The Return of the Living Dead
1985
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
When two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.
Key facts
Cast
Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Brian Peck, John Philbin, Linnea Quigley
Original language
English
First release
April 25, 1985 (Italy)
Production companies
Hemdale films, Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Home video distributors
Thorn EMI / HBO Video (United States)
Setting
Kentucky
Filming locations
California
Crew
Screenplay
Dan O'Bannon
Producer
Tom Fox
Cinematography
Jules Brenner
Editing
Robert Gordon
Music
Matt Clifford
Special makeup effects
Adam Jones, Craig Caton, Douglas J. White, Kenny Myers, Larry Odien, Tony Rupprecht
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre fantastic & horror film festival 2025 - Clásicos de terror
- Celluloid Screams Horror Film Festival 2025
- Fantasmagoría - Festival de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de Medellín 2025 - Proyecciones Especiales
- HÕFF - Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2025 - Horror Films, HÕFF Retro
- Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2025 - Features
- Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival 2023 - Film de Minuit
- Octopus Film Festival 2020 - Kino samochodowe, We Are the Future!
- Romford Horror Festival 2020
- Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival 2009
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Thorn EMI / HBO Video (cat. no. TVA 3395) | United States, clamshell |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1985) | 27 releases, 1985-2025: Big Beat Records, Enigma, Happy Star Sounds, New Rose Records (+2 more) |
| CD | The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1985) | 5 releases, 1985-1987: 1Films HD, Big Beat Records, Restless Records |
| Cassette | The Return Of The Living Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1985) | 2 releases, 1985: Enigma |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Italy | April 25, 1985 |
| Television | Mexico | April 25, 1985 |
| Theatrical | France | May 15, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | August 16, 1985 |
| Theatrical | United States | August 16, 1985 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | September 3, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Australia | October 24, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | November 28, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Germany | March 20, 1986 |
| Theatrical | Spain | September 28, 1988 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video | Canada | April 25, 1985 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | October 21, 2002 |
| Home video | Netherlands | January 1, 2005 |
| Home video | Netherlands | April 9, 2012 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | November 6, 2013 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | October 13, 2025 |
| Home video VHS | United States | TVA 3395 |
Full credits
| Director | Dan O'Bannon |
| Cast | Clu Gulager (Burt), James Karen (Frank), Don Calfa (Ernie), Thom Mathews (Freddy), Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (Spider), Brian Peck (Scuz), John Philbin (Chuck), Linnea Quigley (Trash), Beverly Randolph (Tina), Jewel Shepard (Casey), Mark Venturini (Suicide), Jonathan Terry (Colonel Glover), Cathleen Cordell (Colonel's Wife), David Bond (Radio Corpse #2), Derrick Brice (Gunnery Sergeant), Paul Cloud (Cop #2), Michael Crabtree (Riot Cop #2), Robert Craighead (Cop #1), James Dalesandro (Paramedic #2), Drew Deighan (Paramedic #1), Leigh Drake (Dispatcher), John Durbin (Radio Corpse #1), Ed Krieger (Riot Cop #3), Bob Libman (Tac Squad Captain), Allan Trautman (Tarman), John Stuart West (Riot Cop #1), Terry Houlihan (Yellow Cadaver), Robert J. Bennett (Headless Tarman), Jerome Coleman (Legless Corpse), Cherry Davis (½ Lady Corpse (voice)) |
| Screenplay | Dan O'Bannon |
| Story | John A. Russo, Rudy Ricci, Russell Streiner |
| Producer | Tom Fox |
| Executive producer | Derek Gibson, John Daly |
| Cinematography | Jules Brenner |
| Editing | Robert Gordon |
| Music | Matt Clifford |
| Production design | William Stout |
| Special makeup effects | Adam Jones, Craig Caton, Douglas J. White, Kenny Myers, Larry Odien, Tony Rupprecht |
| Visual effects | Bob McCarthy, Gene Warren Jr., Kevin McCarthy, Pete Kleinow |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
