Written and directed by George A. Romero, co-written by John A. Russo, a ragtag group of Pennsylvanians barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls that are ravaging the Northeast of the United States. Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley and Kyra Schon.

Classics are classics for good reason and Night of the Living Dead is one of them because despite the fact it is very of its era, it’s also timeless. With the help of the new 4K restoration it looks practically brand new, like a period film shot in modern day and part of that is because George A. Romero was ahead of his time. Romero’s directorial style simply had so much personality and individuality, it took what is, for the most part, a very minimal set-up and filled it with a huge presence.

There’s a lot of examples of how Romero created something different and long-lasting but one of the strongest is the story. There aren’t a lot of horrors you can point to that make memorable and strikingly realistic choices like Night of the Living Dead. Especially not ones that also have a good time while doing it, because this film has such a fantastic tension and a tight grip on that presence of danger but doesn’t take itself too seriously. Walking that line between thrill and entertainment is not an easy thing to do but Romero excels at it.

Credit for part of that has to go to Duane Jones because there’s an effortless, almost casual quality to Ben and yet he’s constantly on edge. He creates this highly capable, reliable and calming presence which makes him the perfect lead. You also probably couldn’t get away with having a character like Barbra (Judith O’Dea) in cinema today. There would immediately be too many questions of why isn’t she talking? Why doesn’t she do something? Rather than accepting that she’s entirely driven by shock, which is portrayed excellently by O’Dea. There’s a superb and very intimate cast at work here and everyone has something to add.

Night of the Living Dead will forever be a horror classic, it’s so intrinsically linked to the 1960s and yet it’s utterly timeless. It has that brilliant B-movie feel but it’s also much more than that, it’s an iconic piece of independent cinema. The restoration work is excellent and adds a great clarity to the aesthetic, but any excuse to give this one another watch is appreciated. It’s highly dramatic, topped with a perfectly over-the-top, drastic score, fantastic performances and it’s a good time, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

Verdict: ✯✯✯✯ | 8/10

New 4K restoration available now as part of the Criterion Collection