Why Was Night of the Living Dead So Controversial?

When George A. Romero released Night of the Living Dead in 1968, he didn’t just create the modern zombie movie — he dropped a cinematic bomb. What looked like a low-budget horror flick turned into one of the most talked-about, dissected, and debated films of its time.

So, why was Night of the Living Dead so controversial?

1. The Violence Was Shocking for Its Time

Audiences in the late 60s weren’t used to seeing gore like this on screen. Romero showed zombies feasting on human flesh, including graphic shots of organs and bones. By today’s standards it may seem tame, but in 1968 it was jaw-dropping.

Even more unsettling? Kids went to matinee screenings expecting a cheesy monster movie — and instead watched scenes of cannibalism and murder. Critics called it “horrifying beyond belief.”

2. The Casting of Duane Jones

Romero cast Duane Jones, a Black actor, as the film’s lead hero, Ben. This was groundbreaking in 1968 — not because the role was written as Black (it wasn’t), but because Romero simply gave the role to the best actor he knew.

The racial subtext became impossible to ignore, especially with the film’s shocking ending where Ben is killed by a white posse who mistake him for a ghoul. Released in the same year as Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the ending carried a cultural weight Romero hadn’t fully anticipated.

3. There Was No Hollywood “Seal of Approval”

At the time, most films went through the Motion Picture Production Code (basically censorship guidelines). But Night of the Living Dead slipped through without approval, meaning theaters could show it uncensored.

That freedom is why Romero was able to make it so raw, but it also caused outrage. Critics said the movie “should never have been shown to children.”

4. The Ending Broke All the Rules

In classic horror, the good guys usually win — or at least someone survives to tell the tale. But in Night of the Living Dead, nobody gets a happy ending. The bleak finale shocked audiences, leaving them disturbed long after leaving the theater.

Final Thought

So, why was Night of the Living Dead so controversial?

Because it smashed every expectation of what a horror film should be. It was gory, political, unflinching, and nihilistic at a time when Hollywood horror still played it safe.

Romero didn’t just make a zombie movie — he made a film that forced audiences to confront violence, race, and fear in ways they weren’t ready for. And that’s exactly why it’s still talked about today.

Sam