It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

If you are a zombie aficionado, then you definitely should be familiar with "Return of the Living Dead" franchise. And having seen "More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead", as a zombie aficionado, then I can honestly say that I was thoroughly and wholeheartedly entertained.Now, bear in mind that this is a documentary about the cult classic, so if documentaries are not in your spectrum of enjoyment, then perhaps you should stay clear of this.But for us hardcore zombie fans, then "More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead" delivers some great insight to the cult classic, both as to what went on behind the camera and on the screen.And it is really nice to have a revisit with the cast members as they reminisce about the movie, the casting, and everything in between."More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead" is a must watch for die-hard fans of "Return of the Living Dead".

...but obviously of little interest to anyone other than fans of said film (and its lesser follow-ups) or, at the very least, fans of the late Dan "Alien" O'Bannon, who wrote and directed it. This tidy little doc is essentially a video version of "The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead," by British fan/co-authors Christian Sellers and Gary Smart (with some help from a fellow responsible for a "Nightmare on Elm Street" retrospective which was released a half year prior). This DVD-only release includes several shorter pieces devoted to the first two sequels of "RotLD," as well as a number of other entertaining features including the last interview with O'Bannon before he died. For fans this is easily a "10"; I only give it a "7" due to its limited appeal.

"The Return of the Living Dead" is a visionary combination of horror and humour and punk sensibility that has truly stood the test of time, continuing to attract new fans. Great actors and characters and superb visual and makeup designs combine to make it a fun viewing experience. Cast and crew, quite a few of them, in fact, sit down to talk about the making of the film, and they clearly delight in describing what it was like to make this thing. Their accounts indicate that it wasn't always the most pleasant shoot in the world - such as having to do scenes in the graveyard in the rain - but they still recall lots of good memories of working on a classic and beloved genre piece. As any good documentary on a movie should do, the documentary covers several basic topics: genesis of the production (how it originally was conceived as a sequel to George A. Romero's zombie series), the hiring of key personnel, the casting, the effects work, the behind the scenes stories, and the aftermath. Lots of interesting information is shared, such as the fact that co-star Miguel Nunez had been living in a homeless shelter before being cast in the film, or that it was co-star James Karens' idea for his character to have a somewhat dignified departure from the story, or that Don Calfa's role was named after a notorious Nazi individual, or that one of the paramedic performers decided that, since there were guys in the movie named Burt and Ernie, that the paramedics ought to be named Tom and Jerry. Interviewees include many main cast members - Clu Gulager, Karen, Calfa, Thom Mathews, Nunez, Brian Peck (who's also our narrator for this fascinating material), John Philbin, Linnea Quigley, Beverly Randolph, Jewel Shepard, and Allan Trautman. Crew members seen include production designer William Stout, co-producer Graham Henderson, casting director Stanzi Stokes, and makeup effects artists Tony Gardner (just 21 years old at the time), Kenny Myers, and William Munns. (It's told that Munns' only real triumph during the shoot was the designing of Tarman, and that his work was dissatisfying enough to lead to his firing, which he actually found to be something of a relief.) What is an absolute joy is seeing vintage "making of" footage, and to hear some of those behind the scenes details. Some amazing artwork is done for this documentary, incredibly well integrated with the live action footage and serving as excellent scene transition. The people talking often display a disarming sense of humour, which really amps up the entertainment value of "More Brains"; there are some quite funny moments, particularly from Nunez. (This also extends into the end credits, which run alongside some outtakes.) And the selection of artists for the soundtrack understandably gets a mention. (It would have been nice, though, to hear some sort of anecdote regarding the memorable Trioxin Theme.) Even music star Stacey Q is interviewed, and that's a delight to see. There are also heartfelt tributes to director Dan O'Bannon, who sadly left us all in 2009, and Mark Venturini who predeceased him at a way too young age. The working relationships with O'Bannon are somewhat glossed over, but you do get the sense that he could indeed be difficult to work with. In the end, his passing is still deeply felt, especially in terms of the fun genre films that he'd helped to create. Overall this is highly essential viewing if you're a fan of the film, and it serves as a perfect companion piece. 10 out of 10.

This nearly two hour documentary on the much beloved 1985 horror comedy cult classic "The Return of the Living Dead" gathers together an assortment of cast and crew members to discuss the various aspects of the making of this movie that include the genesis of the project, the casting, the make-up f/x, two weeks of rehearsal, the wardrobe, the often miserable filming conditions shooting at night with simulated rain, the picture's inspired and ingenious blend of horror and humor, the Tarman zombie (Tarman actor Allan Trautman has fun stories to relate about portraying this iconic undead figure), the punk rock soundtrack, the positive box office and critical success, and its exceptional longevity and enduring popularity throughout the decades. Among those interviewed are writer John Russo, cinematographer Jules Brenner, production designer William Stout, co-producer Graham Henderson, make-up artists William Munns (who got fired early in the production), Tony Gardner, and Kenny Myers, casting director Stanzi Stokes, singer Stacey Q., and cast members Don Calfa, Clu Gulager, James Karen, Thom Matthews, Linnea Quigley, Beverly Randolph, Jewel Shepard, Brian Peck (who also narrates), Miguel Nunez Jr., and John Philbin. Quigley has some great stuff to say about her famous cemetery striptease and the resurrection of her character as a zombie, Gulager reveals that he frequently clashed with writer/director Dan O'Bannon throughout the production, Karen talks about coming up with the idea for his character to kill cremate himself in order to avoid becoming a zombie, and there's a touching tribute to O'Bannon at the very end. Loaded with choice clips and a wealth of nifty behind-the-scenes stills, this is absolutely essential viewing for fans of the film.