Movies
The Lore Behind the Romero Zombie Films
Welcome back to Horror 101, a series of articles where we explain horror movie legends and their lore. For beginners, the confused, or just those who need a refresher, these articles are for you. The zombie craze of the 2000s to 2010s had an undeniable and unrelenting grip on the consciousness of horror fans and the world in general. Shambling masses of the formerly living were a hot commodity, in everything from television to movies to gaming, and just about everything zombie was being greenlit. But as that new zombie bubble grew and properties like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us were exploding in popularity, the original series of films that started it all were finding a second wind: Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” series was back, and even had new films being made. Night of the Living Dead, the one and only! …And Return of the Living Dead. And it’s sequels. And also Zack Snyder was doing his own thing. So, it may have gotten a little confusing trying to sort out and untangle the many overlapping Romero zombie films.
But that’s what we’re here to do today: sorting out the various canons, how their zombies came to be, and how two franchises sprung from one classic movie. And hopefully, we won’t boil our brains in the process.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT LIVING DEAD MOVIES?
From the jump, what is now a piece of horror film history was a controversial coming attraction. George Romero and John A. Russo’s Night of the Living Dead, a story of survival in a bizarre and at the time unheard-of zombie apocalypse, was met with anger and indignation for its liberal amounts of violence in an era where the MPAA’s rating system was yet to be implemented (many even suspect Romero’s work was a major catalyst for getting the rating system codified).
But more important than its taboo nature was how much it made back: Night of the Living Dead was a smash hit at the box office, making back over 250 times its budget and cementing a franchise. But where there’s money, there are big problems: the schism between Night of the Living Dead’s many sequels is primarily a case of ownership of the film rights.
In another case of creatives suffering from success and splitting up (I’m looking at you Friday the 13th), Russo and Romero had differences regarding how they should take the property forward. Eventually, they settled on splitting the film’s “surnames”, with Russo owning the rights to title films with the phrase “Of the Living Dead”, while Romero owned the rights to make films under the “Of the Dead” title.
WHAT FILMS MAKE UP THE “OF THE DEAD” SERIES?
Despite what some cursory Google searching might tell you, the Night of the Living Dead series (or “Of the Dead” series) is six films, only 4 of which are in the same continuity.
The only direct sequels to Night of the Living Dead are Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead. The slow collapse of society, the behaviors of the zombies in these films, and the motif of zombies regaining some intelligence over time are the primary links between them since the casts of each film are never connected. In these films, the zombies result from some unknown pathogen, with the original film indicating it was brought back to Earth by a space probe returning from Venus.
Be it radiation or a cosmic virus, it raises the recently dead and turns them into contagious monsters, which eventually causes the destruction of society and leaves humanity separated into small clades. But they have one fatal weak spot: having their brains destroyed. (I know you knew this. Of course you knew this, who doesn’t know this?) Diary of the Dead (2007) and its follow-up prequel Survival of the Dead (2009) are not actually sequels or reboots to the previous films in the franchise, but their own weird third thing. They just share the “Of The Dead” name because of Romero’s claim to it, and have similar zombies. In these films, we never actually find out what caused the zombies to rise from their grave.
But we do get an Amish guy fighting zombies and flinging dynamite at them, which was kind of cool.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD SERIES?
Return of the Living Dead, however, is a completely different beast. Russo’s Return series takes a unique approach as a sequel, and paints the events of Night of the Living Dead as a dramatized version of a real-world government coverup.
Though Night is just a film in this universe, Return of the Living Dead posits it depicts the first Trioxin outbreak: the experimental use of a bio-weapon known as Trioxin gas created nearly indestructible zombies that hunger for human brains. These zombies are also fully conscious, feel everything happening to them, and eat brains as a form of relief, which is absolute nightmare fuel! They can, however, be put down with electricity, as we find out in Return of the Living Dead 2.
Though the government was able to control the first outbreak, some of the zombies remaining bodies ended up being stashed at a medical supply warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky. Shock of shocks, some bozos open the canisters containing their remains, and a second outbreak ravages the United States.
The U.S. Army is incredibly incompetent in these movies, so the outbreaks happen a few more times in the sequels, and control of Trioxin gets so bad that college students even begin taking it as a recreational drug just for fun.
It’s all just a series of Trioxin “whoopsies” really.
WHAT ABOUT ZACK SNYDER’S “OF THE DEAD” MOVIES?
These have no relation, to either of the previous series really. Dawn of the Dead (2004) is a remake of the original Dawn of the Dead, but does not share continuity with Night of the Living Dead or any of its sequels. Army of the Dead (2021) is also somehow not a sequel to Dawn of the Dead (2004). For some reason? I wish I had a better answer for that.
ARE THE ZOMBI FILMS SEQUELS TO NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD?
This, this question is the one that gets me.
Hilariously, due to the Italian legal system, yes. The first Zombi film was just an Italian rerelease of Dawn of the Dead, and because Italian copyright law allows producers to make sequels to films they didn’t make, Fabrizio De Angelis was able to make a sequel to Dawn of the Dead called Zombi 2. It was also directed by giallo visionary Lucio Fulci, who gave us that amazing scene of a zombie fighting a shark!
This leads to an even more confusing chain of films. In Italy, there are only three official Zombi movies, but there are two other Zombi 3’s that were not sequels to Zombi 2 and just took the name! To make it even worse, Zombi’s 4 and 5 are American releases of unrelated Italian films, which is completely backwards from how we started this. On top of that, Pulgasari, a film we discussed here, is called Zombi: The Communist Bull-Monster for its Pakistan release, despite having no zombies, no communists, and if you really think about it, arguably no bull monster! My brain is boiling inside my skull!
…But yes, the answer to that question is yes. The three Zombi films are their own separate and messed-up continuity splintering off from the original Dawn of the Dead and, by extension, Night of the Living Dead.
Well, that should be all for today’s Horror 101 lesson. See you in the next class and stay tuned to Horror Press’s social media feeds (@HorrorPressLLC on Twitter and Instagram) for more content on horror movies, television, and everything in between!
Netflix did not give me a lot to work with this month. I may have also zoomed through many of my favorite things on the platform these last few months. So, many of these are titles I have been meaning to check out, and I hope they are worth the wait. However, I cannot promise the carnage, chaos, and confusion I normally provide for this column. This means you’ll have to forgive me for having less razzle dazzle and a little more uncertainty while I list some stuff off the less beaten path. Gather around, and I’ll tell you what I am trying to get into this March!
Archive (2020)
In 20238, George Almore’s newest AI prototype is nearly complete. However, this humanesque machine is also hiding one of George’s secrets that must remain hidden. While I love some British sci-fi and believe we should watch as many of the 2020 movies that slid under our quarantined radar, I’m pulling up for another reason. I want to see Theo James in something that isn’t The Monkey. Literally. I didn’t enjoy that movie, and I seem to be the last person I know who was unfamiliar with James before that. So, I’m trying to rectify that and see what he can do in anything else. Hopefully, after catching this on Netflix, I will have a new movie that comes to mind when he is mentioned. Fingers crossed, friends!
Green Room (2016)
A punk rock band gets trapped in a venue where skinheads want to kill them. So many people have told me this movie is worth my time, but because it’s always too soon for violent racists in this decade, I keep putting it off. However, I am so curious to see what Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, and the late Anton Yelchin are doing in this movie. Green Room is also one of the few A24 horror movies that I have not seen, which makes it even more intriguing. While I doubt 2026 will calm down enough for this not feel too real, I think it’s time for me to be brave and cross this movie off my list already. So, I might have to grab a drink, a weighted blanket, and remote so I can open Netflix.
M3GAN 2.0 (2025)
Two years after M3GAN’s murder spree, she is rebuilt by her creator to take down a military-grade weapon made from her stolen tech. Is this movie as good as the original written by Akela Cooper? Obviously not. No one can do what Cooper does and we shouldn’t hold people to that very high bar. Is this movie way too damn long? Also, yes. However, was there still a lot of fun to be had along the way? I thought so. While M3GAN 2.0 isn’t the sequel we wanted, I’m happy to rewatch it for free at home. We lose a lot of the threads I loved in the first one, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t the new Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day anyway. In a perfect world, Akela Cooper will reopen the computer (after receiving a very large check from Blumhouse) and give us a third installment to bring our dancing diva back into the horror fold.
Life After Beth (2014)
A man discovers his dead girlfriend is back, and that might be for the worst. I never watched this horror comedy, but I’m sad and hoping Aubrey Plaza can change that. After all, if she can’t wake us up after a long winter, then who can? I also imagine Plaza as a zombie is kind of great. Along for the ride is Molly Shannon, so between the two of them, I expect some chuckles and guffaws. Maybe the powers that be at Netflix knew we could all use a laugh, and that’s why this is waiting for us on the other side of February. Or possibly they wanted to apologize for that last season of Stranger Things. Or maybe it’s just a wacky coincidence, and I’m looking for meaning where there is none. Either way, I have a date with this movie, and you might want to check it out too.
Teen Wolf (2011-2017)
Getting bitten by a werewolf turns life upside down for a high school student and his best friend. Hear me out! I doubt there is a world where I will watch all six seasons of this. Hell, I doubt I’ll even finish the first season. However, I skipped this MTV moment when it originally aired. Which is why I didn’t know who Dylan O’Brien was when Send Help was announced. So, I’m using this Netflix account to see where he started now that I have seen him in something. You can join me in this or mark your time as safe and watch something else. I don’t blame you either way, and I hope you’ll respect my privacy during this adventure.
That’s what I’m doing with my Netflix account this month. Here is hoping April gives us more scary movies because some of us deserve it. Most importantly, I deserve it.
Shudder is still that girl even in March. Our beloved streamer is adding classics like The Fog and Messiah of Evil. They are also adding a couple of films that are precious to my generation, like May. The app always has an eclectic lineup, but this month is an embarrassment of riches. At least if you are like me, and looking at a list of movies you have had on your watch list forever. That is why it took me a hot minute to figure out which five titles should be this month’s priority. However, I cracked the code and think I have something old, something new, and definitely at least a couple of things that will turn blue. Check out what I am trying to see on Shudder this month. Also, be sure to let me know if you are as geeked about these titles as I am.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
The Last Horror Film (1982)
A New York taxi driver stalks an actress during the Cannes Film Festival. I love 80s slashers and have been on a quest to watch them all. This one has eluded me for a couple of years, and I am so happy Shudder is finally letting me cross it off my list. I am not expecting this to break my top 1980s slashers. I’m not even counting on it to be one of the best movies about a stalked actress of that era. However, I’m excited to finally see it for myself with an adult beverage in hand.
You can watch The Last Horror Film on March 1st.
Fade to Black (1980)
A film fanatic begins murdering people who betray him while stalking his idol. I finally caught this on Shudder in the last couple of years and will be using its return as an excuse to rewatch it. Very few movies cater to the slasher kids and film nerds as well as this one. Fade to Black is the kind of psychological horror comedy that is the reason 1980s horror remains unmatched. The costumes, the obsession, and the kills are the most fun you can possibly have on a Shudder Saturday. Do yourself a favor and hit play immediately.
You can watch Fade to Black on March 9th.
Hostile Dimensions (2023)
Two filmmakers travel through alternate dimensions seeking out the truth about a missing graffiti artist. This found footage film has been on my list for years, and I am so grateful that Shudder is finally letting me see it. I have heard so many great things, and the FOMO was killing me. Hopefully, Hostile Dimensions lives up to the hype. Otherwise, I have to ask my nearest and dearest to explain themselves and then stop accepting recommendations from them. Will it scratch the found footage itch I have this month? There is only one way to find out, and that is why I will be sat the day this drops on the app.
You can watch Hostile Dimensions on March 9th.
1000 Women in Horror (2025)
Women have been an integral part of the genre since Mary Shelley started thinking about Frankenstein. However, we do not always get the credit and respect we deserve. Which is why I am thrilled 1000 Women in Horror is celebrating the badasses who revolutionized horror films. Not only is the documentary opening the libraries for us, but it’s also bringing current faves along for the ride. Akela Cooper, Toby Poser, and Jenn Wexler are just some of the names I know who are about to inspire so many women to get serious about making their movies. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that Shudder is adding this to its lineup.
You can watch 1000 Women in Horror on March 20th.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
College friends backpacking through Britain are attacked by a werewolf. As a werewolf film enthusiast, I know they are not all made equally. That is one of the many reasons why this is easily one of the best werewolf movies the genre has. The transformation alone is worth the price of a Shudder subscription. So, it shouldn’t come as a shock that this is one of the five titles I’m most excited to see this month. Hell, it’s probably in everyone’s top five to be completely honest. I cannot think of a better way to close this month out than with a top-tier werewolf flick.
You can watch An American Werewolf in London on March 31st.
I told you, Shudder is that girl. Whether you’re on spring break, taking a mental health day, or just dissociating, this app has got you covered. Make sure you dig into some of this sick, twisted, and cool cinema. As for me, I will see you next month with more recommendations.
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