The Return of the Living Dead

R

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1 hr. 31 min.

Horror

Comedy

Sci-Fi

List

91%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When foreman Frank (James Karen) shows new employee Freddy (Thom Mathews) a secret military experiment in a supply warehouse, the two klutzes accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into flesh-eating zombies. As the epidemic spreads throughout Louisville, Ky., and the creatures satisfy their hunger in gory and outlandish ways, Frank and Freddy fight to survive with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) and a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa).

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Critics Consensus

A punk take on the zombie genre, The Return of the Living Dead injects a healthy dose of '80s silliness to the flesh-consuming.

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Teddy B

It doesn't prioritise gore to the extent it could have, but Dan O'Bannon's sharp writing and subtle wit infused into a faithful parody of the 'Living Dead' films compliment the amazing special effects (again, could've been utilised more) and strangely engaging performances and punk overtone. One of the funniest jokes in any horror comedy I have seen perfectly leads into the title sequence, but I dare not spoil it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/16/24

Full Review

mark h

An absolute must see for anyone who likes horror movies. It's the definitive zombie movie of the 80s.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Christian K

"The Return of the Living Dead" is a film that manages to achieve the remarkable feat of being both mindless and utterly brain-dead. From start to finish, it is a ceaseless barrage of nonsensical plot twists, lackluster performances, and zombies so ludicrously absurd that any hope for suspension of disbelief is quickly buried under a pile of decomposing clichés. Let's begin with the plot—or lack thereof. The film follows a group of characters who find themselves facing off against a horde of reanimated corpses after a military experiment goes awry. Sounds like a premise ripe with potential for horror, right? Wrong. What unfolds is a haphazard mishmash of scenes that stumble from one ridiculous scenario to the next, without any semblance of coherence or logic. Sure, we all know that the concept of zombies requires a certain suspension of disbelief. But "The Return of the Living Dead" takes this to a whole new level of absurdity. These zombies don't just defy the laws of nature; they seem to revel in their utter defiance of anything resembling physical reality. From zombies that can talk and strategize, to others that can run, these undead creatures are more reminiscent of cartoon villains than anything remotely terrifying. Let's talk about the characters—or rather, the cardboard cutouts masquerading as characters. There's the bumbling group of warehouse workers whose idea of wit is reduced to juvenile banter and endless repetition of one-liners. Their attempts at humor fall painfully flat, leaving the audience cringing rather than laughing. And then there are the zombies themselves. Far from being the stuff of nightmares, they are a laughable mishmash of prosthetics and bad makeup. Their movements are so stiff and unnatural that one can't help but wonder if the actors were simply instructed to flail about aimlessly. The film's attempts at social commentary are equally ham-fisted. A subplot involving a group of punks feels tacked on and underdeveloped, serving little purpose other than to provide an excuse for more poorly executed gore and violence. In the end, "The Return of the Living Dead" is a forgettable mess of a film that fails to deliver on every front. Its plot is nonsensical, its characters are one-dimensional, and its zombies are more likely to induce laughter than terror. Save yourself the agony of watching this cinematic travesty and opt for a horror film with a shred of intelligence and coherence. Your brain cells will thank you.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Josh G

Some really solid zombie action and practical effects well done building a great finally. The problem is getting there there is point where tension dies and it has to be rebuilt. Still a good watch.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Brian F

Without question,one of the best zombie movies of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/20/24

Full Review

Richard U

One of my favorite zombie/horror films! Also sporting one of the best 80s punk soundtracks out there! Still a guilty pleasure after all these years!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

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Dan O'Bannon

Director

Clu Gulager

Burt Wilson

James Karen

Frank

Don Calfa

Ernie Kaltenbrunner

Thom Mathews

Freddy

Beverly Randolph

Tina

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Chris Hewitt (UK)

Empire Magazine

Essential, enormous fun.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 6, 2012

Full Review

Simon Abrams

House Next Door

The Return of the Living Dead is in fact the real deal.

Feb 25, 2011

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

O'Bannon deserves considerable credit for creating a terrifically funny first half-hour of exposition, something in which he is greatly aided by the goofball performance of James Karen as a medical supply know-it-all.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The makeup effects are tremendous, and Calfa and especially Karen are hilarious as working stiffs (no pun intended).

Rated: 3/4

Feb 15, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Part spoof comedy, part kitschy horror, The Return of the Living Dead was tailor-made to achieve cult status.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 9, 2022

Full Review

Chris Plante

Polygon

The Return of the Living Dead is the most 1980s zombie movie ever made and I say that as a compliment. Mostly.

Nov 2, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

When foreman Frank (James Karen) shows new employee Freddy (Thom Mathews) a secret military experiment in a supply warehouse, the two klutzes accidentally release a gas that reanimates corpses into flesh-eating zombies. As the epidemic spreads throughout Louisville, Ky., and the creatures satisfy their hunger in gory and outlandish ways, Frank and Freddy fight to survive with the help of their boss (Clu Gulager) and a mysterious mortician (Don Calfa).

Director: Dan O'Bannon
Executive Producer: John Daly, Derek Gibson
Screenwriter: Dan O'Bannon
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Hemdale, Greenberg Brothers Partnership, Fox Films Ltd.
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008

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