Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- nightmarish
- hallucinatory
- claustrophobic
- late night horror marathon
- cult cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly divided over the film's incoherent plot and acting, while praising its nightmarish atmosphere, lively editing, gore effects, and genre craftsmanship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film builds its identity around bloody, hallucinatory set pieces and explicit corporeal destruction.
The gates of hell, prophetic visions, and impossible undead manifestations create a deliberately incoherent nightmare atmosphere.
Peter, Mary, Gerry, and Sandra must close the gates before All Saints Day or the dead will rise worldwide.
Lucio Fulci's film combines Italian production and direction with zombie cinema, supernatural mythology, and extreme splatter effects.
Films like City of the Living Dead, and why
The Beyond
surreal supernatural horror, graphic splatter, and nightmare logic
The House by the Cemetery
zombie horror, grotesque practical effects, and apocalyptic occult atmosphere
Zombie
gory undead horror, relentless dread, and cult Italian genre filmmaking
The Evil Dead
surreal occult horror and escalating graphic violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Lucio Fulci
- Release Date
- 1980-08-11
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (460)
Cast
- Christopher George
- Catriona MacColl
- Carlo De Mejo
- Giovanni Lombardo Radice
- Janet Ågren
- Antonella Interlenghi
- Daniela Doria
- Fabrizio Jovine
- Luca Venantini
- Michele Soavi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is City of the Living Dead about?
- A New York reporter and a psychic race through a cursed New England town to seal hell's gates before the dead overrun the world.
- What is City of the Living Dead like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of City of the Living Dead as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is City of the Living Dead violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in City of the Living Dead as graphic.
- What did critics think of City of the Living Dead?
- Critics broadly divided over the film's incoherent plot and acting, while praising its nightmarish atmosphere, lively editing, gore effects, and genre craftsmanship.
- Which films are like City of the Living Dead?
- Films with a similar feel include The Beyond, The House by the Cemetery, Zombie, and The Evil Dead.
- How long is City of the Living Dead?
- City of the Living Dead runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch City of the Living Dead?
- In United States, City of the Living Dead streams on Philo, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel.
