Night of the Living Dead (1990) Review - Off The Shelf Reviews 

Tony Todd is an amazing actor, and he doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as he deserves.

This channel is a hidden gem.

04:35 Don't forget about the 1988 remake of The Blob. It's actually pretty good.

A great remake. Patricia Tallman rocked as Barbara.

I don't know why people hated the remake. I mean the original was excellent but I really loved the remake. The acting was more realistic, and it was nice too have Barbra evolve into a more strong character and survive.

I saw this movie in the theater in 1990 and LOVED IT 100%

This is my favorite zombie film. I just turned 40. I used this film to introduce the zombie genre to my son, and he absolutely loved it.

You guys are literally my favorite thing about the Internet.

It's funny that if they had listened to Barbra or Cooper, they all would've lived.

The daughter didn't kill the mother with a garden trowel but the film makers did make a reference to it by having the mother's blood splattered onto one hanging on the wall.

One of the best Horror remakes ever!! I actually watched this before the original on TNT and I was terrified of leaving my house that night to get something from the store. Watching the Original scared me even more because there were moments I didn't see in the remake. It made me appreciate both versions a lot on what they were saying during their time. The make up and the characters were well fleshed out from the original and love Barb's transformation in this version. Goes with the best Horror remakes with THE THING, THE FLY, and THE BLOB.

THE best version of NOTLD by far. Tony Todd's acting steals the show and It's just a near perfect remake.

Resident evil didn't come out 2 years after this , this movie came out 1990 , Resident Evil 1 came out 1996 I had It launch day.

This is one of the few remakes that, in my opinion, is exactly as good as the original. Usually it's either one or the other that's better(more often than not the original), but not here.

There was also the 1988 The Blob remake which holds up well

Thnak you guys so much for taking my suggestion. I feel like no one ever mentions this movie, I grew up with this version. Whenever my brother or I can't get our keys to work I always say "these are the wrong keys, these are the wrong god damn keys!" haha thanks again!

Night 90 is one of the very very few remakes that actually IMO surpasses the original. it was true to the lore, had the same elements that would have happened if the technology existed in the first film. so its one of my fav movies

The only Romero remake that didnt suck. The chick playing Barbra in this version was hot as hell

Love the tshirts guys, tony todds a legend

Must say guys, Again great video and helped me through this 2020 quarantine with entertaining stuff :) keep it up

I love the music of this film too. It deserves an honorable mention

Holy shit this is gonna be good. A review by 2 awesome reviewers from a remake that holds a candle to the original. And you mentioned B5...mad respect guys!!!!

Night of the living dead is my one of my favourite movies

To me , the connection of this movie is Patricia Tollman and Tony Todd were in the ST:TNG ep where Riker is transferred to a Klingon vessel. I didn't know about the house owner and the Zombie choreographer. Great info. This movie suffers, in my opinion, because they make Ben and Cooper way more aggressive with each other. The original had Ben much more focused. I think that was a director's mistake.

I’m in love with Patricia Tallman just wow 🤩

they're coming to get you Barbara! I still use that line.

I watched this so much on TNT as a kid Joe Bobs Monstervision

Invasion of the bodysnatchers with jeff goldblum and donald sutherland is a remake of the 1950s kevin Mccarthy starring film of the same name.

Great reviews fellas! My new dinner time "television" is watching quality content provided by people like yourselves.

This remake was my favorite

Best remake ever, even considering Heat, True Lies, The Birdcage, The Fly, The Thing, actually better than the original.

This is actually my second favorite of the dead series. Day, and then 1990s Night. (Day, Night 90', Dawn (really ties because it's sometimes number 1), then original Night. It's really great and there is an amazing book on it by Savini. I just realized i could make my own Night of the Living Deas because its in PD.

love the reviews btw, i work away alot and these keep me sane of an evening

Fun fact. Savini toned down the gore because the ratings board was still pissed about Day of the Dead gore level sliding by without an NC17. There were gory scenes that were cut you can still see in the work print.

Funny thing: I saw this version first; watched it with my cousin around Halloween when I was 10 yrs old, he was 9. I fucking love the original, but this holds a place in my heart.

The '90 remake of night is easily, hands down the better version imho. '68 is okay but the experience gained thru 68 night, then dawn and then day served the entire crew and cast well and they truly did the story justice, especially the ending.

In my opinion the 1990 version is the best zombie movie of all time. I know there are a lot of people who were more into other films for the gore or whatever reason, but I think they did such a good job that the zombies look like actual dead people walking around. That can’t be stated enough. It looks far better than the CGI garbage everywhere today or overdone makeup. I like it more than the walking dead, resident evil, you name it. I also love the simplicity of the story yet how powerful it really is. I saw it when I was 7 years old before the original and it gave me nightmares for years. This film deserves to be continuously promoted until it gets the recognition it deserves. Great review!

Hey guys, i know I'm late to the party, but hope you see this comment. Great review all around, you really touched on all the things that make this movie great at least in my view. Great to see some folks who understand these movies breaking it down. Cheers!

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 1968 was originally titled NIGHT OF THE FLESH EATERS and after the name was changed , the new name wasn't registered with the trademark office

The crap they are doing at the end i would argue is beneficial. It is a good way to remove the terror that these things would produce in a person. It also allows tensions to be reduced.

I was 25 when I saw this. I had seen the original, and "Dawn of the Dead" and I liked it at the time. I think it still holds up.

russell streiner who played johnny in the original also played the eyepatch sherrif in the remake!.

This movie actually gave me nightmares as a teenager about seven years after this came out, because it's so claustrophobic and atmospheric, which is just so perfect given the circumstances the characters find themselves in. In its own right, the remake is strong for its own unique reasons. Yes the racial examination is lessened in this, but the interaction with the insufferable father in the basement does it in a more subtle way, which is often the most experienced by people like Ben or even Barbara.

I love you guys. Your show is just perfect. Much respect from Québec, Canada :)

One of the best remakes ever. I love Barbara as a bad ass, take charge women. She was the hero of the movie. Loved the ending. If I had to pick at one thing, the scene where the brother falls on the tombstone, you can tell it’s a dummy. The original was better. Overall, I love this movie.

Just another lazy Sunday spent browsing your videos, so what better chance to knock up a list of films for you guys to consider reviewing: Thief (1981) The Hills have eyes (original and/or remake) Westworld (1973) The Hitcher (1986) Blind Fury (1989) We are what we are (2013) The Fountain (2006) Requiem for a dream (2000) Mr Nobody (2009) The Burbs (1989) Stand by me (1986) One hour Photo (2002) Apocalypto (2006) Licence to drive (1988) Stake land (2010) Cold in July (2014) Lost River (2014) And finally, anything by Nicholas Winding Refn. Please do consider! Cheers Guys :)

I'd like to point out that this was right before Tony Todd played Candyman. People say that movie is where Todd took off, but I disagree. This movie is where it really started in my mind. Also my family has the same exact picture of Jesus you can see on the wall upstairs. I find that scarier than any zombie in the movie.

The original Resident Evil would come out 6 years after this remake. Not 2 years. RE1 was released in June 1996.

The original first seen zombie didn’t sprint, but he was fast enough to catch up to a rolling car, and tembeeed enough to use bricks as tools etc. The fast smart zombie isn’t a new era thing.

I love how you guys objectively review movies! Some more suggestions include Day of the Dead, the John Wick series, the first 4 Metal Gear Solid games to name some new potential reviews.

@17:57 I always said this. Tear up the stairs and just wait at the top til help arrives. They all would have survived minus Cooper's girl.

I love your, Undertaker shirt. I think Tony Todd did a, fantastic job playing as Ben. Barbra pulled a Leon Scott Kennedy/Rick Grimes, in this version. Ben:No! What the hell, are you doing?!😅😅That one zombie puts a mouse in its mouth, and the other zombie got upset.😅😅I find Barbra's facial expression to be funny, when she blew Cooper down to Hell.

Yesss. This is one of those rare remakes that not only matches but in my opinion surpasses the original in most respects, although the 1968 version will always be THE classic of classics not just for the zombie genre but horror in general *:)*

why didnt the zombie stop to eat johnny? in both versions of this movie the zombie kills johnny and goes after barb. shouldn't it have started eating its kill?

Always excellent reviews Thanks

This is the review I was waiting for. Thank you both and I love the show. Keep up the good work

I do love Barbara's emotional arc in this film, it s totally believable and riveting and i appreciate how she doesn't become a spin kicking , invincible badass just a person who is forced to survive . I really do feel it's one of the best female characters in any zombie movie ever made , even the female characters on TWD and FTWD owe a big debt to what Patricia Tallman did in this film , she set a standard and created a template . I'm enamored with the way they lit this film, it;s what really stood out when i first saw this in the theater, it looks like proper nigh time , exactly how it would look in real life with the available light that was being cast from various sources , truly elegant . Shadows are cast in ominous ways throughout the film, i get the feeling most of it was unintentional and as a result it's so much more realistic and unnerving . You have the creeping menace of the zombies coupled with this tableau of darkness, it's the shadow of death that has become the reality for this apocalyptic scenario the survivors find themselves in . I could say so much more about this amazing film but for now i'll leave it at this, in some ways this was even more effective than the original and if feel it was groundbreaking at the time . It kind of signified the end of what became goofy 80s horror and took things dead serious again in a way that had never really been done before . Love it, one of my favorite films in any genre , great review once again guys

Walking zombies failed to be scary past this movie. I said this when it was released. It was ESTABLISHED on screen and therefore they cannot be scary Running zombies are ESSENTIAL to the zombie future. With the exception of Shaun of the Dead. Which is probably the best zombie movie of all time.

"Don't do that Otis, she's your sister!" 5:07

This remake is awesome. You have been on this road before. You think it goes right but now it goes left. Brilent!

23:50 You know what. It genuinely probably WOULDNT explode Tom was probably living in the REAL world too much before he fired that gun. Unfortunately for him, he is in a movie where everything blows up constantly

20:35 Resident Evil was 6 years after this movie.

You could say Barbra was too helpless in the first one, but it's not because she's a woman, it was set up that she had a phobia of the dead. She represents a character trapped, and drowning in fear and isolation. Let's be honest, a lot of armchair worriers would probably shit themselves and go catatonic in real life, so I don't blame Barbra, and this is one time when you can say it wasn't all about the trope of 'woman weak', especially when you consider Helen opposing her husband and being fairly strong and outspoken, while Judy is brave enough that even though Tom is trying to protect her, she still runs out against his wishes to face the ghouls. Further, if you can say Barbra was the weak woman, you can say Harry was the weak man. I can understand people wanting Barbra to be more proactive like she is at the end, but that's part of the frustration; These are human beings in an incomprehensibly bad situation. As far as the re-make goes, I fear there was so much "why does the woman have to be so weak blah blah blah" that there was an overcompensation with Barbra and a weakening of Ben. As if that wasn't bad enough, Tom is played almost for laughs as a complete moron by blowing up the gas pump when he shoots at the lock. It's a Hollywood trope that any spark is going to blow up a gas tank, as if this shit is nitroglycerin. You can see videos of nozzles catching fire (but not blowing up the car or the pump) due to a spark as the metal end touches the metal car, but even then its just the end of the nozzle that catches fire, because it's the fumes that catch fire, not the liquid. The way it was done in the original film was more realistic with the gas spilling all over and the torch catching it on fire because everyone is so frantic. If the bottom of the gas tank catches fire, it can vaporize the gas and cause it to blow up. But anyway, beyond that, Johnny is an even bigger douche while Harry is practically a mustache twirling villain. Long story short, all the men, and I mean ALL the men in the remake get knocked down a notch while Helen and Judy are more or less the same and Barbra gets raised up about 5 notches. Btw, don't even get me started with the rednecks at the end who's sick shit is cranked up to 11. Personally, I feel the original is more even-handed and realistic. Also, where the fuck are the zombies that use tools? The quality and makeup may be better, but ultimately, without Savini's gore to bolster the realism as it could have, I find that the remake has next to nothing over the original.

I saw this movie in the theater when I was 14 years old

Guys, you are reading racial tension into night of the living dead. Romero himself said the only reason the actor got the role of Ben was because he was the best actor, it was only by chance that he was black and the other people were at white.

The best horrormovie ever made..favorite quote: destroy the brains..this movie was so compelling and got the whole zombie idea right

A rare occurrence where both the original and remake are great long live both films

34 :59 the Blood being splattered on the hung up Trowel is a , i think , obvious nod to the first original ones Daughter kills her mom with a trowel scene.

Great review lads. I've always avoided this for the obvious reason; my attitude that you CAN'T remake the classic that is Night of the Living Dead. After watching this review though, I'm tempted to hunt it down and give it a watch.

39:41 Awwwwww yisssssss, I hoped you'd do this: I love Paul McCollough's theme. (theme ends after a few seconds) DAMMIT

Never watched the remake. I'll check it out if it still give Romero's estate money and it's going to his family still. If not pirate I be.

I thought the guy hiding out in the attic near the end of the film was a nice touch

I would love to see a movie called ben...a man named Ben battling zombies while fleeing to the house

Thank you for checking out Night of the living dead

I didn't like the remake at first either. I thought it was just a movie to try and cash in on the zombie genre. But then I found out it had George Romero's blessing and in the original script from the 1968 film Barbra is the only person who survives. So I think, between following the original script more closely and better effects, the 1990 remake is the movie George Romero would have made in 1968 if he could have.

I grew up watching these night of the living dead in Peru back in the 90s and when I came back to the USA I found out there was the original one in black in white movie and then dawn and day of the dead

The original Piranha or Alligator :-)

Thank you for this. I love the original NotLD and it certainly was genre-defining, sure, but Savini's remake is better to me. The tone, atmosphere, and soundtrack are all better, and the characters were so much more interesting. I love that Ben was the most noble character even when demonized as a black man in the B/W original, but seeing Barbra turned from a shrieking burden into a frightened woman who discovers her own reserves of strength, willpower, and determination was so much more interesting, especially with the rapport she develops with Tony Todd's equally noble and level-headed Ben. Remakes are often a joke these days, but I genuinely feel that Romero and Savini got to make their ideal Night of the Living Dead in 1990, even if the studio hamstrung them on the effects and violence. I still consider it one of my favorites, if not my favorite zombie movie.

great review, you guys should review children of the corn :) the original of course

Great review guys!! I’m totally gonna check out this movie now 👍👍👍

That fat zombie inspired the look of the Bloated Butcher zombie enemies from the FPS game Blood

haven't watched yet, but I always know I'm going to enjoy your guys' review. keep it up!

Only found the channel, just loving all the Romero content so far. After all this time I didn't realise that was bill mosley as Johnny........

I HOPE YOU MAKE A REVIEW , FOR THE ORIGINAL DAWN AND DAY....OF THE DEAD

Never watch the original but this is my favorite zombie movie of all time. I guess I will have to watch the original now! I will also need to watch the original Dawn of the Dead, I only saw the remake and... thought it was just too much. The zombie baby just destroyed that movie for me.

Fantastic review guys. First of yours i have watched. Needless to say i have now subscribed and will be watching more of your reviews very soon. Oh and btw i fully agree with the World War Z Rant at the end.

I don't know if somebody already pointed this out but how did Ben turn into a zombie from the 90's version? At the end there was the big shoot out between Harry Cooper & Ben over Cooper's daughter Sarah, who finally comes up from the basement as a zombie & slowly approached Barbara. Barbara panicked as she struggled to grab a dead policeman's gun but managed to pull the gun off his belt & shoot Sarah in the head. By this time Ben was shot a few times as well as Harry Cooper who eventually escaped up into the attic. Barbara leaves a badly wounded Ben who then locks himself in the basement where he meets & kills Helen Cooper. My question is how did Ben turn into a zombie if he locked himself in the basement until Barbara came back where she sees that he has now become a zombie?

In the comic that Romero made it was shown the original Barbara didn’t died she says her zombie brother took her out of the house into the barn and kept her safe until he was gun down

I like this one much more than the original. It's a shame that it was kinda hampered by the studio.

It's weird to me. Ages ago, this was one of the movies I taped off a cable movie channel. I loved zombies, friends would look at me funny cause I was into some silly old ghoul flicks. Then Resident Evil came out, that's what boys in school were into, a group of friends would get together and try to beat the game, thought it was soooooo intense. Fast Forward to now, Zombies are SO MAINSTREAM...

wales shouldn't be in zombie apocalypse, you clearly haven't been to Cardiff on a Saturday after a bad result? it virtually is a zombie apocalypse

I used to watch this movie all the time as a kid so nostalgic, still love this classic to this day 👌

OMFG ... I just realised Cooper is played by Tom Towles, who played Otis Toole in 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' and popped up in 'Malcolm in the Middle' ....

You missed it. The photo on Mom's headstone is Nancy Reagan.

Day of the Dead and Night 90 are my favorite zombie movies

It’s now, in 2021, been longer since the remake than the remake was from the original. I remember watching this on TNT as a kid. I’m pretty sure it was on Joe Bob Briggs.

The irony of Iain reviewing movies, discussing things such as character consistency, writing quality, logical storytelling, cohesive plots, and all these things - while wearing wrestling fan gear, hah. And I'm a wrestling fan, too, this isn't a dig. It's just funny because wrestling, for 90% of it, is the antithesis of what you usually expect from a quality, well written movie, haha. Enjoying watching these.

a gaming friday on no more room in hell would be right up your alleys

Depending on the day....I enjoy this more then the original

I think you guys did a great job but I disagree with your assessment of her having a breakdown when she goes outside . You even brought it up earlier in the video when Barbara say “ They are slow. Why don’t we walk past them.” And Ben says no. She is actually testing her theory and when it occurs to her she was right she sees the ghouls eating the gas pump morons, it shows on her face what a waste it was for them to die when if they would have just did what she asked they would have all been ok. That is why she kept walking in a circle around the ghoul and pushing at it. She completely had all of her faculties.