RETURNOFTHELIVINGDEAD

The Return of the Living Dead (1984)

Typically gory goings on in this precursor to Romero's "Day of the Dead," Russo's Return of the Living Dead finally makes a big screen appearance. The story is simple, Thom Mathews, a new employee at a medical supply warehouse, and his superior bumble their way into a nightmare when they mess around with a barel of waste from an army experiment. A gas leaks from the canister and releases all hell onto earth when a revived cadaver is burnt at the nearby crematorium. The smoke rises into the clouds and a handy rainstorm falls on the also nearby cemetery in which a group of young punks frolic and play. It is not long before the dead are clawing their way to the surface from their coffins and are roaming the nearby area consuming every living brain in the vicinity.
Typically comedic for such a film, it suggests the events of "Night of the Living Dead" were in fact based on real events. Accompanied by a rock-style soundtrack and some hilarious scenes as well as classic mid-80's acting from the likes of Thom "Friday 13th Part 6" Mathews.
A tight little script and an action packed story as well as some truly gross out moments and classicly horrific invasions are in store for all who should watch this tongue in cheek "Night of the Living Dead" fallout movie.

Taglines:

"They're back...They're Hungry...And they're NOT vegetarian."

"They're Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!"

"I love you - I want to eat your brains!"

Filmed in:

Burbank, California, USA

Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA

Sanibel, Florida, USA

Sylmar, California, USA

Mistake:

Frank tells the tale of how 'some guy' made a movie - Night of the Living Dead, and based it on actual events from the 1960's. However, Frank says the movie was made in 1969 just after the 'real life zombie' events. However, Night of the Living Dead was released in 1968!

Quotes:

"Do you ever wonder about all the different ways of dying? You know, violently? And wonder, like, what would be the most horrible way to die?"
"I try not too think about dying too much."
"Mm. Well for me, the worst way would be for a bunch of old men to get around me, and start biting and eating me alive."
"I see."
"First, they would tear off my clothes..."
"Hey, somebody get some light over here, Trash is taking off her clothes again."

"Did you see that movie, "Night of the Living Dead"?"
"Is that the one where all the bodies come to life and start eating all the people?"
"Yeah, did you know that was based on a true story?"

"I thought you said that if we destroyed the brain, it would die."
"It worked in the movie!"
"Well it ain't working now Frank."
"You mean the movie lied?"

"Send...more...paramedics!"

"But I don't care darling, because I love you, and you've got to let me eat your brains!"

Directed by
Dan O'Bannon

Writing credits
Dan O'Bannon
Rudy Ricci
John A. Russo
Russell Streiner

Produced by
John Daly
Tom Fox
Derek Gibson

Cast
Clu Gulager .... Burt Wilson
James Karen .... Frank
Don Calfa .... Ernie Kaltenbrunner
Thom Mathews .... Freddy
Beverly Randolph .... Tina
John Philbin .... Chuck
Jewel Shepard .... Casey
Miguel A. N��ez Jr. .... Spider
Brian Peck .... Scuz
Linnea Quigley .... Trash
Mark Venturini .... Suicide
Jonathan Terry .... Col. Horace Glover
Cathleen Cordell .... Ethel Glover
Drew Deighan .... Paramedic #1
James Dalesandro .... Paramedic #2
John Durbin .... Radio Corpse #1
David Bond .... Radio Corpse #2
Bob Libman .... The Squad Captain
John Stuart West .... Foot Cop #1
Michael Crabtree .... Foot Cop #2
Ed Krieger .... Foot Cop #3
Robert Craighead .... Cop #1
Paul Cloud .... Cop #2
Derrick Brice .... Segeant Jefferson
Leigh Drake .... Dispatcher
Terrence M. Holliman .... Yellow Cadaver
Allan Trautman .... Tarman
Robert J. Bennett .... Headless Tarman
Jerome 'Daniels' Coleman .... Legless Corpse
Cherry Davis .... 1/2 Woman Corpse