Watch Birth Of The Living Dead

'Birth Of The Living Dead' is a documentary film that explores the making of the classic horror movie, 'Night of the Living Dead' and its impact on popular culture. Directed by Rob Kuhns, the film features interviews with the legendary filmmaker George A. Romero, as well as actors, critics, and fans of the zombie genre. The documentary begins by taking us back to the year 1968, when 'Night of the Living Dead' was released. At the time, horror films were viewed as low-brow, cheap entertainment, and were not taken seriously by the mainstream media. However, Romero's film, which was made on a shoestring budget, proved to be a game-changer. It created a new sub-genre of horror movies and inspired a whole generation of filmmakers.

The interviews with Romero are particularly insightful, as he talks at length about the making of the film. He describes the difficulties he faced in securing the funding for the project, the challenges of filming on a tight budget, and the controversies that arose due to the film's graphic scenes of violence and gore. Romero's candidness is refreshing, and it's fascinating to hear his thoughts on the cultural significance of his movie.

Other notable interviewees include Fred Rogers (yes, that Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fame), who served as a public television executive at the time and was instrumental in getting 'Night of the Living Dead' on the air. Rogers was a huge fan of the movie, and he provides some intriguing insights into its impact on American culture.

The film also features interviews with H. Rap Brown, a prominent civil rights activist who was serving time in jail when 'Night of the Living Dead' was released. Brown, who was politically radical and anti-establishment, saw the movie as a powerful allegory for the struggles of African Americans in the United States. It's interesting to see how the film resonated with people from all walks of life, and how it continues to be interpreted and reinterpreted to this day.

One of the most fascinating aspects of 'Birth Of The Living Dead' is its exploration of the social and political context in which the film was made. The late 1960s was a tumultuous time in the United States. The country was embroiled in the Vietnam War, there were frequent protests and clashes with the police, and racial tensions were high. Romero's movie, with its portrayal of mindless, flesh-eating zombies, tapped into these anxieties and fears, and it struck a nerve with audiences.

The documentary also delves into some of the controversies that surrounded the film. For example, there were allegations that Romero had plagiarized elements of the movie from Richard Matheson's novel 'I Am Legend'. There were also criticisms of the film's violence and gore, with some critics calling it immoral and degrading. However, the documentary presents a balanced perspective on these issues, and it's clear that the movie's impact was far-reaching and lasting.

Overall, 'Birth Of The Living Dead' is an engaging and enlightening documentary that fans of horror movies (and zombies in particular) are sure to enjoy. It's a fascinating look at the making of a classic film and the cultural impact it had, and it's filled with insights and anecdotes from some of the key players involved. Whether you're a die-hard Romero fan or a casual horror movie buff, this film is definitely worth checking out.

Birth Of The Living Dead is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 65.