Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition

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.

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.

I really don't get the hate for this NOTLD version. i'm a huge zombie fan. I own more than 100 zombie films and especially I love romero zombie films. NOTLD is my no 1 zombie film of all time. I own a dozen dvd editions from all around the world. including the millennium edition the 40th anniv. edition the new blu ray criterion edition and of course the two disc 1998 limited dvd edition which include also the 1998 soundtrack cd of the film. now I think any fanatic fan who owns the original 1968 version must own the 1998 version too. the fact only that it includes like 15 minutes overall of new footage makes it a must have. that it changes the beginning and the end it's not a bad thing. we already have the 1968 version to appreciate the creepy music and the unknown element of the beginning. that the 1998 version try to explain how the famous first ever flesh-eating zombie broke out of his tomb and showed how he reached the semetery to attack Barbara and her brother is a nice addition to the film. it's not a bad thing. also the new music score is very good. not creepy like the original was but it's nice to watch the film with two music scores. Essentially this is the 1968 version with few changes here and there which is a must have for the fanatic fans. if u are fanatic fan of this film u should own the famous NOTLD TRILOGY.

1) the 1968 original film

2) the 1998 version of the film

3) the great 1990 tom savini remake of the film

that's all I had to say about this version. ignore those beep negative comments and enjoy this version like u did with the original 1968 version.

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.

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.