Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition

Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition (1999)

** (out of 4)

There's no question that NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Since it's release there have been colorized versions, remakes, rip-offs and just about anything else that people could imagine. In 1999 the film was celebrating its 30th Anniversary when John A. Russo decided to shoot some new scenes and that resulted in this version.

The basic idea was to add a couple new characters to the mix as well as give some more backstory to characters in the original movie. The major changes are with the cemetery ghoul played by Bill Heinzman. We're given a backstory on why he was dead as well as some crimes that he committed. Another major change is the introduction of the character Reverend Hicks (Scott Vladimir Licina).

I still remember the hate and vile things that were said about Russo when this film was released. The backlash was quite brutal and the film ended up being a major flop for Anchor Bay. The negative press was so bad that the limited edition release never sold out and I think the studio basically gave up on it. I hated the movie when it was originally released and this here was my first time revisiting it since. So, did a seventeen year wait help the film?

I wouldn't say it "helped" the film any but it's certainly not quite as awful as some of the remakes that were released since. I will say that there was no need to add new scenes to an already wonderful movie. The new scenes stick out like a sore thumb and they just don't mix well with the movie. All of this backstory and new characters honestly could have just gone into a new remake. There's really no point in this film to exist and today it's just out there are a curio for fans of the original movie.

It's hard to imagine anyone really wanting to watch this film. I mean, once again we're dealing with one of the greatest movies ever made. I'm sure Russo thought he was doing the film a favor but he really wasn't and the end result is rather forgettable.

So Russo had the brilliant idea to make a classic film 'better'. Well he and the crew failed in every single way possible. Debbie Rochon and Vladmir whatever can't act worth a damn. I mean really, really terrible acting here. The 'new' footage which brings in the power of god keeping one from becoming a zombie not only doesn't match the original (which, the one thing they did right: remaster it) and is worthless. These two overacting hams have enough pork in them to feed a High School at lunchtime! Horrible, horrible waste of time. And, I'll admit: When I read about this in Rue Morgue and Cinefantastique, I was excited! I really wanted to see this and, like a doof, I bought it! I later gave it away, a decision I'll never regret. Just another horrible in a series of horrible remakes.

Ok, so the original fell into the public domain due to a lack of copyright so for some of the makers this may be the best way to finally earn from the film but for everyone else there is really no reason to bother with this.

The new footage doesn't really fit or really add anything, The music is dull.

Only watch if your a completest, The original is hugely important in the history of Horror cinema and being PD you can see it free all over the web and you should...but this version can be forgotten.

Now I am obsessed with Night of the living dead. This producers cut was made way before it was remade 6 different times oh & see 1990 remake. Ignore the film critics this is a different cut of the film. It is a good companion piece to the theatrical cut of the film. It has more zombie carnage & a wrap around with a annoying priest, & a different soundtrack. I love both cuts of the film. It is on DVD & blu ray. The 30th anniversary re-release of this is interesting if you love George Romero zombies & old zombie movies. I own the elite entertainment special edition theatrical cut on DVD, & Anchor bay entertainment producers cut on DVD.

I spotted this in a store and was under the impression that footage was being added to the original film. I leapt to the conclusion this was deleted scenes being restored. I couldn't have been more wrong. When I started to watch it and saw this "new" footage I knew that I (and many others)had been duped. What every fan of the George Romero classic have been dying to know is the backstory to the first zombie who attacks Barbara and Johnny in the cemetery. They could even be bothered to match the film stock and the new scenes are jarring. Since the original film has lapsed into the tender mercies of public domain anyone could distribute it, colorize it or anything they want. The new score is dreadful. Whatever flaws the original film has it is still a classic and , in my opinion, the best zombie film ever made. A one star review is far too generous. I cannot recall what I did with my copy- I either sold it or threw it away. Hopefully it has gone out of print and just viewed in disgust by fans of the original.