Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Film / NightOfTheLivingDead1990

Go To

OR

Added: 795

Changed: 775

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* WomenAreWiser: Judy Rose is one of the strongest advocates for everybody to stop arguing by telling them that the house is her family's property and if they cannot stop, then she's going to find a way to kick them all out (she also volunteers to be the driver in the attempt to refuel the truck, in comparison to her utter uselessness in the same sequence in the original). Helen is downplayed (she remains down on the cellar panicking about her daughter and Harry really doesn't wants to hear her) but she also keeps telling him that he should stop being a dick and help. Barbara is the strongest example once she reaches [[ZenSurvivor the point she's utterly jaded about all of the crazy]] and provides the simplest solution to the current problem [[spoiler:that leads to her being the SoleSurvivor]].

to:

* WomenAreWiser: A few examples:
**
Judy Rose is one of the strongest advocates for everybody to stop arguing by telling them that the house is her family's property and if they cannot stop, then she's going to find a way to kick them all out (she also volunteers to be the driver in the attempt to refuel the truck, in comparison to her utter uselessness in the same sequence in the original). original).
**
Helen is downplayed (she remains down on the cellar panicking about her daughter and Harry really doesn't wants to hear her) but she also keeps telling him that he should stop being a dick and help. help.
**
Barbara is the strongest example once she reaches [[ZenSurvivor the point she's utterly jaded about all of the crazy]] and provides the simplest solution to the current problem [[spoiler:that leads to her being the SoleSurvivor]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* WomenAreWiser: Judy Rose is one of the strongest advocates for everybody to stop arguing by telling them that the house is her family's property and if they cannot stop, then she's going to find a way to kick them all out (she also volunteers to be the driver in the attempt to refuel the truck, in comparison to her utter uselessness in the same sequence in the original). Helen is downplayed (she remains down on the cellar panicking about her daughter and Harry really doesn't wants to hear her) but she also keeps telling him that he should stop being a dick and help. Barbara is the strongest example once she reaches [[ZenSurvivor the point she's utterly jaded about all of the crazy]] and provides the simplest solution to the current problem [[spoiler:that leads to her being the SoleSurvivor]].
* ZenSurvivor: Once she gets over the shock of her initial zombie encounter and [[spoiler:Johnny dying]], Barbara gets jaded very fast and becomes one of the cooler-headed survivors (at least to a point -- Ben yells at her that she's 'losing it' when she wastes ammo shooting one of the zombies in several normally-fatal spots to demonstrate to Harry, Judy Rose and Johnny that no, the damn things are ''not'' crazy people).
-->'''Barbara''': Whatever I lost, I lost a ''long'' time ago. You can talk about losing it when you all stop screaming at each other like a bunch of two-year-olds.

Added: 475

Changed: 70

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* DarkerAndEdgier: The remake is much more violent and bleaker, compared to the original.

to:

* DarkerAndEdgier: The Played with; the remake is much more violent and bleaker, profanity-laced compared to the original.original, but the tone is largely the same.



* JumpScare: Lots of them.

to:

* %%* JumpScare: Lots of them.


Added DiffLines:

* OnlySaneMan: Barbara is promoted to this. Even when compared to Ben, she's the only one of the group who has any sort of common sense, trying to come up with more practical solutions rather than engaging in arguments (such as suggesting they should make a run for it considering how slow the zombies are). [[spoiler:She's proven right, considering she escapes from the farm by merely walking away without even firing a single gunshot. She winds up being the SoleSurvivor]].

Added: 2678

Changed: 1068

Removed: 126

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* AdaptationExpansion: The film has improved most of the original characters' development and gave them some relevance to the plot, rather than just being a bunch of random strangers meeting up in an abandoned house. For example: Three of the characters from the original were nothing but [[TheLoad useless and didn't manage to do a single thing while in the house other than tagging along]], the reason why [[spoiler:one of the survivors died]] was because one of them was ''only'' tagging along.

to:

* AdaptationExpansion: The film has improved most of gives the original characters' development and gave them some relevance to the plot, rather than just being protagonists a bunch little more of random strangers meeting up in an abandoned house. a connection. For example: Three of the characters from the original were nothing but [[TheLoad useless and didn't manage to do a single thing while in example, the house other than tagging along]], they're in belongs to Tom's uncle and cousin (who are the reason why [[spoiler:one of bodies Barbara finds when she arrives) - and Tom knows for sure that there's a key for the survivors died]] gas pump and knows the house better.
* AdaptationalIntelligence: In the first film, Judy just panicked and tagged along with Tom and Ben for no real reason. Here, she guesses that they need a third person involved; while Tom is working the gas pump and Ben is warding off the zombies, they need someone already behind the wheel - and she's used to driving trucks.
* AdaptationalJerkass:
** Johnny's teasing
was because one of them was ''only'' tagging along.light-hearted in the first film. Here he's annoying Barbara for the whole trip to the cemetery, complaining about everything and nagging Barbara about her personal life.
** Judy Rose compared to her kinder and softer portrayal in the first film. She's at odds with Barbara and shouts at Cooper and Ben. Of course in this case, they're more reasonable reactions to stress, making her a mild example.
** The shooters who show up at the end get additional scenes where [[spoiler: they prank Barbara and tie up still-alive zombies to lynch them]]. Beforehand they were just trying to keep the area safe from zombies.



* AlasPoorVillain: A minor example. Barbara is approached by the zombie of a little girl, who's actually still holding her doll and in a nightdress (giving the impression she was bitten and turned while asleep in bed). Barbara hesitates before tearfully shooting her dead, even wailing "oh God!" after she does so.



* DeepSouth: There are strong southern accents on Tom, Judy Rose and the rednecks at the end. None of them had such accents in the original.
* DiesDifferentlyInTheAdaptation:
** [[spoiler: Ben dies from lingering wounds sustained in a gun fight with Cooper. He's found the next morning as a zombie, as opposed to surviving the night and getting shot by the rednecks]].
** [[spoiler: Helen was stabbed to death by her daughter in the original. Here, Sarah bites her on the neck]].
** [[spoiler: Cooper is not killed and eaten by his daughter, but shot in the head by Barbara]].



* HeWhoFightsMonsters: [[spoiler:Barbara says something to that extent when she notices the survivors lynching the zombies in the ending. This is also implied to have happened to Barbara herself when she shoots Harry and tells the two hicks that he's "another body for the fire"]].

to:

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: HeWhoFightsMonsters:
**
[[spoiler:Barbara says something to that extent when she notices the survivors lynching the zombies in the ending. This is also implied to have happened to Barbara herself when she shoots Harry and tells the two hicks that he's "another body for the fire"]].



* MyCarHatesMe: Tommy's and Judy Rose's quest for the gas pump is constantly hampered by the truck being unable to start in time.
** Judy Rose has to try to turn the engine over no less than ''six times'' each occasion. It's amazing the battery didn't die.

to:

* MyCarHatesMe: Tommy's and Judy Rose's quest for the gas pump is constantly hampered by the truck being unable to start in time.
**
time. Judy Rose has to try to turn the engine over no less than ''six times'' each occasion. It's amazing the battery didn't die.



* ShootOutTheLock: When Tommy and Judy Rose reach the gas pump, Tommy tries to open its lock with keys, only to find out that they don't fit. Desperate, he shoots the lock, leading to his and Judy Rose's death in the resulting explosion from the spilled gas.

to:

* ShootOutTheLock: When Tommy and Judy Rose reach the gas pump, Tommy tries to open its lock with keys, only to find out that they don't fit. Desperate, he shoots the lock, leading to [[spoiler: his and Judy Rose's death in the resulting explosion from the spilled gas.]]



* WhatTheHellHero: In the remake Judy Rose calls Ben and Cooper out on their childish arguing. Barbara also does this when Ben tells her she is losing it.

to:

* WhatTheHellHero: WhatTheHellHero:
**
In the remake Judy Rose calls Ben and Cooper out on their childish arguing. arguing.
--> "This is Tommy and me's house. Where would you be if we didn't kick you the hell out!"
**
Barbara also does this when Ben tells her she is losing it.it.
--> "Whatever I lost, I lost a ''long'' time ago. You can talk to me about losing it when you all stop screaming at each other like a bunch of two-year-olds."
** And because all the [[WomenAreWiser women seem to be doing it]], Helen to her husband when he won't open the cellar door.
--> "What do you hope to accomplish!"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** A variation with Johnny. In the original he dies at the start but later comes back as a zombie. He just dies in this at the cemetery and is found by Barbara in a corpse pile in the back of a truck.

to:

** A variation with Johnny. In the original he dies at the start but later comes back shows up at the farmhouse as a zombie. He just dies in this at the cemetery and is found by Barbara in a corpse pile in the back of a truck. Though, to be fair, it's entirely possible that he revived into a zombie, and was shot down by the very men who tossed him into the back of the truck. Evidence for this can included, the sheer distance he is found from the cemetery, and the bullet hole in the center of his skull.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Barbara points out the zombies are slow and they could easily outrun them instead of just waiting for the house to be invaded, but gets dismissed by Ben. [[spoiler:Guess who's the only who survives the film?]]

to:

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Barbara points out the zombies are slow and they could easily outrun them instead of just waiting for the house to be invaded, but gets dismissed by Ben. [[spoiler:Guess who's the only one who survives the film?]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Also implied by the photo montage at the very end of the movie: [[spoiler: the photos of the militia hicks carrying weapons and burning zombie corpses look ghoulish indeed, repeatedly intercut with a shot of Barbara watching them, seems to ask -- who are there real monsters here?]]

to:

** Also implied by the photo montage at the very end of the movie: [[spoiler: the photos of the militia hicks carrying weapons and burning zombie corpses look ghoulish indeed, repeatedly intercut with a shot of Barbara watching them, seems to ask -- who are there the real monsters here?]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* WhamShot:
** In a sense, this film's take on the "They're coming to get you, Barbara!" scene: the guy stumbling in the background reaches Barbara and Johnny... [[NotHisSled but he's not a zombie.]] It's just some regular guy, implied to be a hearse driver, muttering "I'm sorry" over and over, greatly confusing the two... and then a zombie pops out ''out of nowhere'' to tackle Barbara to the ground.
** [[spoiler:Harry showing up alive at the end... and Barbara [[HeWhoFightsMonsters shooting him without any hesitation.]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Barbara points out the zombies are slow and they could easily outrun them instead of just waiting for the house to be invaded, but gets dismissed by Ben. [[Spoiler:She's proven to be ultimately right.]]

to:

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Barbara points out the zombies are slow and they could easily outrun them instead of just waiting for the house to be invaded, but gets dismissed by Ben. [[Spoiler:She's proven to be ultimately right.]][[spoiler:Guess who's the only who survives the film?]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Barbara points out the zombies are slow and they could easily outrun them instead of just waiting for the house to be invaded, but gets dismissed by Ben. [[Spoiler:She's proven to be ultimately right.]]

Changed: 2

Removed: 1464

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* FridgeHorror: Plenty.
** Getting the truck refuelled wouldn't necessarily end the nightmare. Where they ended up may have been even worse, as this obviously was happening all over the countryside.
** Despite seeing he's a zombie, Judy Rose frantically yells at Barbara not to shoot "Mr. Magruder from The Legion Hall." Perhaps Judy Rose worked there, and he was a regular she was on good terms with: It's a chilling reminder that zombies were recently members of the community.
** Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before they reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]
*** A subtle one as well, [[spoiler: Sarah has blood on her braces while attacking Barbara. Her mother's blood.]]
** The girl zombie Barbara encounters after leaving the house: she's in her bedwear and holding a doll, heavily implying she was murdered by a zombie while still asleep in bed.
** The next day, [[spoiler: Zombie!Ben appears and meets eyes with Barbara. Instead of attacking her instantly (as all zombies do), he regards her passively, and purses his lips, as if he is about to speak. ''Ben is still in there.'' It's moot, though, as the militia promptly puts him down.]]



* TheSiege: Characters board the windows and doors to protect themselves from the zombies outside. Unfortunately, yhe noise from this lures more zombies to the scene.

to:

* TheSiege: Characters board the windows and doors to protect themselves from the zombies outside. Unfortunately, yhe the noise from this lures more zombies to the scene.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Barbara survives, but Ben doesn't. Harry also survives, but Barbara immediately executes him. Barbara's faith in humanity has been completely destroyed, causing her to say in regards to the dead, "We're them. We're them, and they're us."]]

to:

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Barbara survives, but Ben doesn't. Harry also survives, but Barbara immediately executes him. Barbara's faith in humanity has been completely destroyed, causing her to say in regards to the dead, "We're them."They're us. We're them, and they're us."]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* JumpScare: Lots of them.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before he reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]

to:

** Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before he they reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]



** Also implied by the photo montage at the very end of the movie: [[spoiler: the photos of the militia hicks carrying weapons and burning zombie corpses look ghoulish indeed, repeatedly intercut with a shot of Barbara watching them, seems to ask -- who are there real monsters here?

to:

** Also implied by the photo montage at the very end of the movie: [[spoiler: the photos of the militia hicks carrying weapons and burning zombie corpses look ghoulish indeed, repeatedly intercut with a shot of Barbara watching them, seems to ask -- who are there real monsters here?here?]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** A variation with the Coopers' daughter. While she dies in both films, the reanimated Karen Cooper is never seen destroyed before Ben retreats to the cellar. In the remake, the zombified [[AdaptationNameChange Sarah]] Cooper is taken out by Ben after she emerges from the cellar.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

*** A subtle one as well, [[spoiler: Sarah has blood on her braces while attacking Barbara. Her mother's blood.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Judy Rose has to try to turn the engine over no less than ''six times'' each occasion. It's amazing the battery didn't die.

Added: 280

Changed: 340

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Despite seeing he's a zombie, Judy Rose frantically yells at Barbara not to shoot "Mr. McGruder from The Legion Hall." Perhaps Judy Rose worked there, and he was a regular she was on good terms with: It's a chilling reminder that zombies were recently members of the community.

to:

** Getting the truck refuelled wouldn't necessarily end the nightmare. Where they ended up may have been even worse, as this obviously was happening all over the countryside.
** Despite seeing he's a zombie, Judy Rose frantically yells at Barbara not to shoot "Mr. McGruder Magruder from The Legion Hall." Perhaps Judy Rose worked there, and he was a regular she was on good terms with: It's a chilling reminder that zombies were recently members of the community.

Added: 456

Changed: 8

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* FridgeHorror:

to:

* FridgeHorror: Plenty.
** Despite seeing he's a zombie, Judy Rose frantically yells at Barbara not to shoot "Mr. McGruder from The Legion Hall." Perhaps Judy Rose worked there, and he was a regular she was on good terms with: It's a chilling reminder that zombies were recently members of the community.


Added DiffLines:

** The girl zombie Barbara encounters after leaving the house: she's in her bedwear and holding a doll, heavily implying she was murdered by a zombie while still asleep in bed.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Also implied by the photo montage at the very end of the movie: [[spoiler: the photos of the militia hicks carrying weapons and burning zombie corpses look ghoulish indeed, repeatedly intercut with a shot of Barbara watching them, seems to ask -- who are there real monsters here?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** The next day, [[spoiler: Zombie!Ben appears and meets eyes with Barbara. Instead of attacking her instantly (as all zombies do), he regards her passively, and purses his lips, as if he is about to speak. ''Ben is still in there.'' It's moot, though, as the militia promptly puts his down.]]

to:

** The next day, [[spoiler: Zombie!Ben appears and meets eyes with Barbara. Instead of attacking her instantly (as all zombies do), he regards her passively, and purses his lips, as if he is about to speak. ''Ben is still in there.'' It's moot, though, as the militia promptly puts his him down.]]

Added: 695

Changed: 399

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* FridgeHorror: Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before he reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]

to:

* FridgeHorror: FridgeHorror:
**
Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before he reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]
** The next day, [[spoiler: Zombie!Ben appears and meets eyes with Barbara. Instead of attacking her instantly (as all zombies do), he regards her passively, and purses his lips, as if he is about to speak. ''Ben is still in there.'' It's moot, though, as the militia promptly puts his down.
]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* FridgeHorror: Sarah Cooper [[spoiler: was doomed. Even if the band found the gas pump key immediately, she would have succumbed before he reached any help (if she even COULD be helped) and would have attacked everyone. In the confines of a truck cab. She certainly would have killed several of them before they could put her down. She may have killed all of them before they realize what the hell was happening.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* JerkassHasAPoint: Hooper fervently insists only the cellar is safe and ''insists'' everyone get down there immediately. [[spoiler: In the end, he was proven right: a massive horde of zombies try to get Ben in the cellar, but are unable to knock down (or even '''damage''') the door. And they were all gone in the morning when the militia turned up to save them.]]

to:

* JerkassHasAPoint: Hooper Cooper fervently insists only the cellar is safe and ''insists'' everyone get down there immediately. [[spoiler: In the end, he was proven right: a massive horde of zombies try to get Ben in the cellar, but are unable to knock down (or even '''damage''') the door. And they were all gone in the morning when the militia turned up to save them.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* JerkassHasAPoint: Hooper fervently insists only the cellar is safe and ''insists'' everyone get down there immediately. [[spoiler: In the end, he was proven right: a massive horde of zombies try to get Ben in the cellar, but are unable to knock down (or even '''damage''') the door. And they were all gone in the morning when the militia turned up to save them.]]
** Naturally, that would also have led to the nasty issue of [[spoiler: Sarah Cooper soon dying and reviving as ravenous zombie, in close proximity of all six survivors...]]

Added: 494

Changed: 307

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TookALevelInBadass: Judy Rose was heading this way. She spent most of the film as a ScreamingWoman before eventually getting a hold of herself, calling out Ben and Cooper for their stupid arguing and offering to drive the truck to the gas pump (as opposed to the original where she just wandered outside and had to come along).

to:

* TookALevelInBadass: TookALevelInBadass:
**
Judy Rose was is heading this way. way [[spoiler:before she dies]]. She spent spends most of the film as a ScreamingWoman before eventually getting a hold of herself, calling out Ben and Cooper for their stupid arguing and offering to drive the truck to the gas pump (as pump, as opposed to the original where she just wandered outside and had to come along).along.
** Barbara is a straight example; she, too, starts out as a ScreamingWoman before buckling down and taking charge. She ends up [[spoiler:the sole survivor]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TooDumbToLive: Tommy fires a shotgun at the gas pump when he realized that he took the wrong keys. Apparently, it didn't occur to him that it would blow up both him and Judy Rose.

to:

* TooDumbToLive: Tommy fires a shotgun at the gas pump when he realized realizes that he took the wrong keys. Apparently, it didn't doesn't occur to him that it would blow up both him and Judy Rose.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Those aren't Shout Out. They're already listed under what they are — Mythology Gag and Remake Cameo


* ShoutOut: There's couple shout-outs to the original '68 film: when Karen eats her mother, we momentarily see a spade on the wall similar to the one in the original, and the reporter is also the same actor playing the same character from the original as well.

Changed: 64

Removed: 116

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
How is that a Kick The Dog?


* LaughingMad: [[spoiler: Ben as he sits dying in the cellar]].
** KickTheDog: Because, as it turns out, [[spoiler:the missing keys for the gas pump were in the cellar all along.]]

to:

* LaughingMad: [[spoiler: Ben Ben]] as he sits dying in the cellar]].
** KickTheDog: Because, as it turns out, [[spoiler:the missing keys for
cellar, once he realizes that's [[spoiler:where the gas pump were in the cellar all along.]]key was]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Barbara started off as the typical ScreamingWoman that's commonly found in horror movies but as time went on, she proved to be one of the more [[OnlySaneMan saner characters]] as well as [[TookALevelInBadass taking a pretty big level in badass]].
** The same can pretty much be said about Judy's development.

to:

** Barbara started starts off as the typical ScreamingWoman that's commonly found in horror movies but as time went goes on, she proved proves to be one of the more [[OnlySaneMan saner sane characters]] as well as and [[TookALevelInBadass taking takes a pretty big level in badass]].
** The same can pretty much be said about Judy's development.

Top