The Return of the Living Dead
dir. Dan O'Bannon · 1985
Feature
Psychological Horror
Mood
Comedic / Dark
Look
vibrant colors with a gritty, urban backdrop
Structure
episodic with a focus on character interactions
Plot
When a bumbling pair of employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to re-animate as they go on a rampage through Louisville, Kentucky seeking their favorite food, brains.
Why watch
A pair of hapless medical supply employees accidentally unleash a gas that reanimates the dead, leading to a chaotic night of brain-hungry zombies rampaging through Louisville. Watching it is a wild ride through absurdity, where humor and horror collide in a vibrant, chaotic landscape that reflects the anxieties of its time.
Cultural context
1980s horror revivalReagan-era consumer culturepunk subculturerise of VHS and home video