hen it comes to scary movies, few productions possess the cachet of Night of the Living Dead. This low-budget masterpiece, shot in black-and-white, for only $114,000, has in the decades since its initial release in 1968 become an honest-to-goodness classic. The new "millennium edition" DVD from Elite Entertainment, which is essentially an affordable revamp of its acclaimed 1994 laserdisc release, presents an exhaustive and incredibly informative exploration of this highly influential film.
Besides the standard soundtrack—offered in both the original monaural mix and a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix—the remastered print of the picture touts two distinct commentary options. The first alternative highlights writer/director George A. Romero, co-writer John Russo, producer/actor Karl Hardman and actress Marilyn Eastman informally discussing the arduous creation of the movie, with the second choice presenting equally entertaining recollections from producer/actor Russell Streiner, production director Vincent Survinski and actors Judith O'Dea, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon and Bill Hinzman. Additionally, the disc contains a separate audio-only chat with the late Duane Jones, who portrayed Ben in the film, and an on-camera conversation with Judith Ridley, who played Judy.
A copy of the shooting script is included among the copious supplemental materials, along with theatrical and television trailers, pictures of important telegrams and correspondence, and an extensive photo gallery. There is also a history of the production company, a short spoof titled Night of the Living Bread and scenes from the little-known Romero motion picture There's Always Vanilla, which featured some of the same stars and crew as Night of the Living Dead. The DVD is packaged in a blood-red plastic case, with laudatory liner notes from author Stephen
King.
This disc leaves no gravestone unturned
Over the years, countless arguments have been put forth explaining the unparalleled success of this chilling motion picture. Some academicians have posited that the gruesome zombie onslaught is emblematic of the Vietnam War, while others point out that, due to a copyright glitch, the movie is in
the public domain and has therefore potentially been seen by more people than many other low-budget monster flicks. This DVD rightfully refutes such highfalutin' theorizing, confirming through commentaries and supplemental materials that Night of the Living Dead is simply a heartfelt picture made by enthusiastic yet skilled filmmakers who deeply respected and understood the science-fiction and horror genres.
From the crystal-clear transfer to the insightful remarks of the participants, the package as a whole is extraordinarily enlightening. In their comments, Romero and his companions reveal plentiful technical details, noting, with a definite dash of irony, that "there's a great deal of ingenuity exhibited in this film insofar as movie making is concerned." At the same time, the actors offer somewhat more lighthearted memories of the production, including fun anecdotes about individual ghouls and the gruesome special effects. Photos of the many props, posters and collectibles—largely culled from personal scrapbooks kept by Eastman and Survinski—also subtly reveal how the movie's reputation steadily developed as the production was distributed throughout the world.
Although marred by fawning questions, the interview with Ridley is interesting, too, just as Jones' remarks, which in part address his efforts to distance himself professionally from his heroic role, are surprisingly perceptive and candid. Night of the Living Dead: Millennium Edition leaves almost no gravestone unturned in its exploration of this landmark motion picture, resulting in a winning package that not only entertains, but also educates viewers about a truly visionary production.
