In 1968, Night of the Living Dead introduced audiences to zombies, but some may be surprised to learn that the movie’s ending was not just monstrous, but highly political. Although zombie movies got their start a bit later than other horror subgenres, they are some of the most popular types of scary films. From The Evil Dead to 28 Days Later, zombies have long been a source of terror for viewers. However, it is easy to forget where this genre first began, and more importantly, the themes the movie vehemently stood for.
The first horror film to use reanimated corpses, i.e. zombies, was George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. The movie begins with a woman named Barbara, who witnesses her brother being killed by a bloodthirsty ghoul, and as a result, finds shelter in a nearby farmhouse. Soon, Barbara discovers that the house is full of people hiding from these monsters. An African American man named Ben soon arrives and helps protect the house. However, the survivors soon realize that the threat outside may be just as prevalent inside as the strangers turn on each other and fight to survive.
Night Of The Living Dead Had A Shocking Ending That Was Heavily Political
How Night Of The Living Dead Became Political
As Night of the Living Dead comes closer to its conclusion, the survivors in the farmhouse are systematically killed by the ghouls, and thus, turned into the undead themselves. The one character who manages to escape this horrific fate is Ben. He successfully takes out the survivors-turned-ghouls and remains lodged in the farmhouse. However, the movie does not end on a hopeful note. The following morning, a squad of police arrive to fight off the ghouls. Awoken by their noise, Ben walks outside, only to be shot and killed after the police mistake him for a ghoul.
What makes this ending so important is the context behind it. In 1968, the United States was at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement. For over a decade, Black Americans fought to end segregation, and more importantly, have equal rights as White Americans. The Civil Rights Movement came with an abundance of violence, particularly between law enforcement and Black protesters. Thus, the end of Night of the Living Dead represents the horrifying scenario in which a Black man, despite his best efforts, still ends up being killed by police simply because of how he looks.
Night Of The Living Dead’s Lasting Legacy & Deeper Themes Explained
Night Of The Living Dead Was Deeply Controversial For Its Time
As it turns out, Ben’s unjust death was not the only political aspect of Night of the Living Dead. Director George A. Romero leaned heavily into graphic violence, unusual for horror movies of the 1960s, which were often attended by children and teenagers. Furthermore, the fact that all the characters died at the end was astonishing. Audiences were left feeling terrible and hopeless after watching a little girl cannibalize her parents on-screen, and then Ben’s shocking and unnecessary demise. Many critics panned the movie, calling it overly violent and nihilistic.
Today,
Night of the Living Dead
has a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Yet, in the years following Night of the Living Dead, critics have been able to see how the movie revolutionized the horror genre. For the first time, viewers saw a horror story happening to people just like them. The violence was not covered by mist and shadows, but instead, was right on the screen for everyone to see. Night of the Living Dead also bolstered the zombie genre, becoming the foundation of all future zombies. Most importantly though, Ben’s death shed light on the truth of 1960s America – a truth many audiences were not ready to face.
How Night Of The Living Dead Impacted The Horror Genre Since 1968
Night of the Living Dead changed the horror genre in many ways. First and foremost, it made horror more realistic, and thus, scarier. Romero introduced the concept of a tragic horror movie ending, which continues to be a popular trend in the genre. Furthermore, Romero proved that horror can be both evocative and relevant. Night of the Living Dead is a perfect example of how horror movies can pull on real-life topics in order to make a statement or affect an audience. This is something the best horror movies continue to do to this day.
In the last decade, horror movies continue to pull from Night of the Living Dead. In terms of zombies, horror movies have created their own monsters based on the cannibalistic ghouls introduced in Romero’s movie. More importantly, though, Night of the Living Dead has led to films like Get Out, The Purge, and Candyman. These movies have not only scared audiences but made them see current events in a totally different way. Thus, the first zombie movie was much more impactful than anyone ever thought possible.
