The Return of the Living Dead

“You ever see that movie Night of the Living Dead?” one employee asks another in a medical supply warehouse. “Did you know it was based on a true case?” So begins director Dan O'Bannon's 1985 alternative sequel to George Romero's mother of all zombie movies. When they accidently release a putrid green gas from a container, workers Frank (James Karen) and Freddy (Thom Mathews) not only infuriate their boss, Burt (Clu Gulagar), but also unwittingly revive medical cadavers hanging upstairs—and, eventually, corpses from the local cemetery. The ensuing mayhem comes across as a raucous, freaky, and funny reworking of the genre, with the typical lumbering, moaning undead replaced here with a pack of lithe, feral, and cunning creatures who enjoy a human smorgasbord. Add in a pounding rock score and loads of outlandish gore and what you have is a flesh feast with a sardonic sense of humor. Although a minor entry, The Return of the Living Dead remains one of the more entertaining offerings in the canon. Released in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, extras include a pair of audio commentary tracks (one with O'Bannon and production designer William Stout, the other with Stout and members of the cast), three featurettes, and a zombie subtitle track. Exclusive to the Blu-ray disc is an additional zombie subtitle track. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)