Night of the Living Dead (1968): The Dawn of Modern Horror Cinema

Welcome to a journey back in time, to the year 1968, when a horror film named ‘Night of the Living Dead’ not only introduced the world to the terrifying concept of flesh-eating ghouls, but also revolutionized the horror film industry.

‘Night of the Living Dead’ is an American independent horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, co-written by Romero and John Russo, and produced by Russell Streiner and Karl Hardman. The film stars Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea, and tells the story of seven people trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania, under assault by reanimated corpses.

The film’s innovative storytelling techniques, combined with Romero’s masterful direction, make it a standout piece in the history of cinema. It was not until later that Romero’s ghouls were referred to as “zombies”, but they are credited with popularizing the modern portrayal of zombies in popular culture.

Interesting trivia about the film includes the fact that the scene in which Chaplin’s character kicks an immigration officer was cited later as evidence of his anti-Americanism when he was forced to leave the United States in 1952. In 1998, The Immigrant was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

In conclusion, ‘Night of the Living Dead’ stands as a testament to the creative genius of George A. Romero and continues to captivate audiences over half a century after its release. It stands as a significant milestone in the history of film, marking the dawn of modern horror cinema.

Credits:

• Directed by: George A. Romero
• Written by: George A. Romero, John Russo
• Produced by: Russell Streiner, Karl Hardman
• Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea
• Cinematography: George A. Romero
• Edited by: George A. Romero
• Production company: Image Ten
• Distributed by: Continental Distributing
• Release dates: October 1, 1968 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), October 4, 1968 (United States)
• Running time: 96 minutes
• Country: United States
• Language: English
• Budget: $114,000–$125,000
• Box office: $30,236,452 (estimated)

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