On September 25, 1968, the cult classic zombie film "Night of the Living Dead" premiered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Directed by George A. Romero on a shoestring budget of approximately $114,000, the movie revolutionized the horror genre and spawned the modern zombie film as we know it today.
"Night of the Living Dead" tells the story of a group of people who take refuge in an isolated farmhouse while fighting off hordes of reanimated corpses. The film's protagonist, Ben (played by Duane Jones), was a groundbreaking role as it was rare for a black actor to be cast as the lead in a mainstream American film at the time.
The movie's gritty, realistic style, coupled with its social commentary on racism, the Vietnam War, and the breakdown of society, set it apart from other horror films of the era. Romero's innovative use of graphic violence and gore also pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in cinema.
Initially panned by critics, "Night of the Living Dead" eventually gained recognition as a masterpiece of independent filmmaking and has since been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The film's influence can still be seen in countless zombie movies, TV shows, and video games that have followed in its wake, cementing September 25 as a significant date in the history of horror cinema.
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