The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

This film is hilarious on how to play with the expectations of the zombie genre. Also, the physical actor and the effects for the Tarman are unbelievable. The acting in the film are enjoyably cheesy and the characters are enjoyable to hang out with, who would've thought that a group of punks could be friends with cheery, normally dressed girl. It's over the top and and the tropes of each character are taken to the extreme, which is great. The only flaw I seem to remember from the film (it's been awhile) was only one scene that I felt was unnecessary and went on longer than it needed to. But, overall, it's a fun time.

I have to admit the first time I watched this movie I hated it. I guess I was looking at it a more of a horror movie than a comedy. I watched it again last night, and got a different perspective. I actually thought it was funny. To me it wasn't scary at all, yes a little creepy; but more humorous than anything. I loved Tarman and the zombies wanting more paramedics and cops- yum. I love George Romero classics, especially Day Of The Dead. This is more of a parody to his work. I thought one of the scenes with the punks could have been cut. The one were Miss takes it all off in the graveyard was tasteless; but other than that it was O.K.. To sum it all up it was funny, and creepy in spots. The ending was kind of predictable, but it is a great comedy.THX, Kris L. CocKayne

"The Return of the Living Dead" is an entertaining movie even though it is a bit old. But it is one of the more important of movies in the zombie genre, and it did of course introduce Trioxin and the tar zombie to us zombie aficionados.It has a good story which is entertaining from beginning to end, and it is nicely paced. Sure, it is a predictable story to be fair, but it still delivered entertainment where it mattered.The characters in "The Return of the Living Dead" were colorful and memorable. And even with years passing between watching the movie you will still remember these characters. And what is not to enjoy with a cast ensemble that includes Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews and Miguel A. Núñez Jr.?The effects were quite good for its age, and still do hold their ground by todays standards. "The Return of the Living Dead" introduced zombies groaning "brains..." which is a detail that you will come to find amusing."The Return of the Living Dead" is a movie that rightfully belongs in the movie collection of any zombie aficionado.

During the IMDb Horror board October Challenge I got the chance to watch a number of excellent movies starring "Scream Queen" Linnea Quigley.Talking to a fellow IMDber,I got told about one of Quigley's most well-known titles that I had somehow overlooked,which led to me getting ready to see the living dead return.The plot:Sorting out human skeletons to be sent to medical schools,Frank tells new employee Freddy that the factory they are working in has a basement filled with military canisters which contain an army toxin that went wrong,which on the one time it was unleashed,inspired a group of film makers to shoot Night of the Living Dead.Going down to the basement,Frank & Freddy clean the drums up,and discover that the toxin is actually zombies.Moving the drums around,Frank accidentally opens one of them up,which leads to him and Freddy suddenly being knocked out.As Freddy lays KO'ed,his pals Tina,Spider,Suicide, Trash, Scuz, Casey and Chuck decide to drive down and pick Freddy up from work.Arriving early,the gang decide to wait round for Freddy by hanging out at a near by graveyard.Waking up,Frank and Freddy find the tin drums empty. Initially believing that the zombies have melted away,Frank and Freddy soon discover that along with unleashing the zombies,that they themselves will soon join the walking dead.View on the film:Looking like a prime piece of Pop-Art,Linnea Quigley (who also appears naked) gives a terrific performance as Trash,whose swinging dance moves and flaring red hair perfectly set the wonderfully strange atmosphere of the film.Joining Quigley, Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (who was homeless when he got the role) gives a whip-smart performance as Spider,whilst Don Calfa gives the movie a touch of the "Mad Scientist" as Ernie.Backed by a sinister score from Matt Clifford and roaring Punk Rock songs,co-writer/(along with Rudy Ricci/John A. Russo and Russell Streiner)director Dan O'Bannon & cinematographer Jules Brenner open up a stylised,blood-drenched Comic Book.Splashing the credits over the title in dripping red,O'Bannon and Brenner turn the movie into a dazzling living cartoon,thanks to Punk leathers,burning blood and slimy gore being drizzled across the screen.Along with the animated atmosphere,O'Bannon also digs his teeth into vicious horror,with O'Bannon giving each of the zombies unique,eye-gauging designs from half cut dog skeletons to a deformed bodybuilder-like super zombie.For the screenplay of the film,the writers smartly decide to make the characters well aware of what zombies are from movies,which leads to hilariously frantic chase scenes,as the surviving humans discover that all the "guides" that the films gave in how to defeat a zombie are completely useless in real life.Whilst the movie largely has a colourful mood,the writers hit the film with some sly satirical jabs,by having the army/government be completely disconnected to the terror taking place on the ground,and the device that they use to kill the zombies (complete with cartoon sound effects!)making the situation go from bad to worse,as the living dead return.