Night of the Living Dead took multiple approaches to social hierarchy
**Content warning: some images attached contain graphic and disturbing content such as staged blood and somewhat sexualized material/displays. Article includes brief mentions sexualizing the brutalization of women, and race-based violence.**
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Night-of-the-Living-Dead-Movie-Poster-Posters_i16221906_.htm
There are many good reasons why Night of the Living Dead (1968) gets the praise that it does: Establishing the first of the “Zombie Apocalypse” genre, it challenges many mainstream-comfort ideals, and shows that in times of crisis, humans are only a higher form of animal, choosing pride to the death over protecting peers; a theme that proves true time and time again.
The film succeeded in its combative portrayal of racial hierarchy, especially in light of the civil rights movement, and MLK’s death shortly before the premiere. The part of Ben was originally written as a white role, and the only changes made were to make him look less aggressive than originally written. The director showed generous care when directing this role and knew or kept into consideration the impact this character’s portrayal would have. Along with this came social commentary on not just authorities, but authority’s treatment of Black Americans at the time and throughout history.
https://whysoblu.com/night-living-dead-criterion-collection-blu-ray-review/
Being shown through Ben was a character that did everything right to defend himself and to survive, and yet, ended up having all of it taken away by a single gunshot. This portrayal has shaken and resonated with audiences then and now, and even inspired some of today’s directors such as Jordan Peele.
With that being said, Romero’s portrayal of women did not age well.
Granted this was a result of the times, I’m sure, but the women were written to be virtually incompetent and with no ability to provide input nor hold their own in times of stress. Whenever given the opportunity to speak, they are most of the time shut down.
Barbara (left) and Ben (right).
Harry Cooper (left) and Helen Cooper (right). http://lifebetweenframes.blogspot.com/2020/01/full-attention-night-of-living-dead-1968.html
Helen and Barbara, two out of the three women shown, were consistently petrified, grief stricken, and let their emotions and care for others get the best of them. They fell most vulnerable when they saw their loved ones just before their demise- Barbara seeing her brother among the crowd of the risen dead, and Helen falling before her earlier bitten and infected daughter. There may be some validity in this when it comes down to sympathy and maternal instincts clouding a woman’s judgement, but this was so bad that even a human’s basic instincts were not written in the script;
You mean to tell me that a dead child is coherent enough to pick up a shovel and stab multiple times with it, but when the hands of zombies are barely getting through a hole in the door, Helen couldn’t duck? These parts were frustrating to watch.
As the group begins its downfall, Helen gets stabbed multiple times with a garden shovel by her zombified daughter, just after tumbling to the ground laying and waiting helplessly as said daughter is plodding towards her. This whole sequence is excessive and gory, around 10 seconds of distorted screaming noises and bloodshed; a keystone example of the upcoming tendency Slasher/Horror films have of fetishizing women’s suffering. (Phillips, “Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture,” 2005)
http://groovydoom.blogspot.com/2011/08/it-seems-all-ive-been-posting-about.html
The directors could have chosen to keep it simple and efficient, and cut to the next scene right as the daughter brings her shovel down or even after a couple of stabs, just as they kept Harry’s death simple and short with a couple of gunshots.
Maybe this wasn’t the first example of this portrayal of women in Horror, but with how much of an example it set for other huge elements, it must have played a part in establishing this trope. Even so, the film has made strong imprints on our society, providing material for audiences to think about long after they watch it.