"They're Coming to Get You: Romero's Zombie Revolution"
25 September 2025

"They're Coming to Get You: Romero's Zombie Revolution"

Film History - Daily

About
On September 25, 1968, the cult classic film "Night of the Living Dead" premiered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Directed by George A. Romero, this low-budget, independent horror movie revolutionized the zombie genre and had a lasting impact on the film industry.

The story follows a group of people who take refuge in an isolated farmhouse while fighting off hordes of flesh-eating undead. The film's protagonist, Ben (played by Duane Jones), is a black man, which was a rare and groundbreaking choice for a lead role in the 1960s.

"Night of the Living Dead" was produced on a shoestring budget of approximately $114,000 and featured a cast of mostly unknown actors. Despite its low-budget origins, the film's gritty, realistic style and social commentary struck a chord with audiences.

The movie's success was partly due to its innovative marketing strategy. The distributors, Continental Distributing, promoted the film as a "midnight movie," encouraging late-night screenings that attracted young, counterculture audiences. This approach helped establish the "midnight movie" phenomenon and paved the way for future cult classics.

"Night of the Living Dead" also stood out for its graphic violence and bleak ending, which deviated from the typical horror movie formula of the time. The film's nihilistic tone and social commentary, touching on themes of race, gender, and the breakdown of society, struck a chord with viewers amidst the turbulent political and social landscape of the late 1960s.

Romero's masterpiece spawned numerous sequels, remakes, and imitators, cementing the popularity of zombie movies in popular culture. The film's influence can be seen in countless works, from "The Walking Dead" television series to the "Resident Evil" video game franchise.

Interestingly, due to an error in the copyright notice on the film's original release, "Night of the Living Dead" fell into the public domain, allowing it to be freely distributed and screened without permission or royalties. This inadvertently contributed to the film's cult status and widespread accessibility.

"Night of the Living Dead" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1999, recognizing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Today, it remains a landmark in horror cinema, celebrated for its ingenuity, social commentary, and enduring influence on the genre.


Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs

For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI