WFG RATING: A

A Tubi presentation of an Enlighten Content production. Directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska. Produced by Tara Cowell-Plain. Written by Miriam Lyapin and Helen Marsh; based on “Night of the Living Dead” by George A. Romero and John A. Russo. Cinematography by Tony Mirza. Edited by David Trevail.

Stars Ashley Moore, Andre Anthony, Camren Bicondova, Shiloh O’Reilly, Gage Marsh, Christian Rose, Maia Jae Bastidas, and Keana Lyn Bastidas.

Jen and Sylvia Soska’s long-awaited legacy sequel to Night of the Living Dead has arrived and it is a hell of a night for this group…literally!

It’s been fifty-five years since the Living Dead first invaded small-town America. For the last few years, on the anniversary of the event, a music festival is held simply titled “Festival of the Living Dead”. It also happens to be Ash’s birthday, and original plans to babysit her little brother Luke and spend time with her bestie Iris is about to change. Her boyfriend Kevin, his brother Ty, and his friends Destiny and Lindsay invite Ash to the festival this year and she’s willing to go after Iris offers to watch Luke.

However, this is going to be one festival that will not be forgotten. Radioactive dust from a meteor has resulted in festival goers slowly turning into zombies. When Iris is convinced by wheelchair-bound friend Blaise to bring Luke to find Ash, they find themselves in the middle of the infestation. Soon enough, when the group of survivors come together, bonds are set to be broken but could the group overcome their differences to survive the night?

1968’s Night of the Living Dead redefined the world of zombies thanks to the iconic George A. Romero. The topic would soon be used in various films throughout the years in many ways. While Romero have done sequels (Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead) and the original film getting a reboot in 1990 courtesy of SFX icon Tom Savini, Jen and Sylvia Soska decide to unleash a “legacy” sequel that pays homage to the original film that works totally well.

Ashley Moore is excellent in the role of Ash, who is revealed to be the granddaughter of Ben, who had been a part of the original invasion and was played by the late Duane Jones. She is somewhat headstrong but when it comes to her relationship with football player Kevin, played by Gage Marsh, it sort of takes over her life where it tends to sometimes break with her bestie Iris, played by Gotham’s Selina Kyle, Camren Bicondova. The bond between the two best friends seem to slowly break on part because of the new relationship.

While two sisters in the film (not the Soskas, who actually make a cameo in the film) tend to be somewhat throwaway characters who you can guess re-appear later in the film, the one character that is so loathsome is that of Andre Anthony’s Ty. As Kevin’s older brother, he tends to be such a total creep in the vein on Train to Busan’s Yong-suk and acts like it too. Christian Rose’s wheelchair bound Blaise clearly has a crush on Iris and wants to tell her but always finds the worst time to attempt his feelings out. Kudos also goes out to Shiloh O’Reilly’s Luke, Ash’s little brother, who is scared and goes through a bit of a crisis affecting his health in the midst of the chaos. However, one scene shows that he can be just as headstrong as his big sister and even their grandpa.

Festival of the Living Dead is fun, wild, insane, and all-around Soska Sisters madness that did its job in paying homage to the original film. If you are a fan of anything in the Living Dead world, add this to your watchlist.

The film is now streaming on Tubi.