There’s One Specific Thing In The Night Of The Living Dead’s ‘Uncut’ Remake I Like More Than The Gnarly Gore

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I first became fascinated with zombie movies after seeing the last part of the 1990 remake of *Night of the Living Dead*, and I’ve been a fan of director George A. Romero ever since. While the original 1968 black-and-white film revolutionized horror and started a hugely successful series, the remake by Tom Savini was filmed in color and given an R-rating.

A 4K steelbook is being released to celebrate the 35th anniversary of *Night of the Living Dead*, and it features a previously unseen, uncut version of the classic horror film. Along with a new commentary track including a great story from Tony Todd, this release restores the film’s original gore – and includes something even more exciting than exploding zombie heads!

I Can’t Get Enough Of The Uncut Version Starting In Black And White

I really enjoy the newly restored violent and disturbing scenes that weren’t in the original 1990 version of the *Night of the Living Dead* remake, but what I love even more is the black-and-white opening. While the movie eventually switches to color, those first few minutes perfectly capture the look and feel of Romero’s classic horror film from 1968.

The movie begins in black and white, showing siblings Barbara and Johnny visiting their mother’s grave. The scene stays grayscale until a zombie attacks Johnny, at which point the film bursts into color. This sudden shift is a deliberate and striking effect, reminiscent of Dorothy’s journey into Oz, and it’s both disorienting and a tribute to classic filmmaking.

I’m Not Going To Lie, I First Thought My TV Was Glitching Out

I’ve seen the 1990 version of *Night of the Living Dead* many times, so I was surprised when it started in black and white. I actually thought my TV was broken and had to restart it! The version I usually watch is in color, and it took me a moment to realize the director, Tom Savini, had intentionally made this version black and white. Once I understood that, I enjoyed it a lot.

Don’t Get Me Wrong, There’s Some Gnarly Gore, Including A Meaty Head Explosion

I really enjoyed the restored, graphic scenes that were originally cut from the R-rated version of *Night of the Living Dead*. The restored version doesn’t shy away from showing the full impact of the violence – unlike the original, it doesn’t cut away when ghouls are shot. While it’s not quite as over-the-top as the effects in *Day of the Dead*, it’s a welcome addition.

There’s a memorable scene featuring Tom Bitner (played by William Butler) delivering an incredibly graphic shotgun headshot to a zombie. While clips of this moment have been online for years, seeing it in 4K resolution is a completely different experience.

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2025-10-06 16:09