Night of the Living Dead (1990 film)
Encyclopedia
Night of the Living Dead is a 1990
American
remake
of George A. Romero's
1968 horror film of the same name
and was directed by Tom Savini
. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A. Russo
.
Another remake would follow in 2006, titled Night of the Living Dead 3-D; however, none of the original cast or crew was involved with the production.
) and Barbara (Patricia Tallman
) visiting their mother's grave in a remote, rural cemetery. During their visit, Barbara is attacked by a zombie. Her brother comes to her defense, but is killed in the struggle. Barbara flees the cemetery and discovers what at first seems to be an abandoned farmhouse. She is joined there shortly after by Ben (Tony Todd
) and the two clear the house of zombies and begin the process of barricading the doors and windows.
They discover other survivors are already hiding in the cellar of the house: Harry Cooper (Tom Towles
), his wife Helen (McKee Anderson), their daughter Sarah (who is ill after being bitten by one of the infected), Tom Landry (William Butler
) and his girlfriend Judy Rose Larson (Katie Finneran
). What follows are the attempts by the survivors to defend the house under siege from the undead
. The group is left divided over what their next course of action should be. Harry believes everyone should retreat to the cellar and bar the door to wait for the authorities. Ben thinks the cellar is a "death trap" and that they would be better served fortifying the house, which at least has alternate escape routes. This leaves the Coopers in the basement tending to their daughter and the remaining members of the group upstairs to continue their work reinforcing the doors and windows.
A plan is ultimately devised to escape using Ben's truck, which is out of fuel. There is a gas pump on the property but it is locked. A search of a corpse on the property produces a set of keys. Judy Rose, Tom, and Ben proceed up the hill toward the gas pump but their plan begins to unravel when Ben falls from the bed of the truck and is left to defend himself against the undead. After discovering the key to the gas pump is not among the bunch they brought with them, Tom attempts to shoot the lock off. The falling gasoline is ignited, trailing after them in the truck. The resulting explosion kills both Tom and Judy.
Ben returns to the house to find things beginning to desolve into chaos. Harry has wrestled Barbara's gun away from her and is now armed. Unbeknownst to the survivors upstairs, Helen has been attacked and bitten by her daughter, who is now a zombie. When Sarah makes her way upstairs she triggers a shootout between her father, who is trying to protect her, and Ben and Barbara, who are trying to protect themselves. Both Ben and Harry are badly wounded. Harry retreats upstairs to the attic, while Ben makes his way to the cellar. Barbara leaves the house, now being overrun by the undead, to attempt to find help.
Barbara eventually joins a posse of locals who are attempting to clear the area of the undead. She returns with them to the farmhouse the next day to find Ben has died of his wounds and reanimated. Harry emerges from the attic alive; in a fit of rage, Barbara kills him and turns to leave the house, telling the vigilantes they have "another one for the fire".
, who originally signed up with hopes of doing the make-up effects as he was not able to for the original film. Romero served as producer for the remake, and he recruited some of the original camera and sound crew to participate.
Laurence Fishburne
, Ving Rhames
, and Eriq La Salle
were all considered for the role of Ben. Subsequently, Rhames would go on to play a male lead in the remakes of Dawn of the Dead
and Day of the Dead.
To avoid an X rating, Savini had to cut several scenes from the film, some of which can be seen on the DVD
. Savini sometimes shows the entirety of the cut scenes at conventions.
awarded the film a mere one star out of a possible four stars. Leonard Maltin
assigned it two out of four stars. Recent criticism has been more appreciative, however; the film currently holds a 68% "fresh" approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes
.
1990 in film
The year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2....
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of George A. Romero's
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
1968 horror film of the same name
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
and was directed by Tom Savini
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A. Russo
John A. Russo
John A. Russo , sometimes credited as Jack Russo or John Russo, is an American screenwriter and film director most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes, Midnight, and Santa Claws....
.
Another remake would follow in 2006, titled Night of the Living Dead 3-D; however, none of the original cast or crew was involved with the production.
Plot
The film begins with siblings Johnny (Bill MoseleyBill Moseley
William "Bill" Moseley is an American film actor and musician who has starred in a number of cult classic horror films, including House of 1000 Corpses, Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil's Rejects. His first big role was in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 as Chop Top...
) and Barbara (Patricia Tallman
Patricia Tallman
Patricia J. Tallman is an American actress and stunt performer, sometimes credited as Pat Tallman.-Early life:Patricia is the daughter of Jerry Tallman, a radio entertainer...
) visiting their mother's grave in a remote, rural cemetery. During their visit, Barbara is attacked by a zombie. Her brother comes to her defense, but is killed in the struggle. Barbara flees the cemetery and discovers what at first seems to be an abandoned farmhouse. She is joined there shortly after by Ben (Tony Todd
Tony Todd
Anthony T. "Tony" Todd is an American actor and movie producer, known for his height of 6'5", and deep voice. He is well known for playing the Candyman in the horror movie franchise of the same name, William Bludworth in Final Destination and for guest starring roles on numerous television...
) and the two clear the house of zombies and begin the process of barricading the doors and windows.
They discover other survivors are already hiding in the cellar of the house: Harry Cooper (Tom Towles
Tom Towles
Tom Towles is an American actor.Towles was born and raised in Chicago. He became an actor after a stint in the U.S. Marines, beginning with an uncredited performance in Dog Day Afternoon . He has appeared in film and television extensively since the 1980s...
), his wife Helen (McKee Anderson), their daughter Sarah (who is ill after being bitten by one of the infected), Tom Landry (William Butler
William Butler
William Butler may refer to:* William Butler , American Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania, one of five Butler brothers in the war...
) and his girlfriend Judy Rose Larson (Katie Finneran
Katie Finneran
Katie Finneran is an American actress of film, stage, and television noted for her Tony Award-winning performances in the Broadway play Noises Off in 2002, and the musical Promises, Promises in 2010.-Personal life:...
). What follows are the attempts by the survivors to defend the house under siege from the undead
Undead
Undead is a collective name for fictional, mythological, or legendary beings that are deceased and yet behave as if alive. Undead may be incorporeal, such as ghosts, or corporeal, such as vampires and zombies...
. The group is left divided over what their next course of action should be. Harry believes everyone should retreat to the cellar and bar the door to wait for the authorities. Ben thinks the cellar is a "death trap" and that they would be better served fortifying the house, which at least has alternate escape routes. This leaves the Coopers in the basement tending to their daughter and the remaining members of the group upstairs to continue their work reinforcing the doors and windows.
A plan is ultimately devised to escape using Ben's truck, which is out of fuel. There is a gas pump on the property but it is locked. A search of a corpse on the property produces a set of keys. Judy Rose, Tom, and Ben proceed up the hill toward the gas pump but their plan begins to unravel when Ben falls from the bed of the truck and is left to defend himself against the undead. After discovering the key to the gas pump is not among the bunch they brought with them, Tom attempts to shoot the lock off. The falling gasoline is ignited, trailing after them in the truck. The resulting explosion kills both Tom and Judy.
Ben returns to the house to find things beginning to desolve into chaos. Harry has wrestled Barbara's gun away from her and is now armed. Unbeknownst to the survivors upstairs, Helen has been attacked and bitten by her daughter, who is now a zombie. When Sarah makes her way upstairs she triggers a shootout between her father, who is trying to protect her, and Ben and Barbara, who are trying to protect themselves. Both Ben and Harry are badly wounded. Harry retreats upstairs to the attic, while Ben makes his way to the cellar. Barbara leaves the house, now being overrun by the undead, to attempt to find help.
Barbara eventually joins a posse of locals who are attempting to clear the area of the undead. She returns with them to the farmhouse the next day to find Ben has died of his wounds and reanimated. Harry emerges from the attic alive; in a fit of rage, Barbara kills him and turns to leave the house, telling the vigilantes they have "another one for the fire".
Cast
- Tony ToddTony ToddAnthony T. "Tony" Todd is an American actor and movie producer, known for his height of 6'5", and deep voice. He is well known for playing the Candyman in the horror movie franchise of the same name, William Bludworth in Final Destination and for guest starring roles on numerous television...
as Ben - Patricia TallmanPatricia TallmanPatricia J. Tallman is an American actress and stunt performer, sometimes credited as Pat Tallman.-Early life:Patricia is the daughter of Jerry Tallman, a radio entertainer...
as Barbara - Tom TowlesTom TowlesTom Towles is an American actor.Towles was born and raised in Chicago. He became an actor after a stint in the U.S. Marines, beginning with an uncredited performance in Dog Day Afternoon . He has appeared in film and television extensively since the 1980s...
as Harry Cooper - McKee Anderson as Helen Cooper
- Heather Mazur as Sarah Cooper
- William ButlerWilliam Butler (actor)William Butler is an actor, writer, director, make-up artist, special effects technician and producer.-History:He is known for his characters being killed in many of the horror films that he appears in...
as Tom Landry - Katie FinneranKatie FinneranKatie Finneran is an American actress of film, stage, and television noted for her Tony Award-winning performances in the Broadway play Noises Off in 2002, and the musical Promises, Promises in 2010.-Personal life:...
as Judy Rose Larson - Bill MoseleyBill MoseleyWilliam "Bill" Moseley is an American film actor and musician who has starred in a number of cult classic horror films, including House of 1000 Corpses, Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil's Rejects. His first big role was in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 as Chop Top...
as Johnnie - Walter Berry as Mr. McGruder
- Bill "Chilly Billy" Cardille as TV Interviewer
- Stacie FosterStacie Foster-Filmography:* USA High** episode Excess's Ex ... as Judith* Saved by the Bell: The New Class** episode Mission: Control ... as Shelly** episode Into the Woods ... as Shelly* Baywatch Nights** episode Circle of Fear ... as Young Woman...
as Doll's Mom Zombie
Production
The film was handled by the same team as the original, with the exception that directing duties were handled by famed special make-up effects artist Tom SaviniTom Savini
Thomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
, who originally signed up with hopes of doing the make-up effects as he was not able to for the original film. Romero served as producer for the remake, and he recruited some of the original camera and sound crew to participate.
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence John Fishburne III is an American film and stage actor, playwright, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Morpheus in the Matrix science fiction film trilogy, as Cowboy Curtis on the 1980's television show Pee-wee's Playhouse, and as singer-musician Ike Turner...
, Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames
Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
, and Eriq La Salle
Eriq La Salle
Eriq La Salle is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.-Early life:...
were all considered for the role of Ben. Subsequently, Rhames would go on to play a male lead in the remakes of Dawn of the Dead
Dawn of the Dead (2004 film)
Dawn of the Dead is a 2004 horror film directed by Zack Snyder in his directorial debut. It is a remake of George A. Romero's 1978 film of the same name and stars Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, and Jake Weber. The film depict a handful of human survivors living in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin shopping mall...
and Day of the Dead.
To avoid an X rating, Savini had to cut several scenes from the film, some of which can be seen on the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. Savini sometimes shows the entirety of the cut scenes at conventions.
Reception
Initial reaction to this remake was largely negative. Roger EbertRoger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
awarded the film a mere one star out of a possible four stars. Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
assigned it two out of four stars. Recent criticism has been more appreciative, however; the film currently holds a 68% "fresh" approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
External links
- night of the living dead Remake Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...