Night of the Living Dead (1968) [Horror] [Mystery]

"Night of the Living Dead" is an American independent horror and cult film directed by George A. Romero and starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a US$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, the film ultimately became a financial success, grossing $12 million domestically and $18 million internationally. Night of the Living Dead was heavily criticized at its release owing to explicit content, but eventually garnered critical acclaim and has been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry as a film deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

In addition to the obvious issue of graphic depictions of cannibalism, many other features of the film would have been very disorienting to 1968 audiences. Unlike other horror movies, the Black guy doesn't get killed first -- in fact, he assumes the role of leader of the group of characters and is clearly the most competent to do so. The white middle class family man, on the other hand, is a craven coward. The taboo against committing murder is worn down by the need to fight the human-appearing living dead; eventually characters become willing to kill each other to survive. Characters we come to care about are burned alive, dismembered, and devoured. Technology like motor vehicles, telephones, and electricity fail when they are needed, and the whole debacle is blamed on a space probe gone awry and the invisible, inescapable poison, radiation. The US military reflexively tries to keep secrets from the American people, even when it has no actual information to guard. The police are so flippant doing their job killing zombies that they lose sight of the humanity of the living citizens they are supposedly protecting. Members of the press are happy to become chummy with the cops and don't even think to ask them hard questions. The scientists are cold and rational, advising the immediate cremation of the dead, who are "just dead flesh." For a country struggling with the issues of rapid technological changes, the Cold War, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war and protests, religious cults, the sexual revolution, feminism, and McCarthyism, these themes probably further magnified the discomfort the cannibalism alone would have caused.

[CEMETERY ROAD]

They ought to make the day the time changes

the first day of summer.

What?

Well, it's 8:00 and it's still light.

A lot of good the extra daylight does us!

Now, we've still got a three hour drive back.

We're not going to be home until after midnight.

Well, if it really bugged you, Johnny, you wouldn't do it.

Humph! You think I want to blow Sunday on a scene like this?

You know, I figure

we're either going to have to move Mother out here

or move the grave into Pittsburgh.

She can't make a trip like this!

Aww, I know that she can't.

Is there any of that candy left?

No.

Look at this thing: "We still remember."

I don't!

You know, I don't even remember what the man looks like!

Johnny, it takes you five minutes ...

Yeah, five minutes to put the wreath on the grave

and six hours to drive back and forth.

Mother wants to remember, so we trot 200 miles into the country

and she stays at home

Well, we're here, Johnny. Alright?

[sound of radio static]

[Radio announcer: We're back on? .... oh ... um, Ladies and gentlemen,]

Hey!

[Radio announcer:
we're coming back on the air ]

[Radio announcer:
after an interruption due to technical prob-]

[sound of radio dial clicking off]

There's nothing wrong with the radio.

It must have been the station.

Which row is it in?

Wow, there's no one around.

Well, it's late.

If you'd have gotten up earlier ...

Now, look, I've already lost an hour's sleep with the time change ...

I think you complain just to hear yourself talk.

There it is!

I wonder what happened to the one from last year?

Each year we spend good money on these things.

We come out here, and the one from last year is gone.

Well, the flowers die. And the caretaker, or somebody takes them away.

Yeah, a little "spit and polish" can clean this up;

sell it next year.

I wonder how many times we've bought the same one?

Hey, come on, Barb. Church was this morning, huh?.

[sound of thunder]

Hey, I mean, prayin's for church, huh?

Come on.

I haven't seen you in church lately.

Well, there's not much sense in my going to church.

Do you remember one time when we were small, we were out here?

It was from right over there.

I jumped out at you from behind the tree,

and Grandpa got all excited, and he shook his fist at me,

and said, "Boy, you'll be damned to Hell!"

Ha! You remember that? Right over there.

Boy, you used to really be scared here.

Johnny!

You're still afraid!

Stop it now! I mean it!

[in Boris Karloff voice;] They're coming to get you, Barbra!

Stop it! You're ignorant!

[Karloff voice:] They're coming for you, Barbra!

Stop it! You're acting like a child!

[Karloff voice:] They're coming for you! Look! There comes one of them, now!

He'll hear you!

Here he comes now! I'm getting out of here!

Johnny!

[screams]

Johnny! Help me!

oh .... oh .... oh [sound of thunder]

[screams] oh!

[crunch]

[thunder, rain]

[thunder]

[panting]

[thunder]

[clattering utensils]

[clunking noise]

[switch hook noise, phone dialing "0"]

[strange throbbing electronic tone on line]

[bangs on switch hook again, dials "0"]

[line is dead; hangs up]

[scream]

[car door closes]

[exhales] It's alright.

Don't worry about him. I can handle him.

There will probably be a lot more of them as soon as they find out about us.

The truck is out of gas.

There's pump out here that's locked. Is there a key?

We can try to get out of here if we can get some gas. Is there a key?

[dials "0"]

I suppose you've tried this ...

[throbbing electronic noise; hangs up]

Do you live here?

Jesus!

We've got to get out of here.

We have to get where there's some other people...

And we'd better take some food.

I'll see if I can find some food.

[dripping noise]

[clanking and banging]

What's ... happening ...?

[inaudible] what's happening?

What's happening?

[noises outside]

Two of them ...

There are two of them out there. Have you seen any more around here?

I can take care of those two.

No, I ...

I know you're afraid, but we ...

I DON'T KNOW!

I don't know what's happening!

[sobs]

[crashes outside]

[thud]

[thud]]

[thud ... thud ... thud ... thud ... thud]

[thud ... thud ... thud ... thud .... thud ...]

[door slams]

uh ... uh ...

uh ... uh ....

[thud]

oof!

[exhales] They know we're in here now ...

Don't look at it!

[striking match]

[metal box opening]

Get some more lights on in this house!

[rattling among tools]

Why don't you see if you can find some wood, some boards, some thing about the fireplace, something we can nail we can nail this place up.

Oh, god d- ...

Look,

I know you're afraid. I'm afraid, too.

But we have to try to board the house up together.

Now, I'm going to board up the windows and the doors. Do you understand?

We'll be alright here.

We'll be alright here until someone comes to rescue us.

But we'll have to work together. You'll have to help me.

Now, I want you to go in and get some wood, so I can board the place up.

Do you understand? Okay? Okay?

[music box music]

They're not that strong.

I want you to [inaudible] the nails. Pick out the biggest ones you can find.

[hammering]

Yeah, this room looks pretty secure.

If we have to, we can run in here and board up the doors.

It won't be long until those things are pounding their way in here. They're afraid now.

They're afraid of fire. I found that out.

[banging]

Do you know a place back down the road called Bietmann's? Bietmann's Diner?

Anyhow, that's where I found that truck I have out there.

There's a radio in the truck.

I jumped in to listen to it.

A big gasoline truck came screaming right across the road. Well, there must have been 10 ... 15 of those things, chasing after it.

Grabbing ... and holding on.

I didn't see them at first.

I could just see that the truck was moving in a funny way.

Those things were catching up to it.

The truck went right across the road.

I slammed on my brakes to keep from hitting it myself.

It went right through the guard rail.

I guess ... I guess the driver must have cut off the road into that gas station by Bietmann's Diner.

It went right through the billboard,

ripped over a gas pump and never stopped moving.

By now it was like a moving bonfire.

I didn't know if the truck was going to explode, or what.

I can still hear the man, screaming ...

Those things, just backing away from it ...

I looked back at the diner,

to see if there was anyone there who could help me.

That's when I noticed that the entire place had been encircled

There wasn't a sign of life left, except ...

by now, there were no more screams ...

I realized that I was alone

and there were 50 or 60 of those things

just standing there, staring at me

I started to drive. I ... I just plowed right through them.

They didn't move. The didn't run, or ...

They just stood there, staring at me.

I just wanted to crush them.

They ... scattered ...through the air, like bugs ...

We were riding in the cemetery,

Johnny and me.

Johnny ...

We ...

We came to put a wreath on my father's grave ...

Johnny ... and then he said, "Can I have some candy, Barbra?"

And we didn't have any.

And ... oh!

It's hot in here. Hot! Ugh.

And he said, "Oh, it's late! Why did we start so late!"

And I said, "Johnny, if you'd gotten up earlier, we wouldn't be late."

Johnny asked me if I were afraid.

And I said, "I'm not afraid, Johnny."

And then, this man started walking up the road.

He came slowly ...

And Johnny kept teasing me, and saying, "He's coming to get you, Barbra!"

And I laughed at him and said, "Johnny, stop it!"

And then, Johnny ran away. And I went up to this man,

and I was going to apologize ...

Why don't you just keep calm?

And I looked up ... and I said, "Good eve --" And he grabbed me!

He grabbed me! And he ripped at me! He held me and he ripped at my clothes!

I think you should just calm down!

I screamed, "Johnny! Johnny, help me! Oh! Help me!"

And he ripped at me ... oh, he ripped at me ...

and then Johnny came, and he ran, and he ...

he fought this man!

And I got so afraid, I ran! I ran .... I ran ... and ...

and Johnny ... didn't come ...

we've got ...

we have to wait for Johnny.

Maybe ... we have to go out and get him.

We have to go out and get Johnny.

He's out there.

Please! Don't you hear me?

We've got to go and get him! Please!

WE HAVE GOT TO GO GET JOHNNY! PLEASE!

HELP ME! PLEASE!

Don't you know what's going on out there? This is no Sunday school picnic?

Don't you understand? My brother is alone!

Your brother is dead.

NO!

MY BROTHER IS NOT DEAD!

[slap]

[slap]

ohhh ....

[knob clicks on]

[static]

[Radio announcer:]
Because of the obvious threat to untold numbers of citizens,

[Radio announcer:]
and because of the crisis which is even now developing,

[Radio announcer:]
this radio station will remain on the air, day and night.

[Radio announcer:]
This station, and hundreds of other TV and radio stations

[Radio announcer:]
throughout this part of this country

[Radio announcer:]
are pooling their resources, through an emergency network hookup

[Radio announcer:]
to keep you informed of all developments.

[Radio announcer:]
At this hour, I repeat, these are facts as we know them.

[Radio announcer:]
There is an epidemic of mass murder being committed

[Radio announcer:]
by a virtual army of unidentified assassins.

[Radio announcer:]
The murders are taking place in villages, cities, rural homes, and subuurbs

[Radio announcer:]
with no apparent pattern or reason for the slayings.

[Radio announcer:]
It seems to be a sudden, general explosion of mass homicide.

[Radio announcer:]
We have some descriptions of the assassins.

[Radio announcer:]
Eyewitnesses say they are ordinary looking people.

[Radio announcer:]
Some say they appear to be in a kind of trance.

[Radio announcer:]
Others describe them as being ....[actor moves away from sound of radio]

[Radio announcer:]
... so at this point there is no really authentic way

[Radio announcer:]
for us to say who, or what, to look for and guard yourself against.

[Radio announcer:]
Misshapen monsters?

[Radio announcer:]
Reaction of law enforcement officials is one of complete bewilderment at this hour.

[Radio announcer:]
So far we have been unable to determine

[Radio announcer:]
that any kind of organized investigation is yet underway.

[Radio announcer:]
Police, sheriff's deputies, and emergency ambulances

[Radio announcer:]
are literally deluged with calls for help.

[Radio announcer:]
The scene can best be described as mayhem.

[Radio announcer:]
Mayors of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Miami,

[Radio announcer:]
along with the governors of several Eastern and Midwestern states,

[Radio announcer:]
have indicated the National Guard may be mobilized

[Radio announcer:]
at any moment, but that has not happened as yet.

[Radio announcer:]
The only advice our reporters have been able to get from official sources

[Radio announcer:]
is for private citizens to stay in their homes, behind locked doors.

[Radio announcer:]
Do not venture outside for any reason

[Radio announcer:]
until the nature of this crisis has been determined

[Radio announcer:]
and until we can advise what course of action to take.

[Radio announcer:]
Keep listening to radio and TV for any special instructions

[Radio announcer:]
as this crisis develops further.

[Radio announcer:]
Thousands of office and factory workers

[Radio announcer:]
are being urged to stay their places of employment,

[Radio announcer:]
not to make any attempt to get to their homes.

[Radio announcer:]
However, in spite of this urging and warning,

[Radio announcer:]
Streets and highways are packed with frantic people,

[Radio announcer:]
trying to get to their families,

[Radio announcer:]
or apparently to flee, just anywbere.

[Radio announcer:]
I repeat, the safest course of action at this time

[Radio announcer:]
is simply to stay where you ... [actor moves away from sound of radio]

[voices of figures in yard:] Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhhhhh!

[Radio announcer:]
.... Ladies and gentlemen, we've just received word

[Radio announcer:]
that the President has called a meeting of his Cabinet

[Radio announcer:]
to deal with the sudden epidemic of murder

[Radio announcer:]
which has seized the eastern third of this nation.

[Radio announcer:]
The meeting is scheduled to convene within the hour.

[Radio announcer:]
Member of the Presidential Cabinet will be joined

[Radio announcer:]
by officials from the FBI and the Joint Chiefs behind closed doors

[Radio announcer:]
White House spokesmen, in announcing this conference

[Radio announcer:]
say there will be an official announcement

[Radio announcer:]
as soon as possible following this meeting.

[Radio announcer:]
This is the latest dispatch just received in our newsroom.

[Radio announcer:]
Latest word also, from nation press services in Washington, DC

[Radio announcer:]
now tells us that the emergency Presidential conference which we've just mentioned

[Radio announcer:]
will include high-ranking scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

[Radio announcer:]
That's the extent of this latest ... [actor moves away from sound of radio]

[Radio announcer:]
... including the one to which you are listening, have joined their facilities

[Radio announcer:]
in an emergency network, to bring you this news as it develops.

[Radio announcer:]
We urge you to stay tuned to radio and TV and to stay indoors at all costs.

[Radio announcer:]
Late reports reaching this newsroom tell of frightened people seeking refuge

[Radio announcer:]
in churches, schools and government buildings

[Radio announcer:]
demanding shelter and protection from the wholesale murder

[Radio announcer:]
which apparently is engulfing much of the nation.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
Law enforcment officials are at a loss to explain

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
or at this hour, even to theorize about the reasons for this wave of murder.

[Radio announcer,sound obscured by noise in room]

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
.... Chief C.K. Dunphor, of Camden, North Carolina, was quoted as saying,

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
Quote: "Tell the people, for God's sake, to get off the streets!

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
"Tell them to go home and lock their doors and windows up tight.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
"We don't know what kind of murder-happy characters we have here." -- end quote from Police Chief Dunphor of Camden, North Carolina.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
So far, the only descriptions, the only clues anyone has of the killers,

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
come from frightened witnesses of some of the slayings.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
These eyewitnesses accounts variously describe the murderers

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
as ordinary-looking people, misshapen monsters,

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
people who look like they're in a trance,

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
and things that look like people but act like animals.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
Some eyewitnesses tell of seeing victims

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
who look as though they had been torn apart.

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
This whole, ghastly story began developing two days ago

[Radio announcer, from next room:]
with the report of the slaying of a family of seven

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
in their [inaudible] home near [inaudible].

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
Since then, reports of [inaudible] killings began snowballing

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in the room:]
in a reign of terror which has hopscotched [inaudible]

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
Efforts to keep track of murder reports by the placing of markers on a map

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
seem to indicate a general spreading from the extreme southeast [inaudible] heading north and west.

[Radio announcer, obscured by noises in room:]
Our newsmen have been on the telephone talking with officials in other cities

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
have determined that none of this kind of mass murder has yet been reported

[Radio announcer, sound obscured by noises in room:]
west of the Mississippi River, except in the extreme southeastern portion of Texas.

[Radio announcer:]
Similar killings have been reported around the Houston and Galveston areas

[Radio announcer:]
but nothing ...

I found a gun and some bullets out there

[Radio announcer:]
It was only last yesterday ...

oh, and these ...

[Radio announcer:]
when it really became clear we were facing

[Radio announcer:]
some kind of national emergency

[Radio announcer:]
when first reports began filtering in,

[Radio announcer:]
newsmen and law enforcement agencies were of the opinion that ...

This place is boarded up pretty solid now.

We ought to be alright her for a while.

We have a gun, and bullets, food, and the radio.
[Radio announcer:] ... began to suspect an obscure type of conspiracy

Sooner or later, someone is bound to come and get us out.
[Radio announcer:] .... creatures from outer space.

[Radio announcer:]
so again, we join with law enforcement agencies urging you to see shelter in a building.

[Radio announcer:]
Lock the doors and windows securely.

Hey, that's us. We're doing alright!

[Radio announcer:]
... be cautious of any suspicious strangers.

[Radio announcer:]
And keep tuned to your radio and television for survival instructions

[Radio announcer:]
and further details of this continuing story ...

Look I don't know if you're hearing me, but I'm going upstairs now.

If anything should try to break in here, I can hear it from up there

and I'll be down to take care of it.

[Radio announcer:]
... savage killers. We repeat, this radio station ...

Everything is alright for now.

I'll be back to reinforce the windows and doors later.

But you'll be alright for now. Okay?

Okay??

[Radio announcer:]
Civil defense officials in Cumberland have told newsmen that murder victims

[Radio announcer:]
show evidence of having been partially devoured

[Radio announcer:]
... Consistent reports from witnesses to the affected people who acted as though they were in a kind of trance

[Radio announcer:]
were killing, and eating, their victims,

[Radio announcer:]
prompted authorities to examine the bodies of some of the victims.

[Radio announcer:]
Medical authorities in Cumberland have concluded that in all cases

[Radio announcer:]
the killers are eating the flesh of the people they murdered.

[Radio announcer:]
Repeating: This latest bulletin, just received moments ago, from Cumberland, Maryland,

[Radio announcer:]
Civil defense authorities have told newsmen

[Radio announcer:]
that murder victims show evidence of having been partially devoured by their murders.

[Radio announcer:]
Medical examination of victims' bodies shows conclusively

[Radio announcer:]
that the killers are eating the flesh of the people they kill.

[Radio announcer:]
And so this incredible story

[Radio announcer:]
becomes more ghastly with each report.

[Radio announcer:]
It's difficult to imagine such a thing actually happening,

[Radio announcer:]
but these are the reports that we have been receiving and passing on to you,

[Radio announcer:]
reports that have been verified, as completely as is possible

[Radio announcer:]
in this confused situation. It IS happenig.

[Radio announcer:]
And it would appear that no one is safe

[Radio announcer:]
from this wave of mass ....

[screams!]

I'm coming!

Halt! Don't shoot! We're from town!

A radio!

[Radio announcer:]
... County, Pennsylvania. The Butler County Sheriff has verified ...

[Radio announcer:]
... eaten by their slayers is true. No further details available at this time. However ...

How long have you guys been down there?

I could have used some help up here.

That's the cellar. It's the safest place.

You mean you didn't hear the racket we were making up here?

How were we supposed to know what was going on?

It could have been those things, for all we knew.

That girl was screaming.

Surely you must know what a girl screaming sounds like.

Those things don't make any noise.

Anybody would know somebody's been needing help.

Look, it's kind of hard to hear what's going on from down there.

We thought we could hear screams, but for all we knew ...

that could have meant those things were in the house after her.

And you wouldn't come up and help?

Well, if there were more ...

That racket sounded like the place was being ripped apart.

How were we suppose to know what was going on?

Now wait a minute.

You just got finished saying you couldn't hear from down there.

Now, you say it sounded like the place was being ripped apart.

It would be nice if you could get your story straight, man.

Alright now, you tell me.

I'm not going to take that kind of a chance when we've got a safe place

We luck into a safe place, and you tell us we've got to risk our lives

just because somebody might need help, huh?

Yeah, something like that.

Alright, why don't we settle this ...

Look mister, we came up, okay? We're here.

Now, I suggest we all go back downstairs

before any of those things find out we're in here.

They can't get in here.

You've got the whole place boarded up?

Yeah, most of it. All but a few spots upstairs.

They won't be hard to fix.

You're insane! The cellar's the safest place.

I'm telling you, they can't get in here.

And I'm telling you, those things turned over our car.

We were damned lucky to get away at all!

Now, you tell me those ... those things

can't get through this lousy pile of wood?

His wife and kid is downstairs. The kid's hurt.

His wife and kid's downstairs. The kid's hurt.

Well, I still think we're better off up here.

We could strengthen everything up, Mr. Cooper.

With all of us working, we could fix this place up in no time.

We have everything we need, up here.

We can take all that stuff downstairs with us.

Man, you're really crazy, you know that?

You got a million windows up here. All these windows.

You're gonna make them strong enough to keep these things out, huh?

I told you, those things don't have any strength.

I smashed three of them, and pushed another one out the door.

And did you hear me when I told you they turned over our car?

Oh, hell, any good five men could do that!

That's my point!

Only there's not going to be five, or even ten ...

there's going to be 20, 30, maybe 100 of those things.

And as soon as they know we're here

this place is going to crawling with them.

Well, if there're that many, they'll probably get us, wherever we are.

Look! The cellar --

the cellar, there's only one door.

Right? Just one door. That's all we have to protect.

Tom and I fixed it so it locks and boards from the inside.

But up here, all these windows?

Why, we'd never know where they were going to hit us next!

You've got a point, Mr. Cooper.

But down in the cellar, there's no place to run to.

I mean, if they did get in,

there's no back exit. We'd be done for.

Awwww ...

We can get out of here if we have to.

And we've got windows to see what's going on outside.

But down there, with no windows, if a rescue party did come

we wouldn't even know it.

But the cellar is the strongest place!

The cellar is a death trap!

I don't know, Mr. Cooper. I think he's right.

You know how many's out there.

I don't know. I think it's maybe six or seven.

Look. You two can do whatever you like.

I'm going back down the cellar, and you'd better decide.

Because I'm going to board up that door,

and I'm not going to unlock it again, no matter what happens!

Now wait a minute, Mr. Cooper ...

No! I'm not going to wait.

I've made my decision. Now you make yours!

Now wait a minute!

Let's think about this.

We can make it to the cellar if we have to.

And if we do decide to stay down there, we'll need some things from up here.

So let's at least consider this a while.

You box yourself in the cellar and those things get in house, you've had it.

At least up here, you have a fighting chance.

Yeah, it look like about eight or ten out there, now.

That's more than there were. There are a lot out back, too.

[thwack ... thwack ... thwack ...]

[bang!]

[off screen:] Harry? Harry, what's happening?

It's alright!

[bang!]

[inaudible]

[bang!]

We've got to fix these boards!

You're crazy!

Those things are going to be at every window and door in this place!

We've got to get down there to the cellar!

Go down in your damn cellar, and get out of here!

I'm taking the girl with me.

Leave her here. Keep your hands off her.

... and everything else that's up here, too.

Because if I stay up here, I'm fighting for everything up here,

and the radio and the food is part of what I'm fighting for.

Now if you're going down the cellar, get!

The man's insane! He's insane!

We've got to have food down here.

We've got a right!

Is this your house?

We've got a right!

You going down there with him?

Well, I ...

Yes, or no? This is your last chance,

no beating around the bush.

Listen, I've got kid down there.

She ... she can't ...

I couldn't take her up here. She can't possibly take all the racket

of those things smashing through the windows.

Well, you're her father.

If you're stupid enough to go die in that trap, that's you're business.

However, I am not stupid enough to follow you.

It is tough for the kid that her old man is so stupid.

Now get the hell down in the cellar.

You can be the boss down there.

I'm boss up here.

You bastards!

You know, I won't open this door again.

I mean it!

Mr. Cooper, with your help, we could ...

With my help!

Let him go, man. His mind i made up.

Just let him go!

Wait a minute!

Judy, come on up here, Honey.

You're going to let them get hurt, too, huh?

It's alright honey, okay.

If we stick together, man, we could fix it up real good.

There's lots of places we could run to up here.

Mr. Cooper, we'd all be a lot better off if all three of us were working together.

Hey ... hey kid!

He's wrong, you know.

I'm not boxing myself in down there.

[Radio announcer:]
....this radio station will remain on the air, day and night

Well, we're safe now. It's boarded up tight.

What about Tom and Judy?

There're two other people upstairs.

A man and a girl.

We heard the screaming.

Yeah, but I didn't know who they were

and I wasn't about to take any unnecessary chances.

Of COURSE not, Harry ...

Is she alright?

I don't know what it is.

She feels warm, maybe it's shock ...

Where did you get the bandage?

Some laundry in a basket -- I tore a sheet.

Let them stay upstairs. Let them.

Too many ways those monsters can get in up there.

We'll see who's right.

We'll see, when they come begging me to let them in down here.

That's important, isn't it?

What?

To be right, and everybody else to be wrong.

What do you mean by that?

Does anyone up there know why we're being attacked?

Whatever it is, it isn't just happening here.

It's some kind of mass murder, it's going on everywhere.

The radio said to stay inside ...

Radio?!

The radio upstairs. I heard a new bulletin.

There's a radio upstairs and you boarded us in down here??

I know what I'm doing!

What did it say?

Nothing! Nothing! They don't know anything yet;

there's mass murder everywhere

and people are supposed to look for a safe place to hide.

Take the boards off that door!

We are staying down here, Helen!

Harry, that radio is at least some kind of communication

If the authorities know what's happening,

well, they'll send people for us, or they'll tell us what to do!

How are we going to know what's going on if we lock ourselves in this dungeon?

We may not enjoy living together.

But dying together isn't going to solve anything.

Those people aren't our enemies.

Mr. Cooper! Mr. Cooper!

Ben found a television set upstairs.

Let's go up!

Tom?

Yes?

If Judy would come downstairs for a few minutes,

Harry and I could come upstairs.

Okay, yeah, right away.

Will you do it?

Do I have to?

Look Honey, nothing's going to get done

with them down there and us up here.

Do this. For me.

Okay.

Okay, open up!

I'll take good care of her Helen.

She's all I have ...

Why don't you go upstairs now?

Her brother was killed.

[off camera:] Hey, give me a hand with this thing!

I got to go help Ben with the television.

[match strikes]

Don't be afraid of me. I'm Helen Cooper, Harry's wife.

This place is ridiculous. Look at this!

There's a million weak spots up here!

Give me one of those.

Her brother was killed!

And they talk about these windows!

I can't see a damn thing!

There could be fifteen million of those things out there!

That's how much good windows are!

Why don't you do something to help somebody?

Here, I have it. Drag a couple of those chairs together.

There's a socket over here.

You'd better watch this and try to understand what's going on.

I don't want anyone's life on my hands!

Is there anything I can do?

I don't want to hear any more from you, mister.

If you stay up here, you take orders from ME!

And that includes leaving the girl alone!

It's on! It's on!

There's no sound ....

Play with the rabbit ears ...

[TV announcer:]
... incredible as they seem, are not the result of mass hysteria.

Mass hysteria! What do they think, we're imagining all this?

Shut up!

[TV announcer:]
.... the wave of murder which is sweeping the eastern third of the nation

[TV announcer:]
is being committed by creatures who feast upon the flesh of their victims.

[TV announcer:]
The first eyewitness accounts of this grisly development

[TV announcer:]
came from people who were understandably frightened

[TV announcer:]
and almost incoherent.

[TV announcer:]
Officials and newsmen at first discounted those eyewitness descriptions

[TV announcer:]
as being beyond belief.

[TV announcer:]
However, reports persisted.

[TV announcer:]
Medical examinations of some of the victims

[TV announcer:]
bore out the fact that they had been partially devoured.

[TV announcer:]
I think we have some late word. It's just arriving

[TV announcer:]
I interrupt to bring this to you.

[TV announcer:]
This is the latest disclosure, in a report from National Civil Defense Headquarters in Washington:

[TV announcer:]
It has been established that persons who have recently died

[TV announcer:]
have been returning to life and committing acts of murder.

[TV announcer:]
A widespread investigations of reports from funeral homes, morgues and hospitals

[TV announcer:]
has concluded that the unburied dead are coming back to life

[TV announcer:]
and seeking human victims.

[TV announcer:]
It's hard for us here to believe what we're reporting to you,

[TV announcer:]
but it does seem to be a fact.

[TV announcer:]
When this emergency first began,

[TV announcer:]
radio and television was advising people to stay inside,

[TV announcer:]
behind locked doors, for safety.

[TV announcer:]
Well that situation has now changed,

[TV announcer:]
and we're able to report a definite course of action for you.

[TV announcer:]
Civil Defense machinery has been organized to provide rescue stations

[TV announcer:]
with food, shelter, medical treatment,

[TV announcer:]
and protection by armed National Guardsmen.

[TV announcer:]
Stay tuned to the broadcasting stations in your local area

[TV announcer:]
for this list of rescue stations.

[TV announcer:]
This list will be repeated throughout our news coverage.

[TV announcer:]
Look for the name of the rescue station nearest you

[TV announcer:]
and make your way to that location as soon as possible.

Say, we have that truck. If we can get some gas, we can get out of here.

There's a pump out by the shed.

I know, that's why I pulled in here. But it's locked.

[TV announcer:]
...called this afternoon, by the President.

[TV announcer:]
Since convening, this conference of the Presidential Cabinet,

[TV announcer:]
the FBI, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, has not produced any public information.

[TV announcer:]
Why are space experts being consulted about an earth-bound emergency?

[TV announcer:]
So far, all the betting on the answer to that question

[TV announcer:]
centers on the recent Explorer Satellite, shot to Venus

[TV announcer:]
That satellite, you'll recall, started back to Earth, but never got here.

[TV announcer:]
That's the space vehicle that orbited Venus, and then was purposely destroyed by NASA

[TV announcer:]
when scientists discovered it was carrying a mysterious high-level radiation with it.

[TV announcer:]
Could that radiation be somehow responsible for the wholesale murders we're now suffering?

[TV announcer:]
Newsman Don Quinn in Washington has posed those questions ...

It's obvious our best move is to try to get out of here.

How are you going to get over to that pump?

Look!

[Don Quinn:]
You're coming from a meeting regarding the explosion of the Venus probe, is that right sir?

[Military officer:]
Yes, yes, that was the subject of the meeting.

[Quinn:]
Do you feel there is a connection between this and the phenomenon ...?

[Scientist, interrupting:]
There's a definite connection, a definite connection.

[Quinn:]
In other words, you feel that the radiation on the Venus probe was enough to cause these mutations?

[Scientist]
There was a very high degree of radiation ...

[Military officer:]
Well, just a minute, I'm not sure that that's certain at all. I don't think that that has been ...

[Second scientist:]
It's the only logical explanation that we have at this time.

[Quinn:]
In other words, it's the military's viewpoint the radiation is not the cause of the mutation?

[Military officer:]
I can't speak for the entire military at this time, gentlemen.

[Military officer:]
I must disagree with these gentlemen, presently, until this is irrefutably proved.

[Second scientist:]
Everything is being done that can be done.

[Military officer:]
We'll have to hurry for our next meeting.

[Quinn:]
Professor, you feel that there is a definite connection?

[Scientist:]
There's a definite connection as far as Dr. Keller and myself ...

[Military officer:]
Doctor, please, I thought we decided that is not proved yet?

[Quinn:]
Was the satellite ... when the satellite was exploded ...

[Scientist:]
There was an unusual amount of radiation, enough to cause mutation under certain circumstances ...

[Military officer:]
... could have had any bearing on it ...

[Scientist:]
It does seem to have had a bearing on it ..

[Quinn:]
Will there be a reply ...

[Scientist:]
Later! There will be a reply -- later this afternoon.

[Second scientist:]
There will be a report this afternoon

[Miliary officer:]
... perhaps there will be a report, later ...

[Scientist:]
We are doing everything possible to solve the problem.

[Ben:] You know we have to try to get out of here.

He said the rescue stations have doctors and medical supplies.

If we could get Karen there, we could get help for her!

[TV announcer:]
... is one of the world's foremost authorities on space science and technologies ...

[Ben:] Willard? I saw a sign that said "Willard..."

[Tom:] It's only about 17 miles from here.

You know this area? You're from around here?

Judy and I are both from around here.

We were on our way to the lake to go swimming,

and Judy had a radio, and we heard the first reports about this.

So we knew the old house was here, and we came in, and found the lady upstairs, dead.

Then these other people came. We went down into the basement,

and put a bar across the door, and it is pretty strong ...

How could we possibly get away from here?

We've got a sick child, two women, one woman out her head, three men,

and the place is surrounded with these things.

[TV announcer:]
... for NASA. Dr. Grimes, your entire staff, I know, has been working very hard

[TV announcer:]
to find some solution to these things that are happening.

[TV announcer:]
Do you have any answers at this time?

[Grimes:]
Yes, we have some answers.

[Grimes:]
But first, let me stress, the importance of seeking medical attention

[Grimes:]
for anyone who's been injured in any way.

[Grimes:]
We don't know yet what complications might result from such injuries ...

How bad has your kid been hurt?

Umm, she ..

Look, you go down there and tell, is it Judy?

Yeah, you tell Judy to come up here, and you stay with the kid, alright?

[Grimes:]
... with regard to the Venus probe. In the cold room at the university, we had a cadaver.

[Grimes:]
A cadaver from which all four limbs had been amputated.

[Grimes:]
Sometime early this morning, it opened its eyes and began to move its trunk.

[Grimes:]
It was dead, but it opened its eyes and tried to move.

They want you upstairs.

Did she ask for me?

She hasn't said anything.

I don't understand. Baby?

It's mommy...

I hurt ...

I'll come back down as soon as I find out what they want.

Thank you, Judy.

[Grimes:]
The body should be disposed of at once, preferably by cremation.

[TV announcer:]
Well, how long after death, then, does the body become reactivated?

[Grimes:]
It's only a matter of minutes.

[TV announcer:]
Minutes! Well that doesn't give people time to make any arrangements ...

[Grimes:]
Well, you're right. It doesn't give them time to make funeral arrangements.

[Grimes:]
The bodies must be carried to the street, and burned.

[Grimes:]
They must be burned immediately! Soak them with gasoline and burn them.

[Grimes:] The bereaved will have to forgo the the dubious comforts that a funeral service will give.

[Grimes:]
They're just dead flesh -- and dangerous.

I need you to find some bedspreads, or sheets, to tear up into small strips, okay?

Is there a fruit cellar here?

Yes

We need some bottles or jars to make Molotov cocktails

to try to hold them off while we try to escape.

Hey, there's a big can of kerosene down there.

I'll see what I can find.

I'll look for the bottles.

There's a big key ring down there.

There may be a key to the gas pump on it.

I'll check.

We can toss the cocktails from a window upstairs.

Meantime a couple of us can go out an try to get the gas,

then come back for the rest of the people.

But that will leave a door open someplace!

Yeah, that's right.

It'd better be this door. It's closer to the truck.

Before we go out, we'll put some supplies behind the cellar door.

While we're gone, the rest of you can hole up in there.

I found some fruit jars in the cellar.

And there's a key on here that's labeled for the gas pump out back.

I'm not really that used to the truck. I found it abandoned.

I can handle the truck, no sweat.

You're it, then. You and I will go.

We'll put whatever lumber we find behind the cellar door.

You can go upstairs and toss the cocktails from a window.

Tom, you and I will have to unboard this door.

After you toss the cocktails, you hustle back down here and lock this door.

It's no good to board it up, because we'll have to get back in quickly.

After we get the gas and get back into the house,

then we'll worry about getting everybody into the truck.

Let's move it.

[TV announcer:]
...Indications are, that before this emergency is over,

[TV announcer:]
we will many, many more such rescue stations.

You always have a smile for me. How can you smile like that all the time?

How many do you have done?

Come on honey, we've got to move!

Tom, are you sure about the phone?

The phone is dead, out! All you get is a recorded message.

If I could only call the folks. They're going to be so worried about us.

Everything'll be alright.

As soon as we get to Willard, we'll call them.

They might even be there.

I know.

Tom,

Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Tom?

What, about getting out of here?

Yeah.

Well, the television said that's the right thing to do.

We've got to get to a rescue station.

I don't know ...

Come on, Honey. You're starting to sound like Mr. Cooper now.

But why do you have to go out there.

Look, I know how to handle that truck.

And I can handle the pump. Ben doesn't know anything about that stuff.

But we're safe in here.

For how long, Honey?

We're safe now. But there's going to be more and more of those things

I know, I know all that!

Listen. Remember, when we had the big flood?

Remember how difficult for us to convince you that it was right to leave?

Remember, remember we had to go to Willard then?

This isn't a passing thing, Honey.

It's not like just a wind passing through.

We've got to do something, and fast.

I just don't want YOU to go out there, that's all.

Hey, Smiley, where's that big smile for me?

Boy, you're sure no use at all are you?

we've go work to do, Honey, and you ... and you..

We'd better get her downstairs.

We have to go downstairs, now, Barbra.

She's right. You have to go downstairs, now,

just for a little while, until we get back.

Then we can all leave.

Oh, I'd like to leave! Yes!

Good luck.

Yeah.

[sound of crickets chirping coming through open window]

uhhhhh

You ready upstairs?
[from upstairs:] Yeah!

Okay, toss 'em!

ahhhh!

arrrrrrhhhhhh!

uhhhhAAHHHHH!

Go ahead! Go on!

[ignition starts engine]

I'm going with him!

Get back in the cellar!

I'm going!

It's too late!

[door slams and locks]

Well if you're coming, come on!

Get in!

[bang]

Come on!

This key won't work!

Watch out ...

[bang]

[slosh!]

Watch the torch!

We've got to get away from the pump!

Hang on!

No! Tell the girl to get out of the truck!

Let's get out of here!

Come on! Come on!

My jacket's caught!

[kabooooom!]

Ahhhhhhhh

uuhhhhhhh

[bang]

Let me in! I'm coming in!

Cooper! Cooper!!!

I ought to drag you out there and feed you to those things!

uhhhhhh ..... uhhhhhh ....

ahhh....

[snort .... smack ...]

[chomp...]

Isn't it 3:00 yet?

There's supposed to be another broadcast at 3:00.

Ten minutes.

Oh, only ten more minutes?

We don't have very long to wait.

We can leave.

Well, we'd better leave soon.

It ten minutes to three.

You know anything about this area at all?

I mean, is Willard the nearest town?

I don't know.

We were ....

just trying to get to a motel before dark.

You say those things turned your car over.

You think we could get it back on its wheels and drive it?

Where is it?

Seems like it was pretty far away ...

seems like we ran ...

Forget it. It's at least a mile.

Johnny has the keys...

You gonna carry that child a mile?

Through that army of things out there?

I can carry the kid.

What's wrong with her? How did she get hurt?

One of those things grabbed her ...

Bit her on the arm.

What's wrong?

Who knows what kind of disease those things carry?

Is she conscious?

Barely...

She can't walk. She's too weak.

Well, one of us could try to get to the car.

You gonna turn it over by yourself?

You have a car? Where? Where is it?

You won't be able to start it...

Yeah, yeah, I know. But where is it?

uhhhhh! uhhhh!

Good lord!

[TV announcer:]
... being monitored closely by scientists

[TV announcer:]
at all the radiation detection stations.

[TV announcer:]
At this hour, they report the level

[TV announcer:]
of the mysterious radiation continues to increase steadily.

[TV announcer:]
So long as this situation remains, government spokesmen warn

[TV announcer:]
that dead bodies will continue to be transformed into the flesh-eating ghouls.

[TV announcer:]
All persons who die during this crisis, from whatever cause

[TV announcer:]
will come back to life to seek human victims unless their bodies are first disposed of by cremation.

[TV announcer:]
Our news cameras have just returned from covering

[TV announcer:]
such a search-and-destroy operation against the ghouls,

[TV announcer:]
this one conducted by Sheriff Connan McClellan in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

[TV announcer:]
So, now, let's go to that film report.

[TV announcer:]
All law enforcement agencies and the military

[TV announcer:]
have been orgainized to search out and destroy

[TV announcer:]
the marauding ghouls.

[TV announcer:]
The Survival Command Center at the Pentagon

[TV announcer:]
has disclosed that a ghoul can be killed

[TV announcer:]
by a shot in the head, or a heavy blow to the skull.

[TV announcer:]
Officials are quoted as explaining that since the brain of a ghoul

[TV announcer:]
has been activated by the radiation,

[TV announcer:]
the plan is kill the brain, and you kill the ghoul.

[Sheriff McClellan:}
Do you want anything from the supply wagon, guys?

[Deputy:]
No, we're alright.

[McClellan, shouting:]
Hey guys, put that thing all the way in the fire!

[McClellan, shouting:]
We don't want it gettin' up again!

[off camera:]
alright, I gotcha...

[Reporter:]
Chief, Chief McClellan, how's everything going?

[McClellan:]
Aw, things aren't going too bad.

[McClellan:]
Men are takin' it pretty good. [shouts] You want to get on the other side of the road over there.

[Reporter:]
Chief, do you think we'll be able to defeat these things?

[McClellan:]
Well, we killed 19 of them today, right in this area.

[McClellan:]
Those last three we caught trying to claw their way into an abandoned shed.

[McClellan:]
They must have thought somebody was in there.

[McClellan:]
There wasn't though.

[McClellan:]
We heard 'em making all kind of noise,

[McClellan:]
we came over, and beat 'em off, blasted 'em down.

[off camera:]
Chief, the things are finished; can I see you here?

[McClellan, shouting:]
Yeah, okay!

[Reporter:]
Chief, if I were surrounded by six or eight of these things,

[Reporter:]
would I stand a chance with them?

[McClellan:]
Well, there's no problem.

[McClellan:]
If you had a gun, shoot 'em in the head.

[McClellan:]
That's a sure way to kill 'em. If you don't,

[McClellan:]
get yourself a club or a torch.

[McClellan:]
Beat 'em or burn 'em. They go up pretty easy.

[Reporter:]
Well, Chief McClellan, how long to you think it will take you

[Reporter:]
until you get the situation under control?

[McClellan:]
Well, that's pretty hard to say. We don't know how many of them there are.

[McClellan:]
We know when we find them, we can kill them.

[Reporter:]
Are they slow moving, Chief?

[McClellan:]
Yeah, they're dead, they're ... all messed up.

[Reporter:]
Well, in time, would you say you ought to be able to

[Reporter:]
wrap this up in 24 hours?

[McClellan:]
Well ... we don't really know.

[McClellan:]
We know we'll be into it most of the night,

[McClellan:]
probably into the early morning.

[McClellan:]
We're working our way toward Willard,

[McClellan:]
and we'll team up with the National Guard over there,

[McClellan:]
and then we'll be able to give a more definite view.

[Reporter:]
Thank you very much, Chief McClellan.

[Reporter:]
This is Bill Cardille, WIIC, TV 11 News.

[TV announcer:]
Thank you, Bill, for that report.

[TV announcer:]
Official spokesmen declined to speculate

[TV announcer:]
just how long it may take to kill off all the flesh eaters.

[TV announcer:]
As long as the heavy r- [sound cuts off]

Is the fuse box in the cellar?

I don't know, I ...

It isn't the fuse ... the power lines are down.

Helen, I have to get that gun!

Haven't you had enough?!

Two people are dead already on account of that guy!

Take a look out that window ...

[thud! thud! thud! ...]

[crash!]

Get over here, man!

Come on!

Go ahead, go ahead ... you want to stay up here now?

Helen, get in the cellar.

Get in the cellar now, move!

[bang!]

Aieeee!

uhhh!

aahhh, aaahhhh!

No! No!

ahhhh!

Karen?

Karen?

Karen ...

poor baby ...

baby ... ohhh ...

ahhh!

[screams!]

ahhhh!

no ... no ....

No, get out!

No, no, Johnny!

No! No! No!

Help me! Help me!

Help me!

[thud! thud!]

[bang! bang! bang!]

[bang!]

[thudding and grunting off camera]

[birds chirping]

[inaudible police radio chatter]

Hey, Vince, Al,

you want to get about four or five men and a couple of dogs?

There a house over here behind those trees.

We want to go check it out.

You're over here, Bill?

Yeah, Chief, we're gonna stay with it

until we meet up with the National Guard.

Where'd you get the coffee?

One of the volunteers. You're doing all the work; you take it.

Thank you. We should be wrapped up here about three or four more hours,

and we'll probably get into Willard then.

I guess you can go over there and meet the National Guard.

Nick, you and the rest of these men want to come with me?

Bill, I'm gonna check with the office, see what's happening.

Alright, Steve, tell them we're going to stay with it,

and everything appears to be under control.

[bark! bark! bark!]

[sound of dogs barking in the distance]

[bang! bang!]

[gunshots in the distance]

They need you down there by the barn.

Okay.

Some of these guys can follow the wagon down.

I only need a few men to check out the house.

Somebody had a cookout here, Vince.

Yeah, sure looks like it, Tom.

[sirens in the distance]

[bang! bang!]

[bang! bang! bang!]

[bang! bang, bang!]

He's a dead one. Get up here! Nick! Tony! Steve!

You want to get out in that field and build me a bonfire!

You, drag that out of here and throw it on the fire.

Nothing down here.

Alright, go ahead down and give him a hand.

Let's go check out the house.

There's something, there. I heard noise.

Alright, Vince, hit him in the head. Right between the eyes.

[bang!]

Good shot!

Okay, he's dead! Let's go get him. That's another one for the fire.

[inaudible police radio chatter]

[helicopter rotors]

[off camera: Come ahead with the motorcycles, please!]

[Let's go!]

[Hey, Randy light these torches over here!]