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Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph ... see more see more... , John Philbin , Linnea Quigley , Jewel Shepard , Miguel A. Núñez Jr. , Brian Peck , Mark Venturini , Jonathan Terry , Cathleen Cordell , Robert J. Bennett , David Bond , Michael Crabtree , Robert Craighead , James Dalesandro , Cherry Davis , John Durbin , Ed Krieger , Thom Matthews , Alexandre Trauner , Derrick Brice , Paul Cloud , Jerome "Daniels" Coleman , Drew Deighan , Leigh Drake , Terrence M. Houlihan , Bob Libman , John Stuart West , Stanzi Stokes , Beverly Hartley

Middle-aged family man Frank (Jim Karen) trains teenaged Freddy (Thom Matthews) for his new job at a medical supply warehouse. In an effort to impress and frighten his young charge, practical joker Fr... read more read more...ank reveals that the warehouse basement contains a cannister full of a mysterious chemical capable of bringing the dead back to life. It seems that the cannister fell off the back of an army truck during an accidental outbreak of zombiedom. Frank and Freddy unwittingly inhale the chemical and release it into the warehouse. Turning to the operator of a nearby crematorium for help in destroying the suddenly undead specimens that surround them, they unwittingly awaken the residents of a nearby cemetary just as Freddy's pals arrive to party amidst the headstones and wait for their friend's shift to end. Meanwhile, Col. Glover (Jonathan Terry) waits for the call that his missing chemical weapon has been unleashed. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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71% liked it

52,709 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

27 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Dan O'Bannon

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: August 27, 2002

Stats: 2,617 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,617)

  • FilmFanatik
    October 30, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    The Return of the Living Dead is one of those guilty pleasure movies that's actually much smarter in its satire and wit than one might expect. I love it for a lot of different reasons but the main ones are the fact that it's set in Louisville, Kentucky (my stomping grounds), it's... read more about zombies and it's an 80's horror comedy that's actually very funny. Everything about it is so ridiculously fun that it's very much a comfort food sort of movie. If you don't want to be heavily engaged or not put a lot of thought process into a movie then The Return of the Living Dead is something you'll definitely enjoy. It's not a dumb movie by any means but it doesn't take an enormous amount of brain power to enjoy it.
  • liquidchick76
    June 18, 2011
    liquidchick76
    100% ridiculous crap.
  • phubbs1
    May 21, 2011
    phubbs1
    The first and probably the best of the 'Return' horror comedies depending on your opinion of course but I think most would agree the special effects and makeup do look the best and the most stickyest in this first one. Plenty of great atmosphere in misty dank graveyards, being tr... read moreapped in a single building, a small town being slowly overrun and taken over plus a great ending with no survivors which is quite unique.
    Of course the main course of this silly film is the terrific makeup and puppetry on display throughout the film, the zombies are on top form as they stagger around with limbs and faces flopping off left right and centre, all are really played well by a large extras cast and really put allot of effect into their performances. If you think of 'Thriller' (1983) then you have this film basically, its an extended 'Thriller' but not quite as good in the makeup and effects department but its clear where the idea came from as allot of the undead awakenings sequence and designs look very similar, abit of a rip off really.

    Still this has some great chuckle moments mainly from Karen and Mathews in their little double act whilst Calfa actually adds a sense of realism and decent acting to the fold with his performance, his final scene at the very end is actually quite poignant. Definitely has the best mix of comedy, horror with a taste of good acting to boot.
  • ajv2688
    January 19, 2011
    ajv2688
    This zombie movie is so bad it's brilliant, I really liked it, and if you like zombie movies you'll enjoy it. It's gory and cheesy, and a lot of fun.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 2, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Return Of The Living Dead is Dan O?Bannon?s directorial debut. A bloody good time from start to finish, The Return Of The Living Dead is one my personal favorites of the genre. The film itself is so over the top that you?re guaranteed a good scare and most definitely a good l... read moreaugh. Dan O?Bannon has made a terrific zombie comedy. The Return Of The Living Dead is the perfect Horror comedy to watch with friends on Halloween. The film has that Halloween feel to it. Everything that O?Bannon has done with this film is phenomenal. The story is simple, yet great at the same time, the cast is amusing and the soundtrack is cool. The zombies themselves are great and it?s hinted from this film that they need brains to kill the pain of being dead. As far as I?m concerned this is THE zombie comedy to watch. Forget Shaun Of The Dead, in fact long before Shaun was fighting the dead, there was a film called Return Of The Living Dead. The film proved to be one of the best, and most original zombie comedies ever made. The film is a great blend of Horror and Comedy and what makes this film work so well is the talented cast who give great performances and laugh a minute moments. The film is at times disgusting, but what do you expect from a zombie flick? What makes the film a real winner is the witty dialogue, and strong script from Dan O'Bannon. Return Of The Living dead is a terrific achievement in Horror, and is one of the greatest Zombie comedies ever made. For me, it?s hard to pick a favorite zombie comedy because there are so many, Army Of Darkness, Shaun Of The Dead, Fido, Zombieland an Re-Animator. But this is without a doubt one of my favorites.
    The Return Of The Living Dead has definitely got a secured place in the zombie genre. The film is a definite must see for zombie fans, and of all the zombie films that I have seen, The Return Of The Living Dead is one of the most memorable films of the genre. This is one hysterical and fun zombie film that you won?t soon forget. The film is filled with dark humour, and the film is solid do to the colorful cast of characters. A solid film from start to finish, The Return Of The Living Dead won't disappoint.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    A great comedy based on Romero's classic Night Of The Living Dead. I loved the overly campy performances and extravagant costuming. The effects were amazing, some of the best of its time. The music fit in perfectly with the style they were going for and made everything a lot more... read more fun. I loved the story, it was a great way of dealing with a zombie situation.
  • kenstachnik
    October 8, 2008
    kenstachnik
    One of the great horror-comedies

    Brains!!!
  • sononothing
    September 12, 2008
    sononothing
    Return of the Living Dead is a parody of the George Romero Living Dead films that instead of a depressing, feeling of dread throughout the picture, we get an almost comic book style film with wit.

    In Return the film Night of the Living Dead is actually a fictionalized account of... read more what happened at a V.A. hospital during a chemical spill. Two medical warehouse employees (James Karen and Thom Matthews) stumble on some barrels containing zombies that have been accidentally delivered to the warehouse. When the seal breaks on the canister we are treated to the terror that can only come with the living dead rising from the grave.

    What's great about this film is that where a Romero zombie film is deadly serious, Return doesn't take itself seriously at all. The characters are way over the top, especially the teenagers who are so stereotyped within themselves you'll wonder why they're hanging out together in the first place. Clu Gulager plays the stereotypical boss trying to cover his ass when the tanks are compromised and Don Calfa sealed his cult status by playing the mortician Ernie who carries around a German pistol and smokes a pipe. These are the kind of over the top characters that I'm talking about. Return of the Living Dead is a parody of a genre that long needed one.

    I'm not calling Return a masterpiece. It's far from it. But what it represents is a film that not only scares you, but makes you laugh and this formula has been reused time and again (Freddy Krueger's comedic switch, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) but Return is the perfect example of that. Over the top actors and over the top acting with great effects and directorial style make this film a cut above in a genre that has been glutted with pure garbage.
  • pier007
    September 10, 2008
    pier007
    Another 'fondly' remembered 80s extravagant b-movie on purpose with hilarious situations and dialogues.
    The guys from 'Shaun of the dead' owe a lot to Dan O'Bannon and the good old Tar-man.
  • cosmo313
    August 6, 2008
    cosmo313
    This is a hilarious take on the zombie film, and one that even set some standards of its own (such as zombies solely craving brains). The movie is very ridiculous, with lots of over-acting and plenty of outrageous scenes, but it's all very fun and tongue-in-cheek. The soundtrack ... read morealso rules. So, while this is far from being a great movie overall, it's a highly entertaining horror comedy that is worth checking out.

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Critic Reviews

Matthew Sorrento
March 30, 2011
Matthew Sorrento, Film Threat

Bastard Son of a Prodigal Son: Interview on The Complete History of The Return of the Living Dead Full Review

Christopher Lloyd
September 19, 2010
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Ed O'Bannon and John Russo may have intended The Return of the Living Dead as a comedy, but it's just too damn gory, too scary and too good to be dismissed as a zom com. Full Review

Steve Biodrowski
July 12, 2008
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter

An amusing, punk variation on the familiar zombie theme. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
October 13, 2007
Ryan Cracknell, Calgary Movies

Equal parts horror and comedy, Return of the Living Dead finds success on both fronts. Full Review

Rob Humanick
October 5, 2007
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth

Effectively announces itself as a horror movie deliberately pitted against customary cinematic values. Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
September 27, 2007
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine

A tongue-in-cheek, splatter-laden homage to George A. Romero's zombie pictures. Full Review

Pete Vonder Haar
August 12, 2005
Pete Vonder Haar, Film Threat

A fresh and immensely entertaining take on the zombie genre

Widgett Walls
January 25, 2005
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

It's a shame that the franchise went straight to Campsville, because it had a good start.

Alex Sandell
October 27, 2004
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

The definitive splatterpunk movie. Takes perverse delight in being disgusting. Dan O'Bannon's screenplay hits your funny bone with a meathook and doesn't let go. Full Review

Blake Davis
September 12, 2003
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News

A funny, gore-spattered homage.

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Facts

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    • Casey: (talking to Burt) Mister, don't go in there. See, there's a thing in there. It ripped out the phone.
    • Burt: There's another phone in the basement.
    • Chuck: The basement's f**ked! You know what's in the basement?
    • Burt: What do you mean?
    • Spider: One of those f**king corpses man. A real ugly one; all black and slimy!
    • Ernie: (talking to Burt before he goes outside to make a run for it; past the zombies) Burt. That favor that you owe me...watch your ass out there.
    • 1/2 Lady Corpse: (as she's tied up to the table; crying) Brains! Brains! Brains! Brains!
    • Freddy: (talking to Tina, as he's just turned into a zombie) I can finally see the one thing the one thing that can relieve this horrible suffering.
    • Tina: What Freddy? What?
    • Freddy: (attacks her) LIVE BRAINS!
    • Radio Corpse: (on the police speaker) Send more cops!
    • Ernie: (after seeing the cops get attacked by a bunch of zombies) This place everybody that comes in gets swallowed up.
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The Return of the Living Dead Trivia

  • What cheesy horror flick has this quote? "Get that screwdriver out of my head"  Answer »
  • In the Movie, "Return of the Living Dead", one of the zombies gets on a radio and says, Send more________?  Answer »
  • Witch one of these movie isn't a George A Romero movie?   Answer »
  • In what movie does the zombie use the dead paramedic's radio and requests that more paramedics be sent?  Answer »
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