Return of the Living Dead is a 1985 American horror comedy film directed by Dan O'Bannon and written by O'Bannon and William R. Norris. The film stars Clu Gulager, Thom Mathews, Eugene O'Neill, Don Calfa, Brian O'Bannon, and Patricia Tallman.

The film follows a group of people who are accidentally exposed to a toxic gas called Trioxin while working at a medical supply warehouse. The gas reanimates corpses in the morgue, and the group must fight for their lives as the reanimated bodies begin to attack the living.

Plot

On July 3, 1984, Frank (Gulager) and Freddy (Mathews) are working the night shift at Uneeda Medical Supply, a warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky. They are delivering bodies to the morgue when they discover a crate of 2-4-5 Trioxin, a toxic gas that was developed by the military. Frank and Freddy decide to take some of the Trioxin for themselves, but they accidentally spill it on the floor.

The Trioxin fumes quickly fill the morgue, and the bodies begin to reanimate. Frank and Freddy are trapped in the morgue with the reanimated corpses, and they must find a way to escape.

Meanwhile, a group of teenagers - Sue (Tallman), Burt (Calfa), Casey (O'Bannon), and Trash (Brian O'Bannon) - are driving through the woods when they come across a crashed police car. They stop to investigate, and they find the body of a police officer who has been bitten by a reanimated corpse.

The teenagers are attacked by the reanimated police officer, and they flee into the woods. They eventually find their way to Uneeda Medical Supply, where they are confronted by Frank and Freddy. The two groups of survivors must work together to fight off the reanimated corpses and find a way to escape.

Themes

The dangers of science: The film is a cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific experimentation. The Trioxin gas is a product of military research, and it is accidentally released by two careless employees. The gas causes the reanimation of the dead, and it leads to a chain of events that results in the deaths of many people.

The nature of evil: The film explores the nature of evil. The reanimated corpses are not just mindless killers; they are also intelligent and capable of feeling pain. They are driven by a hunger for human flesh, and they will stop at nothing to satisfy that hunger.

The power of friendship: The film is also a story about the power of friendship. The two groups of survivors are forced to work together in order to survive, and they develop a strong bond in the process.

Legacy

Return of the Living Dead is a cult classic that has been praised for its humor, gore, and social commentary. The film has been credited with helping to revive the zombie genre in the 1980s, and it has been cited as an influence by many other filmmakers.

The film has spawned two sequels: Return of the Living Dead Part II (1989) and Return of the Living Dead III: Necropolis (1993). It has also been adapted into a comic book series, a video game, and a stage play.

Return of the Living Dead is a fun and scary movie that is sure to please fans of horror and comedy alike. It is a must-see for any fan of the zombie genre.