Yo Zombie Master: Hating on Night of the Living Dead 1990?

by Moss Daley
(Lonely Plateau, Missouri)

Yo Zombie Master,

I see that in your history of zombie movies that you mentioned Shaun of the Dead as one of the better zombie movies of the last decade but you failed to recognize Tom Savini's Night of the Living Dead as one of the better zombie movies of the 1990s.

Why is this? Is it because it's a remake? Why so bias? To me, Shaun of the Dead is not a horror film at all, it's a parody, a comedy, it didn't even scare me one bit. The ending of Night of the Living Dead 1990 is quite horrifying with the ending score and everything.

What's the deal? Shaun of the Dead sucks, Savini's Night of the Living Dead is f*cking awesome.

Moss Daley
Lonely Plateau, Missouri

Moss Daley,

You are correct in the fact that I failed to mention NOTLD '90. It was a good zombie film and, with Romero's blessing, Savini did a good job. I was mentioning "greats" however, and in my humble opinion, Braindead and Dellamorte Dellamore were better. (At least I didn't list it with the floaters)

On your second point, you are also correct. Shaun of the Dead is not a horror film and never claimed to be one. It is a ZomCom along with Fido and Zombie Honeymoon (which is a RomZomCom). I have yet to see a zombie film that was scary. Disturbing yes, scary no. (Side note: I fear that I have become so jaded that it has become difficult for any horror film to actually "scare")

Now to your third point. This is the only point that you have made that I have to disagree with you on. Any true fan of the zombie genre will recognize that SOTD is one of the best zombie films to be made because they will recognize that it was written and filmed by two guys that are also true fans of the zombie genre. It is an homage to everything that we love and adore about the genre. Not to worry though. I feel that if you watch it again, with an open mind and your vast zombie knowledge, you will find a new appreciation for it. As always...

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master