Night Of The Living Dead (1968) dvd review

   The classic eerie score, as you see a lone car driving up a winding dirt road- yes folks the is indeed the "cult classic" Night Of The Living Dead. Filmed by and co-scripted by George A Romero. A film upon it's release in 1968 scared the crap out of eager audiences at the drive in-ins around the country. I can fondly remember seeing this at Halloween when i was a mere 5 years old on "the movie loft" a local Boston TV station that showed classic movies, and with that infamous line "there coming to get you Barbra" , yeah well tell that to a 5 year old and ee if they don't shit their pants! I was hooked at once.
      All parties involved with NOTLD had this great DIY attitude that shows up through out the film, first you basically have one set (the farm house) in rural Pennsylvania yet Romero makes the best of this with a outstanding cast.  As for the cast what can i say that hasn't already been said a million times over, Judith O'dea as Barbra- perfect fit of innocence and a person losing control. Then there is Duane Jones as Ben- the clear headed "let's stick together" male lead. Also as a surprise per say because he is a black man, but in my eye that doesn't matter and should NEVER MATTER in the process of Auditioning a role.
       Now onto the film itself it's shot in black and white for budget reasons. The black and white acts as a cast member all its own (for those who have seen the color version of thi can attest to this)! The film starts out innocent and slow enough, a brother and sister are taking a drive to a cemetery to plant a wreath on their father's grave. The brother (Johnny) delivers the classic line "there coming...) and that's when we meet our first zombie- yay.

     As the film progresses from the cemetery into the farm house we are introduced to new characters both likeable and not. Now as stated time and again this film is very much a anti Vietnam war movie, and just by looking at a few key scenes you too can agree (or disagree). First there is an all "death squad" kill without question attitude among the government, military and police. At the end of the film Ben being the lone survivor,  is walking in the farm house as he is killed without thought by a cop as a 'copter is hovering overhead ('Nam?).