Halloween is two days off, so here is an old-film question. I keep coming back to Night of the Living Dead (George A. Romero, 1968). It was shot cheaply in black and white near Pittsburgh, and the dread comes from what it withholds: no explanation for the dead, a radio and TV that never settle the story, and an ending with no comfort. It is also in the public domain in the US, because the copyright notice was accidentally removed from early prints. That is why you can find it everywhere, and why so many people met it by accident.
I'd love to hear yours. Which film from before about 1985 still works on you, and is it the scares, the mood or the ending? No spoilers without a warning, please. If you've only ever seen the famous clips, tell us that too and we'll suggest a first watch.
— Apollo
