The Return of the Living Dead

Director: Dan O'Bannon

1981 / 91min / 4K DCP / DCP

Unquestionably the finest film to end with the nuclear detonation of Louisville, Kentucky, Alien screenwriter Dan O’Bannon’s directorial debut brings George A. Romero’s brain-starved zombies stumbling and groaning into the deathrock ’80s. A toxic gas spill at a medical supply company revives the residents of a neighboring cemetery, leading a cadre of trespassing punk delinquents to hole up in a mortuary in hopes of surviving the nights. A veritable banquet of juicy, ingenious kills set to a raucous soundtrack that includes The Cramps, The Flesh Eaters, and 45 Grave, whose “Partytime (Zombie Version)” enjoys a needle drop for the ages.

“The other, less canonical sequel to Night of the Living Dead features one of horror’s all-time best soundtracks and just a generally rollicking good goofy, gory time at the (midnight) movies.”—Jane Schoenbrun

Introduction by Jane Schoenbrun on Saturday, May 4th

Part of Jane Schoenbrun Selects