Dundead Halloween: The Return of the Living Dead with live drag performance

Part of Dundead Halloween 2026, a selection of films and events celebrating horror, cult and weird cinema at the spookiest time of year. See all five films with a Dundead Halloween Pass (excludes Phantom event) or book individual tickets. Priority booking is available for DCA Members now (make sure you are logged in to book), with passes and tickets on general sale from Mon 7 September at 10:00. 

After our sell-out screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show last year, we're delighted to be welcoming Climax Dundee back to introduce this screening and start the night with live drag performances from Eden Spaghetti and Transhausen by Proxy. 

The Return of the Living Dead is the directorial debut of Dan O’Bannon, who is probably best known to genre fans as the writer of the original Alien film. Tonally, The Return of the Living Dead is about as far from that 1979 xenomorph classic as possible. 

While Alien has a certain moody sleekness of design and storytelling, The Return of the Living Dead is pure gaudy shlock. A wilfully daft 80s punk zombie comedy with equal helpings of gags and gore. As the original poster promised – “THEY’RE BACK FROM THE GRAVE AND READY TO PARTY!”

A hapless pair of warehouse employees accidentally kick off a chain of events that soon lead to a full-scale zombie insurgence, and humanity’s hopes seem to rest in the hands a gaggle of leather-and-mohawk 80s punks, a few gormless idiots, and one eccentric tracksuit-wearing, pipe-smoking, Lueger-wielding Nazi mortician. 

There is some satire among the slapstick silliness, including a barnstormingly entertaining finale, but mostly this is trashy, broad and very fun. The Return of the Living Dead is also notable for a genuine development in horror and pop culture history; it is apparently the first film to feature zombies who groan for “brraaiiinnnns”.

Scored by an immortally cool punk/psychobilly soundtrack (featuring The Cramps, The Flesh Eaters and Tall Boys), The Return of the Living Dead has rib-tickling gags and gut-churning gore by the bucketload. 

Come dressed in your best 80s style and get ready for a night of laughs and scares, plus an incredible show from Climax Dundee.