| The Story |
| " Night of the Living Dead" tells the story of seven strangers who are trapped inside a farmhouse while canabalistic zombies roam the country side in search of human flesh. The first indication that something is wrong comes when Johnny ( Russell W. Streiner) is killed by a ghoul ( Bill Hinzman ) during a trip to the family cemetery. Johnny's sister, Barbara ( Judith O'Dea ) escape's to a nearby farmhouse, where she soon finds that she is not the only one being menaced by the ghouls. Among the other survivors are Ben ( Duane Jones ) and the Coopers , Helen ( Marilyn Eastmen ) Harry ( Karl Hardman ) and their daughter Karen ( Kyra Schon ) who has been infected by one of the creatures. Outside, more and more of the ghouls begin to surround the farmhouse. Ben decides it would be best to board the up house, against Harry's will. Through the aid of an old t.v., they find out that the dead have been coming back to life and are attacking, killing, and eating their living victims. Fear begins to take effect on the group. Barbara, traumitized by the loss of her brother, falls into shock. Tention grows between Ben and Harry, and soon the whole group begins to fall apart. A young couple ( Judith Ridley and Keith Wayne ) are killed during an escape attempt, Harry is shot while trying to steal Ben's rifle, and Helen is killed by Karen, who has become a ghoul. Barbara and Ben try to keep the creatures from breaking into the farmhouse, but they fail, and Barbara is killed by Johnny, who has returned as a ghoul. The living dead swarm into the house en masse. The only survivor is Ben, who locks himself in the celler, the only room in the house the creatures can't get into. The next scene is at daybreak. Ben finds that all of the creatures have left the house, and decides to investigate the damage. Ironically, he is mistaken for a ghoul and is shot by a posse member. |