Night of the Living Dead - 6 stars out of 10

Night of the Living Dead - 6 stars out of 10

"Night of the Living Dead" is a pretty typical zombie film, but that's because George Romero's classic is what popularized zombies in modern cinema.  It has inspired countless zombie films through remakes, parodies, and the reimagining of its plot.  Although it isn't as scary as many of our modern horror films, in its time it must have been thrilling (and you must admit, all of those zombie hands coming through the windows will never stop being a terrifying sight).  The black and white 35 mm cinematography makes this film reminiscent of Orson Welles' reading of War of the Worlds, creating a sense of panic as if you are watching a newsreel as these events unfold in your neighborhood.  That sensation is magnified if you are from Western Pennsylvania and the events were filmed (and literally occur) miles away from you.  The movie certainly has its faults but the shock value of watching a young girl murder and eat her parents never loses its "chill factor."  The zombies are not incredibly frightening but all of the quick cuts enhance their ability to put you on edge.  It is interesting that the majority of the film is limited to a single location.  The script is so good that this typically bad aspect is an advantage for the film, giving the events a personal feel and placing you into the setting with the characters.  These young filmmakers may not have had a large budget or a lot of resources but they managed to weave together a landmark film of the horror genre whose legacy can still be seen in horror films today.