Yes, for all of you poor, uneducated slobs out there, this is in fact a remake of the classic 60's zombie epic of the same name. This time around, George Romero is aboard only as executive producer, handing the directorial reins over to special FX guru Tom Savini (who, if you'd take 3 fucking seconds out of your busy schedule to check out my filmography on Savini, you'd find he did FX work for Romero's other "...DEAD" movies)! I entered into this thing somewhat frightened and unsure of what to expect. I mean sure, Savini is a bitchin' FX man and his acting is better than the average "B" actor (and I use the term loosely), but can he really make a memorable cover of an already ass-kickin' flick? Well, despite the fact that the original is one of the greatest movies (in my Godly opinion of course) of this or any other eon, Savini does an admirable job of updating it for the 90's. We have a basic true-to-form cover here, with only minor changes. For instance, this one was in color, where as Romero's original master work was black-and-white (which added to the eerie atmosphere), and I liked the black-and-white better. So, Savini loses on color... Special FX? Well, of course you gotta give it to Savini! The master of guts and gore shines like my bald knob covered in Krissy's juices... okay, so that was a little graphic, but it got my point across didn't it? Anyway, Savini FX win hands down. Action? Well, this version features residential bad mother (shut your mouth!) Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) as Ben, and has him getting medieval on some undead ass Shaft style, and even includes everyone shooting each other (though no deathblows are dealt)! Romero's had a bunch of people crying their eyes out and screwing up every escape attempt they made. So, action goes Savini. Barb? Well, in the original Romero, Barbara (who the zombies were all "coming for") was a shy, mousy girl on the brink of insanity. Savini's Barb was this butched out, Sigourney Weaver-esque character who kicked zombie ass and didn't even bother to take names (and also shoots that bastard Cooper) played by Patricia Tallman (sounds like she should be in PHANTASM movies)! Might've been cool if I liked the butch chicks. Besides, I'm sick of all the "strong female leads". Don't get me wrong, chicks can kick ass when they want to, but do they have to do it in EVERY movie?! So, Romero's Barb gets my vote. Ben's ending? Well, in Savini's version Ben becomes a zombie at the end and is shot to be put out of his misery. But, Romero's was much more entertaining! Ben was the sole survivor of a night of terror and tragedy, only to be mistaken for a zombie and killed the following morning! I love that whole "tragic death of the lead character" angle! So, despite Tony Todd being one bad mofo, I liked Romero's fate for Ben better. So, in the end? Well, if you like the more action-packed, graphic, explosion, kung-fu type movies, go with Savini. But, if you're like me and go for the more eerie, mentally disturbing, and artistic of the two then pick up Romero's original. It's still one of the best horror movies to date! Better then a virgin sacrifice! Well...

DVD X-tras: Theatrical trailers for the movie, as well as for the B&W flick THE TINGLER... why? I haven't the slightest idea... Also, the DVD includes filmographies for Romero, Savini, Tony Todd, and Patricia Tallman; a documentary on the remake, called, "the Dead Walk", which also features some more graphic cuts of a few scenes, toned down because the MPAA are a mob of assholes; and a commentary track by the man himself, Tom Savini, where we get his criticism on his first directorial work (this movie ya pud!).

Sequels: actually, this is a remake of the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: CEMETERY MAN or RE-ANIMATOR