The Return Of The Living Dead Deep Dark Thoughts
Why do I like this The Return Of The Living Dead so much? Let me see. Is it the cool soundtrack? Well, maybe….no I don’t think so. Is it seeing Linnea Quigley naked? Well, that was very nice. No, it’s something else, but I am not sure. Why is my brain itching? Got it….zombies. Here, you will find the full details of The Return Of The Living Dead Full Movie News.
Thereee is nothing better than seeing zombies with Mohawks and chains. At the time this film came out in 1985, I was really into the punk scene. I was going to all the shows like Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks, Black Flag, Descendent, etc. My head was shaved and I was that rebellious teenager who loved to slam dance and stage drive. College quickly cured me of that behavior the following year, but I still love the music today. So having some kind of weird bond with this band of misfits made this movie a more personal experience for me.
Now when I look at the zombies in Return I am really torn, because these are the type of walking corpses I usually don’t like…you know the ones that can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. But the makeup was so cool. These zombies really kicked ass. I was finally able to get a copy of this out-of-print classic on laserdisc and have just finished re-watching it before sitting down at the computer. I am truly amazed at how well this film has stood up against the test of time. Well maybe it’s more that there really hasn’t been too many good zombie movies in the last decade, but let see if George Romero can change that.
If you read my Evil Dead 2 page, you know how I feel about the sequel to this zombie classic. The third installment wasn’t too bad and I would definitely recommend it if you love zombies like I love zombies. The whole idea for Part III supposedly plays on Romero’s original plot for Day of the Dead. The government is trying to control zombies and use them in combat. Not a bad idea.
As always please e-mail me if you have anything you can add to this page, or if you have any comments, criticisms or suggestion.
The Return Of The Living Dead Story
Freddy (Thom Mathews) is just starting his first day of work at UNEEDA Medical Supply, but it also may be his last. When he asks his uncle Frank, ” what’s the weirdest thing he ever saw?”, his uncle tells him that movie Night of the Living Dead was based on a true story. Frank goes on say that the army accidentally shipped the reanimated corpses back to their warehouse where they now lie dominate in steel cylinders.
Seeing that Freddy is still a little skeptical, Uncle Frank takes him down to the cellar to show him the cylinders and they inadvertently release trioxin 245 into the air. You may be asking yourself what is trioxin 245? Well, it’s a chemical that the Darrell Chemical Company developed for the army to spray on marijuana and of course to bring the dead back to life.
The putrid green vapor seeps up into this warehouse of oddities bringing back to life anything that was once alive ( i.e. split dogs, butterflies, etc) and of course, the lone medical school cadavers hanging in the freezer. As they try to kill the brain, they realize the movie was a LIE. Instead they decide to chop the corpse into little pieces and take it next door to the crematorium. But burning the corpse, only releases trioxin 245 into the air where a passing shower brings it raining down onto a cemetery.
Too bad for Freddy’s friends who were waiting for him in the cemetery. The dead are back and looking for live BRAINS. A lot of great zombie action here, especially when the zombies attack the cops and give a call in “to send more cops“. The end comes when the army steps in, but as you can see they screwed up again.
Generation X versus Generation Dead. This 1985 instant classic help to breathe back some life into the dominant zombie franchise. Followed by 2 lesser sequels, although I found “Part 3” to be quite entertaining.
The Return Of The Living Dead Frightful Facts
- Original Return was to be directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by George Romero, but Richard Rubinstein of Laurel Entertainment asked Romero to not get involved because he didn’t want people to think this film was part of Romero’s “Living Dead” series. Rubinstein even got an injunction trying to stop them from using “Living Dead” in the title. But the MPAA arbitrators ruled in favor of the movie’s producers.
- Directed by Dan O’Bannon who did work on Alien, Star Wars, Lifeforce, Total Recall and more.
- John Russo who helped write the original Night of the Living Dead also helped write this film.
- Return was shot on a $4 million budget.
- Thom Mathews played Tommy Jarvis Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives
- The inspiration for the zombies came from many sources, the mummies of Mexico, the Tarman of Wales, civil war vets, etc.
The Return Of The Living Dead Merchandise
- Check out Rotten Cotten cool zombie t-shirt that features the “Tarman”, as well as, many other classic zombies.
- You can Buy Return of the Living Dead on DVD from Amazon.com
- You can Buy Return of the Living Dead 2 on DVD from Amazon.com
- You can Buy Return of the Living Dead 3 on DVD from Amazon.com
- You can Buy the soundtrack at Amazon.com
- Check out the new House of Horrors t-shirt for sale now.
The Return Of The Living Dead Extras
Followed up by two lesser sequels. Part III wasn’t bad and was based on ideas from George Romero‘s original treatment for Day of the Dead
The Return Of The Living Dead Fanspeak
Francisco Leta-Pombo
RE: Return Of The Living Dead kicks major butt!
Caretaker, this has gotta be the best zombie film ever! I mean, hell I just purchased the soundtrack for myself and it has gotta be the best horror soundtrack I’ve heard in a while(I still say The Beyond’s soundtrack is still better, though). In your “Return” page, you are so right about how this film is a perfect mixture of brain-chomping zombies and hardcore punk rockers. Heck, I myself am a punker….San Francisco East Bay hardcore that is!
Anyways, I really do love what you’ve done with “Return”. You’ve shown it to the masses for what it really is: a true zombie movie masterpiece of the 80’s. Now if only Resident Evil: The Movie would come out a bit sooner…..
Francisco
Lil LoVa 7
RE: Return of the Living Dead
This movie is a classic. The first time I saw it, I was scared shitless. and when I still see it today, I’m still scared. It’s funny, witty, and has a great ending. the characters are also great for this movie (burt,ernie,freddy). the soundtrack is awesome too! It is a movie that should be watched by all!!!!!
Lil LoVa 7
Sam
RE: Return Of The Living Dead
Wow now this a great movie. I remember the first time watching this movie, I was expecting a Dawn of the Dead kind of movie, and what i got was a lot better. return of the living dead is a great movie for many reasons..its funny, scary, Linnea Quigley naked, Thom Matthews doing a great job, zombies, the punk scene, the graveyard and much more. Its a great movie.
Sam David Flick
RE: Return of the Living Dead
This the all time greastest horror movie ever!!!! Government cover-ups,zombies,Linnea Quigley,and Punk Rock!!!!!! This movie inspired me in alot of ways. The first time I saw this movie I too was scared Shitless. Me and my white Trash friends would watch this flick and go outside and play “ROTLD” canisters and all. That year I bought my first Misfits album, and a leather Jacket. I look back on it now, and I’d fit perfectly into this movie. If only I could find a girl like TRASH…………245 Trioxin is out there…….
David Flick
David Banner
RE: Return of the living dead
This movie rules… I was 13 when it first aired on HBO in ’86, me and a friend watched it when my parents were out and it scared the piss out of us. Linnea inspired me …..hehe… James Karen’s whining was insane.. and the pick in the cadavers skull and hacksawing his head off was awesome. This movie had it all and more. 2 thumbs up!!! Let’s hope there are a few more drums of 245Trioxin out there !!!!
David
Rebecca Davis
Return of the Living Dead
I have been watching horror movies since I was a little kid. My first horror movie was Dawn of the Dead. My dad took me to the big mall to see it. I was so scared he had to carry me out and we had to walk through the closed mall to get to the car. Anyways, Zombies are my favorite. I love them. I own most all I can get my hands on. Return is my Favorite though. I love it. Thereee is just something about it I love. Even though it is also sort of comic, It scares me every time I watch. Thank you for you website. It is my favorite. I am always on it. Great Job.
Rebecca
