The Return of the Living Dead

My favorite zombie film. Best mix of gross out horror and dark humor.

I've alway's enjoyed this movie. In fact I put it into the catagory of my "cable classics" as I was too young to see it when it hit the theaters. The combination of carnage, boobies, and gore based humor was awsome at the time and still stands up to this day although the wardrobe and some of the slang dates it. I'll preface this by saying that I've got the DVD version that came out in 2002, and that was great. I was very happy at it's special features at the time. This edition is great in it's own right. I won't expound on the features carried over from the first DVD offering, so if you want to hear about that go to one of the other reviews. New Special Features include: 1. The first new feature is a great retrospective with a good many of the cast and crew. Great fun seening what they look like now and how they view the film in retrospect. I'd liked to have seen more, but it was well done. 2. The second new feature is a really cool documentery about the status of horror in the 1980's which interviews quite a few prominent film directors about thier experiences of making horror films in the '80s. Almost worth the price of the DVD by itself. 3. Commentary by some of the cast and crew. Loads of fun until someone decides to impersonate a zombie. That gets old really fast, but thankfully the commentaters cut it short (although not early enough for my taste, as I feel we've missed out on some info, but we'll never know). Otherwise it's very fun hearing the various cast members relate their experiences from the filming and reactions from the public even years later. To address a few things I've seen online about this version: 1. Yes, the cover artwork isn't great, but that's just the cardboard slipcover; which is forgivable given the rest. The actual DVD wrap art is sweet and worthy. Additionally, the cardboard slipcover is glow in the dark, which I've submitted a photo of to Amazon, although I don't know if they will publish it. 2. I can't speak to earlier comments about the soundtrack and over dubbing. I've never watched the movie on VHS, and only have vague, but fond memories of seeing it on cable as a young lad. You'll have to make up your own mind as to whether this affects the viewing experience for yourself. 3. The Zombie audio track. I didn't bother listening to this, and feel a bit bad about writing a review of the DVD without doing so, but if it's anything like the zombie intrusion on the cast track I can live with that. All in all this is the superior of the DVD releases for this film. If you have not seen this Zombie movie, then you really owe it to yourself to add it to your collction, and if you own the original release and love the film, then it will enlighten you to a few more aspects and broaden the experience which will be worth the double dip. My only real disappointment is that they did not include the full interviews with the cast and crew used for the retrospective feature as a bonus feature. That would have been a boon and I suspect a lot of fun. Otherwise it's a great package. Either way, if you are a zombie movie lover you should definately own this film. P.S. Send more paramedics, send more cops!

Unlike last months MGM/Fox BR + DVD Combo of Escape from New York (Which was a Great HD Transfer But, it was Bare with all The Great Extras nowhere to be found?!?!?!?!) This BR + DVD Combo is Nothing Short then How every BR Disc should be (You get the Fully Loaded 2nd Print DVD of ROTLD along with The HD BR Transfer with every Extra too! Return of the Living Dead is without a Doubt the Best American Non George Romero Zombie Film Clu Gulager said it best ROTLD is more Than a Horror Film it is Art! This Film holds allot of Memories Growing up. The 1st time i seen it i was Young 6yrs old or so (And it Scared me allot) Didn't help I lived maybe 150ft from a cemetery Years later i would Catch it on tv and fall in love with it as A Close to Perfect Film That does so much more then typical Horror Movies. I've owned almost every Commercial Release (VHS, Both DVD Cuts now the BR) Could never find the Rare LaserDisc Dan O'Bannon's Return of the Living Dead is such a stand out film That is Perfect in so many ways. The Story/Script is very smart tips a Hat at "The Godfather of the Dead" George A. Romero but, in no way Rips of his Vision. And creates a New Set of Rules! Fast Moving Zombies (Few Films Can pull of Fast Moving Corpses! Nightmare City, ROTLD, 28Days Later and "Remake of DOTD are the few that come to mind. Zombies that talk, Ect. The F/X are extremely good! Allot of Practical Effects that Still to this day Holds up and gives the film a Real Quality to it The soundtrack is a Perfect fit (From the Opening Scene with James Karen & Thom Mathews getting blasted in the face with the Chemical the music comes in at the Right Place and it sets up the Pace of a Wild Fun Ride! IMO the Best Horror Soundtracks are Phantasm, Dawn of the Dead, Suspiria, Halloween, and ROTLD The Cast is so Good (I'd say its one of the Best Film Cast of the 1980's You have 3 Veteran actors Clu Gulager, James Karen, and Don Calfa with a Group of Young Actor's Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, John Philbin, Jewel Shepard, Miguel Nunez, Brian Peck, Linnea Quigley, Mark Venturini. The Young Cast Members having to look like they walked from Sex Pistols Concert! Another New Unique thing Punk Rock Teens vs The Undead Each actor Brings so much to this Film. The Scenes between James Karen and Thom Mathews are wonderful the 2 Click and Really Hold nothing back those 2 do the most heavy lifting since they have to Change Mentally and Physically and they Sell it! You truly feel bad for them 'Cause you are watching them die and you know what they are gonna become! ROTLD also has one of the Most Iconic Zombies of all Time There are 2 Actor's That Really know how 2 Play dead it would be (Romero's Day) Sherman Howard as Bub and Allan Trautman as Tarman Both of them Really showcase what fine Actor's They are Cause they are doing allot of Physical things without using Dialog The BR + DVD Combo Pack might comes Close 2 The Ultimate Collection (But, it is Missing all the Workprint Footage including the Original Ending) I've read a few reviews of the HD Picture Quality. IMO the PQ is very good. Some Scenes Look Flawless and pop out, Crisp and Clean.... Some scenes not the best But, It's going in the right step (Compared to the Dreadful HD Transfers of Robocop, The Terminator, and the 1st Print BR of Predator) PQ 9/10 Audio (Getting a DTS Track finally) 9.5/10 Extras 10/10 Over All A True Must have Zombie Masterpiece That gets a very Awesome BR Collection 9.5/10

An excellent package. A beautiful HD presentation of this timeless work of art, with three audio tracks (original 2.0 mono, 2002 remixed stereo, 2002 remixed 5.1, I like the latter best), the huge and brilliant MORE BRAINS documentary in HD, three smaller but interesting documentaries in SD, features on the first two sequels, a behind the scenes booklet disguised as Ernie Kalfenbruner's notebook (modelled on Anchor Bay's 2004 Day of the Dead Divimax booklet, which was made up as Doctor Logan's notepad), all wrapped up in a beautiful steelbook. The presentation is outstanding, I can't imagine ever watching the film another way now. The 5.1 might put some people off as it's not director approved and is made from the director approved (but oft detested by fans) 2002 remixed soundtrack, but I was in awe. I can actually hear parts of the score I did not know existed and make out the melody, I can hear atmospherics and details never revealed before! Wow! I recommend you do what I did and pump up the rear (audio channels that is, not an Elton John kind of "pump up the rear") and the bass and be very impressed. If there's any negatives, it would be that the disc is missing some of the extras from the US releases (2002 MGM DVD, 2007 DVD Collector's Edition, 2008 Blu-Ray), but I don't mind since they are on discs I already own and the information covered in it is almost all here anyway in one documentary or another. The documentary on those discs with the cast and crew pales in comparison to More Brains, believe me, so really it's just the Dan O'Bannon commentary, cast commentary and Dan O'Bannon interview missing. The booklet is quite superfluous - it's nice and I like it, great illustrations etc., but it's basically distilled from the early chapters of the excellent THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, which I already own and you should too. It's by the same authors so I didn't feel cheated and most of you will probably, uh, EAT IT UP! Plus, it features the first two pages of Don Calfa's exciting script for a sequel called REVENGE OF THE LIVING DEAD, set the moment the first film ended, here rendered in serviceable comic book form. Well worth your dime, people. As for the movie, well if you like eighties horror films (John Carpenter's, for example), or zombie movies in general, this is definitely a must see. It's a terrifically written film, one which still has a lot to offer and reveal on repeat viewings (I should know, I've seen it hundreds of times!). Performances and characters are atypical for the genre - the film seems to both love and loathe rebellious punk types, and makes a rather novel point of turning an older gentleman (think a Southern, foul mouthed Jimmy Stewart) in penny loafers and a baige jacket into a poor excuse for an action hero. Funny thing is, it works! Clu Gulager is actually my favourite part of the movie. The film allows for a lot of comedy and irony - I would argue irony is the film's strong point (and Dan O'Bannon's, too) and it can prove both grim and hilarious, often at the same time. The real genius stroke of the film, if you'll excuse me using the "G" word, is to so relentlessly push adversity into the character's (and audience's) faces, to the point of absurdity, so that it becomes both funny and intense. The villains are zombies, of course, but unlike Romero's more gothic zombies, these are born of science and spread much more virulantly. Much like John Carpenter's THE THING, this villain's threat comes from a lot more ways than just reaching out to grab and kill you. (Come to think of it, Dan O'Bannon's other famous monster, the ALIEN/Xenomorph from the ALIEN films was also a multi-faceted threat). These zombies can not only not be "killed", their destruction will almost certainly bring forth more of the same (like the mythical Hydra's heads). This relentless attacking really does get to you and bring the audience a lot of intensity, if not fear. However, these zombies also scream "brains!", use police radios like calling for takeaways and make begging/pleading speeches to loved ones, trying to reason why they should be allowed to eat their brains. The funny strokes are funnier because the absurdity is being played more for dramatic power more than pure comedy, and the intensity is funnier because it keeps piling on irony after irony. When they made the first sequel to this picture (and I do like parts 2 and 3 more than most), they did the more obvious thing of playing it all for laughs - and it doesn't work at all. Unlike Romero's heroes in, for example, Dawn of the Dead, who dealt with the end times at the hands of zombies with humour and courage, the heroes of ROTLD behave like you and I. Some of them scream, panic and get hysterical. Some of them need a slap. What makes it so much fun is the contrast between this ridiculous situation and a well-reasoned and intelligent response.

Esta película de culto es muy divertida y con buenos momentos de terror. La edición que compré es la que distribuye 20th Century Fox y cuenta con 3 especiales de aprox. 20 minutos sobre la realización de la película y la influencia de las películas de terror de los 80. Un plus excepcional son los subtítulos en "zombie", los cuales aparecen cuando los muertos vivientes están en pantalla y son muy graciosos (sin embargo están en inglés). En cuanto a los idiomas están en inglés y francés, pero si hay subtítulos al español. Esta es una buena opción para quienes les gustan las películas de zombies o de terror-comedia ochenteros y aun precio atractivo (yo pagué $170). El envío fue bastante rápido y con embalaje adecuado.

le blu ray contient langue anglaise et sous titres anglais ! C'est ce que je cherchais et pour un prix raisonnable. Un film entre comédie et horreur maitrisé toujours plaisant a révoir, et en blu ray ! et la bande son ! ahahahah cette musique quand le gaz se repand. joussif !

Para os colecionadores de plantão: esta edição está belíssima, com qualidade impecável — recomendo! Até fiquei com receio de não ser steelbook, mas veio 100% fiel ao anúncio. O pedido chegou bem antes do previsto. Só queria deixar aqui um alerta para quem for comprar: duas pessoas diferentes entraram em contato comigo pelo WhatsApp alegando que havia uma “pendência fiscal” e que, somente após o pagamento de uma taxa, meu pedido seria liberado (a mensagem incluía um link, que eu obviamente não cliquei). Ambas tinham todos os meus dados (nome, endereço e telefone), então, de alguma forma, essas informações acabam vazando para esse tipo de golpista. Ignorei as duas mensagens e, no fim, o pedido chegou normalmente, sem que eu tivesse que pagar nada a mais.

De lo mejor del cine friki. Zombies y carcajadas a partes iguales. Calidad de imagen muy buena en formato 1,85:1, sonido en español DD 2.0. Inglés e italiano DD 2.0 también. Subtítulos en varios idiomas, entre ellos castellano e inglés. No tiene extras. Si te gusta el cine de zombies y además quieres reírte hasta reventar, esta es tu película.