"Day of the Dead" and "The Return of the Living Dead" are the two most popular American zombie films of the 80's. They were both released the same year but exemplify very different approaches to the genre.

After "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead", "Day of the Dead" is the third opus in a trilogy by the great Pope of zombie flicks, George A. Romero. This new opus, however, certainly distinguishes itself from its predecessors with its stylized aesthetics, perhaps due to pressure from Italian remakes that depicted zombies with even more graphic gore. And of course there's the film's unforgettable opening credits which inspired Danny Boyle for "28 Days Later". Romero maintains his political take on zombies by drawing a parallel with the Cold War and lending a certain humanity to the undead that competes with the pathetic state of the living. In the 2000's, Romero pushes this concept further with a new film trilogy dedicated to zombies, transforming his initial series into a veritable saga!

"The Return of the Living Dead" by Dan O'Bannon (screenwriter of "Alien") sets itself apart from the severity of Romero's universe with its successful mix of gore and humor. Unlike the lethargic creatures made by the Master, O'Bannon's zombies are uncannily dynamic: they run... and they talk! The plot unfolds in a cemetery, the mythical birthplace of the undead and a fixture of the genre which alas, remains sorely under-used. All this set to a soundtrack of the era's finest punk music: The Cramps, The Damned and TSOL!