Return of the Living Dead

Time: 1 Hour and 31 Minutes
Box Office: $4M

Film Analysis

Step 1: Pre-Viewing

1. Title of film: Return of the Living Dead 
2. Director & Producer: Dan O'Bannon
3. Release Date: January 1, 2002
4. Film Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Comedy

Step 2: Viewing

1. Important moments: An important moment in the film is when two employees, Frank and Freddy, that work at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a toxic gas into the air that causes the dead to rise and kill everyone for their brains in Louisville, Kentucky. At first Frank and Freddy discover the split dog that came back to life and then realize that everything else that was once dead in the warehouse reanimated. They both then discovered that the zombies don't die after you damage the brain, creating even more conflict. Frank and Freddy then call the warehouse manager who decides that they should burn the first zombie to cover up the evidence of what occurred in the warehouse. However, that only caused the toxic gas to be spread throughout the air and be evaporated in the clouds to then be rained on the cemetery. Eventually all the dead reanimate wanting to eat human brains to relieve their pain. After most of the punk teens and city people die, the manager finally decides to call the army for help. The army then sends a missile to their location which then releases the toxic even farther away from its original location. 

2. Atmosphere of the Film: The film uses high angle shots to show the setting of a certain scene. The film often uses medium shots to show when everything chaotic was occurring such as the dead retuning and attacking the living. Close ups were used to show the corpses' faces and the process of everything dead returning to life. Classical music was used during the scenes in which everything was still calm. Whenever the punk teenagers appeared on screen, loud punk rock music was played. The music when the zombies attacked was loud and intense which added to the action occurring. 
3. What is the mood or tone of the film? The mood of the film was suspenseful and humorous. 
4. Explain the look of the film: The look of the film was adventurous. 

5. Explain the use of sound/music and/or sound effects in the film: The film used more calm music towards the beginning of the film when everything was still normal. As soon as the toxic gas was released, the film's signature song started playing which included loud and suspenseful characteristics. Punk rock music was used when the teenagers were present on the screen. 

6. Physical qualities presented in the film: The physical qualities presented in the film were dramatizations, music, color, special effects, and color. 

Step 3: Post-Viewing

1. What is the central message of this motion picture? The central message could have been to not make the same mistakes that have been done in the past, that way history doesn't have to repeat itself. 

2. Consider the effectiveness of this film communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses? The film did an amazing job sending this message because earlier in the beginning of the film Frank explained to Freddy the incident that happened within the Medical Supply Warehouse in 1969 and how the army tried to cover it up and move on. However, due to Frank's stupidity, the same tragic thing occurred when he accidentally released the toxic gas into the warehouse.

3. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond? The filmmakers may have wanted the audience to feel ashamed of what both Frank and Freddy did. They also wanted the audience to laugh and be frightened by the zombies. 

4. Does this film appeal more to the viewer’s emotion? How does it make you feel? The film made me laugh and feel frustrated with all the chaos the pair of worker's caused. 

5. Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture:  What is the toxic gas? 

6. Would you recommend this movie to your friends? (Y/N)? Yes, I would because I think they'd like it just as much as I did since it's actually a pretty funny movie. 

7. How would you grade this movie? (E-NC) I would give this film an AE because it was incredibly entertaining and creative for an old film.