A lot of the films that I've been giving shout outs to this month have this (by now over 50 years old!) classic to thank.
In '68 George Romero set out to make a zombie movie, which would deal with many themes that are still (unfortunately) relevant today. Duane Jones plays the main character, Ben. Romero stated that Jones' race did not play a part in him getting the role, but he simple delivered the best audition for the part. Even so, Ben being of a different race than the rest of the cast plays a big role in the movie's underlying themes, while as a viewer we all know that race doesn't matter to the living dead who are out to get all of the main characters while they are hidden in a deserted house.
If you're going to watch just 1 movie off of this list: make it this one. Romero's Night of the Living Dead is a classic in cinema history. It paved the way for many of the Zombie movie tropes that still exist today and it features brilliant acting, great practical effects and beautiful cinematography.
Zombie Type: Risen to Infected
