This Day in Horror History: RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Was Released in 1985
The first film to turn lumbering zombies into rabid brain-eaters was Dan O’Bannon’s Return of the Living Dead, based on a story by original Night of the Living Dead collaborator Joe Russo. The film was released on this day back in 1985.
If it’s been a while, or if you’ve yet to experience the punk rock-infused insanity of Return of the Living Dead, check out the trailer and synopsis below.
Synopsis:
When foreman Frank (James Karen) shows new employee Freddy (Thom Mathews) a secret military experiment in a supply warehouse, the two klutzes accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into flesh-eating zombies. As the epidemic spreads throughout Louisville, Ky., and the creatures satisfy their hunger in gory and outlandish ways, Frank and Freddy fight to survive with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) and a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa).
Trivia:
The character Ernie (Don Calfa) is thought to be a Nazi due to him sharing his name with Ernst Kaltenbrunner. There are also character details that provide an indication of his past: Ernie listens to the German Afrika Corps march song “Panzer rollen in Afrika vor” on his Walkman while he embalms bodies, carries a German Walther P38, has a picture of Eva Braun in his morgue, refers to the rainstorm coming down like “Ein Betrunken Soldat” (which means “A Drunk Soldier” in German), really knows his way around a crematorium, and seems surprised and ashamed when he learns that the dead can feel pain. Dan O’Bannon, in the DVD commentary, mentions that Ernie was intended to be an escaped Nazi in hiding. (Source)
John A. Russo had previously teamed up with George A. Romero to make Night of the Living Dead (1968). Afterwards, both men had different ideas for sequels, so they parted ways and Russo started working on an adaptation of a novel he had written called The Return of the Living Dead, while Romero was making Dawn of the Dead (1978). An independent producer, Tom Fox, bought Russo’s script. He set up production and gave the script to Dan O’Bannon. However, O’Bannon refused to direct it as it was written. He felt that it was too much of a serious attempt at making a sequel to Night of the Living Dead (1968), and did not want to “…intrude so directly on Romero’s turf.” It was re-written to occur in a fictional universe where Night of the Living Dead is a movie “based on true events”, with more humor, up to the point where it only superficially resembled the novel. (Source)
Are you a fan of Return of the Living Dead? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
Categorized:News
