Return of the Living Dead: Review

2.2 Skulls; 2.4 Crosses

I use a skull and crosses, rating system, where one is the lowest ranking and three is the highest in each category. Crosses judge quality and acting/plot believability, while skulls relate to chills, thrills, and basic horror elements.

I have a confession to make – I watched this movie when I was a kid in the 80s and I tend to have a soft spot for things from that era. However, I believe I can give a fair review as it’s been so long since I last watched it and I’ve forgotten most of the details. I’m not usually a fan of Zombie movies as I feel like they often lack strong character development and storylines, instead relying on a swarm of Zombies to carry the plot. But, let’s not get bogged down in my personal opinions – let’s get on with the review!

Firstly, it’s important to note that this movie is incredibly outdated and reflects the concerns and fears of the youth in the 80s. It touches on topics such as secret government conspiracies, acid rain, and the looming threat of nuclear war. The movie tries to incorporate all of these themes into one narrative, but in doing so, it fails to fully explore any of them. For example, there is a group of kids in the movie who come from different cliques, which makes little sense, and the movie overstates each element.

Moving on to the horror aspect of the movie, there are definitely some scary parts, as well as well-placed comedic moments and deeper social commentaries. The sense of impending doom and hopelessness is maintained throughout. The final solution to the zombie problem is as bad, if not worse, than the zombies themselves, with the government playing a significant role. Overall, I was left with the same opinions I had as a kid – that the government is a dangerous machine and acid rain will kill us all!

While this movie may not be the best representation of the horror genre, it does provide an insightful comparison of the social concerns of the 80s and today.