Member-only story

Night of the Living Dead: A BFI Film Classic

Dillon Hayes

·2k Followers· Follow

Published in Night Of The Living Dead (BFI Film Classics)

4 min read

135 View Claps

14 Respond

Save

Listen

Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent horror film directed by George A. Romero. It tells the story of a group of people who are trapped in a farmhouse and must defend themselves against a horde of flesh-eating zombies. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the most influential horror films of all time.

Production

Night of the Living Dead was made on a shoestring budget of $114,000. Romero and his crew shot the film in black and white, and they used non-professional actors. The film's low budget and lack of polish give it a unique, gritty look that has become synonymous with the zombie genre.

Night of the Living Dead (BFI Film Classics)

by Jerry Boyd

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	15964 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	141 pages

Plot

Night of the Living Dead begins with a group of people who are driving through the countryside. They come across a man who is walking down the road, and they stop to ask him for directions. The man attacks them, and they realize that he is a zombie.

The group flees to a nearby farmhouse, where they are trapped inside. The zombies begin to surround the house, and the group must fight for their lives.

Characters

The characters in Night of the Living Dead are all well-developed and believable. They each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and they must work together to survive.

The main characters in the film are:

* Ben (Duane Jones): A young black man who is the leader of the group. * Barbra (Judith O'Dea): A young white woman who is traumatized by the events of the film. * Tom (Keith Wayne): A farmer who is trying to protect his family. * Judy (Judith Ridley): Tom's wife. * Helen (Marilyn Eastman): Tom and Judy's daughter. * Harry (Karl Hardman): A redneck who is trying to take over the group.

Themes

Night of the Living Dead is a film that explores a number of complex themes, including:

* The nature of evil * The fragility of civilization * The importance of community

The film's ending is particularly ambiguous, and it leaves the viewer to ponder the meaning of the events that have occurred.

Legacy

Night of the Living Dead is a landmark film in the horror genre. It has been praised for its realism, its suspense, and its social commentary. The film has been remade and parodied countless times, and it continues to influence horror filmmakers today.

In 1999, Night of the Living Dead was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It is considered to be one of the most important American films ever made.

Night of the Living Dead is a classic horror film that has stood the test of time. It is a film that is both terrifying and thought-provoking, and it continues to be relevant today.

Night of the Living Dead (BFI Film Classics)

by Jerry Boyd

4.7 out of 5