What can you say about George A. Romero’s revolutionary 1968 masterpiece Night of the Living Dead that hasn’t already been said? It’s a classic that changed the landscape of the zombie genre (despite the fact that the word “zombie” is never mentioned once in the film), redefined horror and independent film, became a political statement, and made Romero a film icon. I’m sure that there has been many books about the film, but Night of the Living Dead: The Official Story of the Film may just be the definitive read if you want to know the nuts and bolts of the film.
Buy Night of the Living Dead: The Official Story of the FilmThrough eight highly detailed chapters, you’re able to get tons of information about Romero’s cinematic baby. I love the inclusion of never-before-seen photos and publicity. There are also great facts about the casting, including the revolutionary one of Duane Jones as Ben. Although I haven’t read other books about the film, I really do appreciate how this one describes its legacy (including the endless remakes, sequels, reboots, parodies, and how it ended up in the public domain). I especially love the explanation of the importance of shooting it in black and white, which made it look like more like a documentary/cinema verite. The emphasis on the gore effects, ghouls, eventual controversy, and subject matter is also lovingly detailed. Overall, if you want a rich deep dive into the making of this influential landmark, then this book is definitely one to get.
It’s a really great coffee table book about not just one of the greatest horror films ever made, but also one of the greatest films ever made. Night of the Living Dead continues to be a nightmarish portrait of human nature and a forever timely cinematic portrait of the breakdown of society. It’s like the old flesh being devoured by the new. God bless George A. Romero.
