28 Years Later Fans Must Watch This 1985 Zombie Classic (Free Streaming Now)

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If you’re a fan of fast-paced zombie movies, there’s a good chance you’ve watched Danny Boyle’s revival in this genre, “28 Years Later” (you can find our review here). Similar to its two predecessors, “28 Days Later” and “28 Weeks Later”, the movie showcases zombies that sprint at high speed towards their victims instead of the slow-moving undead from earlier times. Interestingly, it was “28 Days Later” that often gets credit for introducing the concept of “fast zombies”. This idea gained more popularity in movies such as Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead” and the lesser-known but classic zombie film “[REC]”. However, it’s important to note that the fast-running zombies were actually popularized earlier, in 1985’s “Return of the Living Dead”, which is currently streaming on Tubi and Pluto TV.

The movie “Return of the Living Dead” narrates an incident where two workers from Uneeda Medical Supply inadvertently release a zombie epidemic in Louisville, Kentucky. This groundbreaking cult horror-comedy was initially directed by Dan O’Bannon, who co-authored “Alien,” and its script originated from John A. Russo, a collaborator on “Night of the Living Dead.” The film draws inspiration from both the punk scene and previous zombie movies, making it a significant contribution to the genre of zombie literature. Interestingly enough, it also includes some of the earliest depictions of zombies participating in 5K runs, although there’s debate about whether “Nightmare City” (1980) introduced the first running zombies.

28 Days Later Made Running Zombies Mainstream

28 Days Later significantly popularized the concept of fast-moving or “running” zombies to a wider audience. Prior to 2002, the notion of zombies being anything other than George Romero’s slow-paced, decaying creatures in Night of the Living Dead was largely unknown. Despite the popularity of Return of the Living Dead among horror enthusiasts, it isn’t typically considered essential viewing for most film connoisseurs.

In addition, one notable feature of “Return of the Living Dead” significantly altered the landscape of popular culture, often overshadowing other aspects of the movie. Even viewers who have watched the film may not immediately connect it with the emergence of zombies that chase their prey. This is largely due to the fact that for four decades, the main memory people have of “Return of the Living Dead” is the famous exclamation “Braaaaains!”, rather than the introduction of running zombies.

What Do Zombies Eat?

In most cases, if you ask someone between the ages of six and sixty about what zombies eat, they would answer “brains.” This is largely due to the influence of the movie “Return of the Living Dead,” which popularized the concept of brain-eating ghouls. Despite the fact that it seems illogical for zombies to consume brains, as Max Brooks, author of “World War Z, ” once put it, “If the virus resides in the brain and the zombie consumes its victims’ brains, how do more zombies come into existence?” Thanks to this low-budget horror film from the 1980s, the image of brain-eating zombies has been deeply ingrained in popular culture.

Keeping that thought in your head, isn’t it understandable to overlook such a detail as “Aren’t the zombies running in that film?

Interestingly, the production of ‘Return of the Living Dead’ aimed to distinguish itself from George Romero’s zombie films in numerous ways. Unlike Romero, who keeps the origin of his zombie outbreak vague, leaving it open for interpretation whether it’s caused by a virus or divine retribution, this movie provides a more defined explanation.

Initially, the movie “Return of the Living Dead” clarifies that the undead are coming back to life due to a chemical called Trioxin 2-4-5, which is used by the military for eradicating illegal marijuana fields. Unlike Romero’s traditional zombies, these Trioxin zombies have unique characteristics. While destroying the brains of the zombies in “Dawn of the Dead” kills them off, the only way to dispose of the zombies from “Return of the Living Dead” is by burning them until they turn into ashes. Unlike classic zombies who are mindless and communicate through growls and moans, Trioxin zombies retain some thought and speech abilities, making them even more dangerous.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that Romero’s undead move as slowly as molasses and have an insatiable appetite for human flesh, regardless of where it’s located on the body. In contrast, the zombies in “Return of the Living Dead” are faster and will chase after you to feast on your brain matter. Although the ability of Trioxin zombies to run may not be their most noticeable trait, it certainly plays a significant role.

Slow Zombies Represent Our Inevitable Crawl Towards the Grave

In simpler terms, Romero’s zombies symbolize death, representing an inevitable end that can be temporarily evaded or resisted but ultimately cannot be escaped. The slow-moving zombies in his films might not scare everyone, but the faster, more aggressive ones found in movies like “28 Days Later” and its sequels are a greater threat, offering intense fear and horror. This metaphor resonates with those who fear their own mortality, although it may not be as frightening for others.

Just remember, when you see fast zombies in your next movie, it was actually the zombies from ‘Return of the Living Dead’ that inspired the speedy zombies you’ll see in ’28 Days Later’. It might not be an exact comparison, but hopefully, you get the idea. Give ‘Return of the Living Dead’ a watch on Tubi or Pluto TV and give my regards to Tarman!

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2025-06-28 05:10