Night of the Living Dead (1968) Cast & Crew Watch-Along

(original air date June 16, 2020)
Russ Streiner (Johnny), Gary Streiner (Crew Member & Original IMAGE TEN Investor), and Jim Cirronella (NOTLD Historian) provide commentary for Night of the Living Dead (1968) on the third anniversary of George A. Romero's passing. Permission to use Night of the Living Dead in this streaming video was granted by the rightsholders at IMAGE TEN.

[@movienut710]

Hello, and Thank You for this Awesome channel and video. At aprox. 1:28:22 the question is asked of the panel what aspects of the Film are not talked about enough. As a 30 year plus student and lover of this film I would like to make 2 suggestions. #1 Occasionally over the years some reviewers have criticized both the character of Barbara and the performance of Judith O'Dea . I could not disagree more. In fact, in the scene when Johnny first torments her, the very, very first look on her face. In an instant she conveys PERFECTLY a young lady who REALLY is disturbed by something. This key scene, so crucial to setting the tone of the film, COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER BY ANY ACTRESS. For a young Lady only 23 years old or something, she is awesome. It makes Russell's equally great performance (Not just kissing up, Sir) all the more believable. The character Barbara's actions do not seem at all unrealistic to me, as I have met many people who would shut down in a crisis. #2 Marilyn Eastman. This wonderful woman, who just recently returned to God, has a legitimate claim to the title of first lady of Horror, along with Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Fay Wray, and anyone else You want to include. Her acting, make up, soundwork (It is her voice emitting the screams in her own Trowel-Murder scene if I remember correctly) are all instrumental. She is the Ghoul who eats the bug from the tree. That scene, with the accompanying groan, is one of the most memorable and disturbing of the film. All in a day's work for Marilyn, I guess. The trowel scene is probably more well known than the shower scene in Psycho. Just wanted to pay tribute to these slightly unsung First Ladies of Horror. For the Horror genre, Night of the Living Dead is more impactful, by many miles, than Dracula, Frankenstein, or anything or anyone since Edgar Allen Poe, and it couldn't have happened without those 2 ladies. Thank You forever to All You wonderful creators of this masterpiece that will undoubtedly live on for 1000 years.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

Disagree with the good acting lol. But it sure was a fun watch, and continues to be a fun watch.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

I always liked the remake more. I don't think the original had more tension. Maybe for the time. It kind of plays as a cheesy comedy today considering the over the top music and acting. It was a horror movie, acting is and was notriously bad. It was part of the camp that made it fun to watch. I can see how during the 60's it would be terrifying, the remake is much more unsettling today. I do think Karl did a good job selling his character though, likewise Duane did also. Their fued is believable. Overall i thought the acting of the supporting cast in the remake was a lot better. Methods advanced over the years and it shows. The music is more memorable as well. Though it plays off of the original. That droning beat when the zombies attack the house in the original is still epic lol. Both films are great. It likely comes down to which one you grew up with in all honesty. Joe Bob Briggs on TNT in 1996 or 1997 was my introduction to the remake, and years later i saw the original. I STILL have the remake VHS i bought at the mall in the 90's lol. The video game series Resident Evil (1-3 in particular) did A LOT to get a new generation into Zombies. So big props to that game.