Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World
Published by Counterpoint, 2026. 313 pages.
By Daniel Kraus
Back in 2015, before I read Gunnar Hansen’s book Chain Saw Confidential, I had asked myself the question, “did we really need another book on this film?” And after reading it… indeed we did. Especially when it is coming from a person that was there through the brutal shooting of it. And now we have another book, on another epically famous horror film, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, but this time not written by someone directly involved. That little fact really doesn’t matter because within the 300+ pages of this book, you will learn more about Night of the Living Dead than you ever thought you could. About the movie, the people involved, and so much more. But author Kraus also shows us how and why this film was so important to him and why it made such an impact on his life. While me might not all go on to become professional writers, every fan will feel that same connection to film as he describes this one. So, no matter where our individual path in life takes us, we are the same.
When mentioning a variety of low-budget films in general, with real makeup effects and settings, Kraus writes, “The importance of art like this grows by the day. In a world where AI and CGI create seamless visual media, seeing those seams right where fallible human hands put them in everything – it’s proof of intent, of passion, of life itself.” That really hits home and I hope younger fans can understand that. The people involved in this little film believed in what they were doing. You have to remember, none of these people had a clue what this film was going to become over the next half a century! Kraus goes on to say, “Call it Don Quixote Disease. Or just call it the American spirit. It’s not the finished product that matters, it’s the chase of it. Night of the Living Dead is a literal and symbolic chase all the way through, and that’s why I love it.” I think that’s why a lot of us horror fans are as passionate about these as we are. We know there is something more than just cheap thrills.
The book follows the film, including time codes as it’s happening in the film. There are plenty of “oops” moments, when Kraus gives you an exact time to pause the film so you can see a set light on the side, or an Image Ten production folder on the floor, which is kind of neat. But the cool thing is that as we’re going through the story, Kraus takes breaks to fill us in on so much detail about that particular moment. It could be who’s playing the zombie in the shot, and their relation to the filmmakers. It could be about the particular set they are on, or where some of the set dressing came from. Some of it might seem trivial, but it all adds to the final product of how this picture got made by a low budget crew just outside of Pittsburgh.
Of course, we get backgrounds on all the major cast as well, and I bet some of this information will be completely new to fans. I know it was for me. Kraus doesn’t back away from the real-life drama that went on, and still goes on, amongst some of the creators. The fact that the film made so much money over the years that they pretty much saw very little of, can be a little depressing. As well as the old story of “who did what” or “who came up with that idea”, not to mention that 30th anniversary abortion that was pretty much despised across fandom. But Kraus defends it, even though he admits how bad it is, he does try to shed some positivity on it, which I get and appreciate.
In the end, this book really is a celebrating of the original film, and especially the people behind it. Kraus has done more than his share of research on the subject, from older interviews and articles, press releases, countless fascinating items from Romero’s notes, to so much more. After reading this, I guarantee you’ll be busting out the film afterwards, or even before you finish! I know it gave me a reason to finally break out my newly purchased 4K edition of the movie.
In the very beginning of the book, there is this quote from George Romero that I feel really shows his love of cinema. And even if he hadn’t stuck to the horror genre, it shows that he understood the power of film and what it can do to you. So, thank you George for the work you’ve given us over your career. And thanks to Kraus for showing us just what Romero says in the below quote is so damn true.
“The first time you see a movie you say, ‘I like it.’ You’re not quite sure why. Watch it a second time.
You will either like it again or not like it. If you like it again, you will start to look at why you like it.
That’s where the understanding comes from. I tell you, I promise you, the fourth time you watch it, you weep.
The fifth time you watch it, you’re analyzing. The sixth time, all of a sudden, you get it.”
George Romero
