“Do ya wanna party?”: Lost Classics Pt. 2
Following on from Tuesday's post (and its discussion of The Observer,'s "50 Lost Film Classics" list), I hereby offer my second "unduly neglected" 1980s gem for your consideration. Available in all decent DVD shops at knockdown prices, it'd make the prefect Christmas gift for those of you suffering last-minute panic. Honestly…
2. The Return of the Living Dead
Dan O'Bannon (1986)
Few things are as enjoyable (when successfully realised) as good horror comedies – the only problem being that there are so few of them around. List-compiling film buffs routinely cite the same three or four features as high points of the sub-genre: An American Werewolf in London, Evil Dead 2, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein etc. Rarely (outside of 'fanboy' circles) however, does one hear mention of Dan O'Bannon’s delightful and delirious Return of the Living Dead. Best known perhaps for being the film that introduced the classic zombie "Brrrraaaaaiiinnnsssss!!" refrain to cinema audiences, its ingredients – general daftness, a cast of fairly irritating teens etc – do not appear overly promising on paper.
What makes it memorable (and highly rewatchable…especially after a few pints) though, are three perfectly pitched performances from the senior male leads: James Karen (as the folksy and avuncular 'Frank'), Clu Gulager (as his put-upon, pragmatic boss 'Burt'), and Don Calfa (as the Nazi-loving mortician 'Ernie').
Add in a kicking soundtrack (from The Cramps et al), a 90 minute runtime that ensures the joke doesn't become too strained, a winning affection for its (unabashed) 'B-Movie' aesthetic etc, and the result is a gooey, gory, hilarious treat. There may be one or two more important zombie films (Dawn of the Dead for example) but none are anything like this much fun.
[tags]Zombies, Living Dead, James Karen, Observer[/tags]
December 21, 2006
