Available in every home video format known to man, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD has been released on DVD for its 40th anniversary by Dimension Home Entertainment through Genius Products, LLC.  Until this release, the Millennium Edition was the best version available.  I wish that the original artwork had been provided on the cover of this new release (perhaps for the inevitable 50th Anniversary?).  Given the film's notoriety and aforementioned landmark status I will assume that you have either seen the film multiple times and if not are at least familiar with it's subject matter concerning a group of people who fight to survive after dead bodies return to life to eat the living as a result of radiation that is carried by a NASA satellite returning to Earth from Venus.  Either way, I urge you to get your hands on this new DVD sight-unseen and watch it alone as I did on WABC-TV on a General Electric 13" color TV one late night in 1984.  The remarkable thing about this film is it's continued ability to be scary today as it did to me all those years ago.  The film succeeds completely in selling the audience on the idea that there is an imminent threat.  The dialog and acting are realistic enough to make the viewer think, How would I react in their shoes?   NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD hasn't lost any of it's power, and is so significant that it can be read as a simple horror film or as a social commentary on just about any world conflict since it's release. 

This disc includes the previously-released commentaries which were recorded for the Elite Entertainment Laserdisc from 1994.  On Track 1 is co-writer/director George Romero, producer/actor Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, and co-writer John Russo.  On Track 2 are producer Russell Streiner, producer manager Vince Survinski, and actors Judith O'Dea, Bill Hinzman, Kyra Schon, and Keith Wayne.  It also has the theatrical trailer; the last interview with Duane Jones about the film prior to his untimely death in 1988; a stills gallery, and the original script printed in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) under the original title of THE ANUBIS.  The one notable addition which makes this DVD a must-have is the inclusion of "One for the Fire", a new documentary made exclusively for this release.  It showcases the remaining cast members who all fondly recall their desire to want to make a movie, and are all equally grateful and astonished by not only the longevity of their efforts, but more importantly by NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD's place in American pop culture as being the first real horror film.  The documentary was shot digitally and lasts nearly 90 minutes and explains the film's humble beginnings, describes the copyright issue, the film's original titles, the marketing of the film, and very nicely begins with Russell Streiner and Judith O'Dea driving to the Evans City Cemetery in Pennsylvania where they did so many years ago.  They stop and reminisce at the exact locations where Johnny scared Barbara, and the ghoul attacked and chased Barbara to the farm house. 

This documentary alone is reason enough to recommend which Elliott Stein of The Village Voice proclaimed as "The most influential horror film since PSYCHO."  I couldn't agree more with Mr. Stein.  This film influenced me and will never lose it's power, no matter how many DVD versions it finds itself on.  I am reminded of why I love horror every single time I watch it.  Highly recommended.