12 Startling Moments In Cinema

7. Our Hero Is Killed - Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead This legendary zombie film from George A Romero was basically startling from beginning to end. "They are coming to get you Barbara!". Yes they are indeed, hordes of them attack a farmhouse where some disparate people are holed up. And of course, everyone bickers and bitches about what is the right thing to do. This usually leads to their demise - a young couple get blown up when they try to get to a vehicle - this ends in entrails munching a go go. A stupid man and his wife get knocked off by their zombified daughter and Barbara's brother comes back to reclaim her.. About the only realistic and sensible person there is Ben. This ensures his survival in the face of the onslaught. However tragedy strikes in the morning when Ben looks out the window and the authorities mistake him for a zombie and shoot him between the eyes, haul out his body and stick it on a pyre with dead zombies. Our hero is killed! After he did so well to survive the night. Such a tragic ending to his existence - snuffed out just like that. Romero must have been really pissed off about something when he made this movie - it is so nihilistic.
Contributor
Contributor

My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!