07-27-2008, 08:28 PM
![[Image: return-of-the-living-dead.jpg]](http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/images/return-of-the-living-dead.jpg)
CAST
Clu Galager
James Karen
Don Calfa
Linnea Quigley
Miguel Nunez
and more...
This film follows a gang of punk rockers who find themselves prey to a deadly swarm of zombies that were unleashed from exposure to the army chemical, 2/4/5 Trioxin.
Where can I start with a film such as Return of the Living Dead? If you don't already recognize the title (or the cover) then I suggest you read up on the film a little bit before actually watching it. No, I don't mean spoilers, or watch trailers that will give away key elements in the film, but study the HYPE of the film. Show me one person who can find more negatives than positives about this film, and I'll show you a liar. Well, maybe not a liar, but you get the idea. The film itself takes place in Louisville, KY (but was shot in California) and follows a group of punk rock-ish early 20's rebels who find themselves in one sticky ass situation. Fast zombies, immune to headshots, with a splash of humor. That's what you get with this film. Characters you'll learn to love, sequels you'll anticipate (although you'll regret it), and Linnea Quigley dancing naked in a graveyard. What more can you ask for out of a 80's horror film right?
The film itself starts out semi-slow, but once it gets going, it gets going. Now don't go in to this film expecting an all out action packed gore fest, because you won't get it. But if you go into expecting a fun, 80's film, that happens to have a nice death scene every so often, then you'll be rewarded with just that. Not to mention, Mark Venturini is a pure badass (for the 20 seconds he's in the film.)
But now enough of the details, let's get into the actual film. Okay, so you have that group of punk rockers I mentioned earlier, whose goal is merely to party and have some fun. Things seem to be going as planned, when one of them suggest they party in a run down graveyard. Pretty good idea right? Well it is, for a while. Until one of their fuck up friends (Freddy) decides to mess around with some contained cadavers in the basement of a medical supply warehouse with his, so to speak, supervisor. You can probably guess what happens after that...the cadaver gets out, and the chemical leaks makes its way through the ventilation system, which leaks into the refridgerator where another "fresh" cadaver is stored.
Ouch, their little party is being crashed now. Not really pissed, but too stupid to realize what's going on at that point. "Is that Freddy over there!?!?!" Yeah right. So as you know it, Burt, Ernie, and Frank decide to cover up the entire incident by burning the body. Well, that smoke has to go somewhere, and what do you know, our lord and savior Jesus Christ decides to make it rain. And that shit leaks down into the graveyard, bringing all the corpses back to life. The remainder of the film ensues with the gang and the 3 mentioned above, trying to make it out alive. And then with an awesome ending, of the U.S Army fucking them over. Not going to spoil it anymore than I already have though.
All in all, this is probably the most FUN Zombie film of our time. I'm not going to go as far as to say it's the BEST, because I'm a big fan of the original Dawn of the Dead, but if you ever get tired of the seriousness alot of zombie films carry, then definately check this film out, and stay away from garbage like Night of the Living Dead 3-D (sorry Sid Haig.) I'll go ahead and give this film a solid rating of 8/10.

:zombie: