Current Events > "You know, Ben, it really is the Night of the Living Dead."

(+) Yeah! (+)

That movie actually does have a title drop. At one point, Ben references the "flesh eaters" outside the house. Flesh Eaters was the original title the movie was released under, but they had to change it because it was already taken. I wonder if we would be calling ghouls/zombies "flesh eaters" today if that title had stuck.

It's a shame that Duane Jones wasn't in more movies. The character is very rough cut but, if you pay attention, you can tell that the actor is a more educated and articulate individual. It gives the character a unique aura about him. He's a very magnetic protagonist. Jones was predominantly a stage actor and taught acting as well.

What are your thoughts on the ending? Apparently Romero didn't intend to have any theme or message about racism with what happens, but a lot of people interpret it that way.

You know, Barbara, they really are coming to get you.

MorbidFaithless posted...

What are your thoughts on the ending? Apparently Romero didn't intend to have any theme or message about racism with what happens, but a lot of people interpret it that way.

I can see why people would interpret it that way. From what I've read, and it could be hearsay, Duane Jones wanted to insert commentary on race and George Romero did not - but later regretted that he hadn't.

Personally, I think it's better the way that it is. Ben was the first Black protagonist in a movie for which race was not an essential part of their character. It's the first time that a Black guy was just a guy. I wouldn't want to lose that.

The film still has some commentary with regards to the Vietnam War and possibly gun violence in general. It's perhaps a little too subtle for the film's own good. George Romero's name appears above an American flag in a graveyard and there's an American flag in the closet when Ben finds the rifle. The third film spells the antiwar message out for the audience by setting it in an army base and making the soldiers invariably evil. And, of course, the second film is rife with commentary on consumerism.

I watched The Flesh Eaters. It's a pretty decent black and white horror film in its own right. It even has a little mid-60s gore when a hippy is eaten alive from the inside and when the bad guy gets his at the end.

It's interesting to think that Night of the Living Dead is public domain because they re-released the film under that title and forgot to include the copyright information in the credits. The George Romero zombie, and every highlight from the film, was gifted to the public domain. Whenever the zombie hands reach through the boards, it's impossible for me not to imagine hearing the Resident Evil zombie sound effects.