Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Directed, edited, and co-written by George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead is a groundbreaking horror film that redefined the genre and launched the modern zombie archetype. Shot on a shoestring budget of around $114,000, the film became one of the most profitable independent movies ever made, grossing over $30 million worldwide.

Plot Summary
The story begins in a rural Pennsylvania cemetery, where Barbara and her brother Johnny are attacked by a strange, silent man. Barbara escapes to a nearby farmhouse, where she joins a group of strangers—including Ben (Duane Jones), a calm and resourceful man—as they barricade themselves against an onslaught of reanimated corpses. Tensions rise inside the house as the group struggles with fear, mistrust, and conflicting survival strategies, while the undead relentlessly close in.

Cast Highlights

• Duane Jones as Ben
• Judith O’Dea as Barbara
• Karl Hardman as Harry Cooper
• Marilyn Eastman as Helen Cooper
• Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley, and Russell Streiner in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• The zombies were originally referred to as “ghouls”, and the term “zombie” was never used in the film
• The infamous scene of zombies eating human flesh used roast ham covered in chocolate syrup, which reportedly made the actors nauseous
• The opening cemetery sequence was filmed last, in cold November weather—actors had to hold their breath to avoid visible condensation
• The car Barbara drives belonged to Russell Streiner’s mother, and a real dent in the vehicle was written into the script as a crash moment
• The film was released just before the MPAA rating system was instituted, making it one of the last major U.S. films to be released unrated