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| RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2 |
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| Return of the Living Dead 2 (1988) The first movie is always the best, and this is certainly the case with Return of the Living Dead 2, a partial remake of the previous film as Thom Mathews and his employer make a reappearance, but this time as a pair of grave robbers getting skulls for medical research from the local cemetery. The dead are released, however, this time by the efforts of two snot-nosed brats who tamper with a barrel of the toxic chemical waste that had fallen from a US Army truck a couple of nights previously. Soon the dead are walking again as toxic rain once again raises the dead. It is not long before the cast are bumbling their way around the town trying to survive the invasion of the undead in classically 1980's tongue in cheek zombie movie fashion, Michael Jackson doesn't even escape the visual comedy as a red-suited zombie appears at the end, a la "Thriller." Even more hijinks of the undead kind, less impact and a slightly worse storyline, acting and characters with the inclusion of several annoying kids running around like idiots, but this is all saved by the excellent "Monster Mash" soundtrack and the appearance of a pre-"X-Files" Mitch Pileggi! Tagline: "Just when you thought it was safe to be dead." Trivia: Thom Mathews and James Karen nearly duplicate their roles from Return of the Living Dead as a pair who are sickened by zombie gas. In both films they have the exchange, "Listen kid, if you like this job..." "Like this job? Like this job!" Near the end, when the zombies are being electrocuted, a zombie comes out dressed as Michael Jackson in the famous red suit from the "Thriller" music video. Directed by Ken Wiederhorn Writing credits Ken Wiederhorn Produced by Eugene C. Cashman Tom Fox William S. Gilmore Cast Michael Kenworthy .... Jesse Wilson Thor Van Lingen .... Billy Jason Hogan .... Johnny James Karen .... Ed Thom Mathews .... Joey Suzanne Snyder .... Brenda Marsha Dietlein .... Lucy Wilson Suzan Stadner .... Aerobics Instructor Jonathan Terry .... Col. Glover Dana Ashbrook .... Tom Essex Sally Smythe .... Mildred (Billy's Mom) Allan Trautman .... Tarman Don Maxwell .... George (Billy's Dad) Reynold Cindrich .... Soldier Philip Bruns .... Doc Mandel Mitch Pileggi .... Sarge Arturo Bonilla .... Les Terrence Riggins .... Frank James McIntire .... Officer Larry Nicholas .... Jesse's Double rest of cast listed alphabetically Forrest J Ackerman .... Special Zombie Douglas Benson .... Special Zombie David Eby .... Special Zombie Nicholas Hernandez .... Special Zombie Derek Loughran .... Special Zombie Annie Marshall .... Special Zombie Richard Moore .... Special Zombie Steve Neuvenheim .... Special Zombie Brian Peck .... Special Zombie |