MORE BRAINS! A RETURN TO THE LIVING DEAD

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD was released theatrically in the summer of 1985, around the same time as George A Romero’s DAY OF THE DEAD. The link between the two films doesn’t end there: DAY was Romero’s second sequel to his seminal directorial debut NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD; RETURN was NIGHT writer John Russo’s much delayed ‘unofficial’ sequel...

While DAY went for the gore and social commentary, RETURN adopted a more EC horror comics approach to its ghoulish fun. Some saw it as the least substantial of the two as a result. But it’s stood the test of time well, as has DAY, as one of the most invigorating genre flicks of its era. It is, plain and simple, a great film.

And yet I’m still surprised to see it being afforded a feature-length retrospective documentary. Sure, we’ve had HIS NAME WAS JASON (looking back on the FRIDAY THE 13TH series) and NEVER SLEEP AGAIN (the bloated love letter to the ELM STREET legacy). We’ve even had the 4-hour AUTOPSY OF THE DEAD, providing what really must be the final word on the aforementioned NIGHT.

But ... does RETURN, as fun as it is, really merit a feature-length tribute? Or is this just the way it’s going to be from now on, the digital age allowing fanboys the opportunity to collar a few genre luminaries at conventions and then edit together their own documentaries in the privacy of their bedrooms?

Happily, MORE BRAINS! is far more professional and impassioned than that. It scores points the moment it starts, with white text on a black screen declaring "The events portrayed in this documentary are all true. The names are real names of real people and real organizations". Already, taking its cue from the film it honours, this looks like it’s going to be fun.

And fun it is. We get virtually every living participant here, contributing stories towards retelling the making of the film. We start from the offset, with Russo explaining the legal wrangles that surrounded the film’s title (maintaining that this never compromised his friendship with Romero) and describing how late producer Tom Fox worked tirelessly to get the movie off the ground.

Everyone who can be here is: principal cast members Clu Gulager, Thom Matthews, Don Calfa (looking old and frail), James Karen, Brian Peck, Linnea Quigley (she looks like a zombie!), Beverly Randolph, and crew members such as writer Russo, surviving co-producer Graham Henderson, production designer William Stout, and many more. Hell, we even get the likes of Drew Deighan and James Dalesandro (the paramedics) and, of course, the Tarman himself, Allan Trautman.

Between them, they proffer a fluently flowing, stylish and expertly edited together succession of insightful titbits and amusing anecdotes that entertain immensely while revealing the full drama of how the film was made.

From the casting process (almost everyone featured was a second choice) to the FX and production design, through to the litigation that plagued the film’s early genesis and the fact that late director Dan O’Bannon was amazing to work with, this is wonderfully engaging and worthy watching.

The whole thing is held together by an enthusiastic narration from Peck, and beautifully colourful animation sequences that hold each chapter seamlessly together. Best of all, the whole affair is peppered throughout with priceless behind-the-scenes footage and stills. Coupled by the fact that each person is interviewed in front of attractively Gothic decor, this makes for a hugely aesthetically charming proposition: this hasn’t simply been cobbled together – this is a highly professional, proficient labour of love.

Good anecdotes (many of the cast admit to not being able to understand the script; Randolph got the part of prim Tina, we learn, after recoiling at the sight of pornography on a casting table), wry humour throughout – everyone is very playful about each other, suggesting friendships that endure to this day – and taut, intelligent editing ensure that this is one of the best retrospective film documentaries out there.

This region-free DVD, released by Michael Perez Entertainment via distributors CAV, is a very well-put together project indeed.

The feature is presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 and looks excellent. Interview footage is clean, crisp and vividly colourful, as are the excellent incidental animation sequences. Sharp and crystal clear, this looks fantastic. The clips from the film and, especially, the photographs are weaker and washed out in comparison – but overall this is a sterling presentation.

Likewise, the English 2.0 audio track employed comes without qualm. Optional English subtitles are also excellent throughout (though these are provided on the main feature only).

The disc opens with an attractive animated main menu page. From there, a static scene-selection menu allows access to the documentary via 12 chapters.

Extras begin with two shorter documentaries taking looks at the making of ROTLD parts 2 and 3. In "They Won’t Stay Dead" (29 minutes), several cast and crew members from the original film return to explain why they thought the sequel was so ill-advised – and how they refused to take part in it. Meanwhile in "Love Beyond The Grave" (20 minutes), there is more admiration present: it helps that the likes of its director Brian Yuzna and FX artist Steve Johnson are among those being interviewed. Again, Peck provides narration.

A 28-minute interview with O’Bannon proves to be especially priceless as it transpires that it’s the last ever filmed interview with the talented filmmaker. Despite looking shockingly aged when compared to the photographs and behind-the-scenes footage seen in the main feature, he remains well-humoured, courteous and erudite – and gives great insight into how he threw himself into this project (even admitting that, as first-time solo director, he had no idea what he was doing).

14 deleted scenes that didn’t make the documentary’s final cut come equipped with their own sub menu allowing you to watch each one individually.

Next up is a 3-minute music video featuring Stacey Q singing a remixed version of "Tonight". It’s still a good tune (the original version featured on the film’s classic punk soundtrack), despite the unwelcome tampering. This purports to be a live version of the song, but Stacey’s clearly miming as she cavorts between badly made-up zombies on stage at what is presumably some fan convention.

"Resurrected Settings" finds Randolph and Peck as our hosts, taking us on a 10-minute tour of some of the locations used in the film, checking out how they look nowadays.

"RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD in 3 minutes" is just that: a briskly edited montage of cast members reciting their most famous lines from the movie.

Finally, we get polished trailers for MORE BRAINS! (95 seconds) and NEVER SLEEP AGAIN (57 seconds).

Despite my initial cynicism, this ended up being a highly polished, lovingly made and brilliantly entertaining document on one of the most enjoyable horror films of the 1980s. Fantastic stuff, which is guaranteed to have you itching to revisit the film immediately afterwards.

Brilliant.

Review by Stuart Willis