nuclear war creating these types of disasters, as “unknown radiation” is the cause of both types of monsters. Like Maximum Overdrive (which most likely took some inspiration from this film), the duration of the radiation is unknown, leaving the viewer to wonder how any of these folks will survive indefinitely. Even by movie’s end, it isn’t made clear If the radiation has stopped, or humanity is starting to fight back.
Before Night of the Living Dead, “zombies” only referred to hoodoo-controlled monsters. While the word zombie is never actually used in the film, the shambling undead portrayed has since become synonymous with the term. These slow-moving creatures don’t seem that dangerous at first (with the first on-screen death – after a bumbling struggle – occurring when the person gets brained on a grave stone). As the movie progresses, however, and their grisly meals become more apparent, its obvious these “ghouls” prove to be a real threat when combined in a group.
Although it was shot on a shoestring budget (a remarkably low $114,000), the film plays like a preview of a “found footage” type of film before that was even a thing – and is still remarkably effective. Sure, audiences have kind of become immune to the scares in this film (which were ground-breaking at the time), but still there is a feeling of unease watching these “ghouls” chomp down on their meals. And the surprise ending makes it feel like there’s a hidden depth to the film you may have missed.
Revolutionary in its impact on the horror genre – and the literal definition of a “zombie” – Night of the Living Dead is an indie film on a bare-bones budget is a classic that should be seen by any horror fan. While it’s not nearly as scary as it once was, its still worthwhile to check out the original. Be warned, though – do to a copyright error upon its initial release, there are literally hundreds of versions of this film available, so make sure you pick the right one.
