No one knew what to expect when Night of the Living Dead debuted in 1968. More than five decades later, this low-budget independent movie still hasn't lost its power or influence: Night of the Living Dead became the prototype for how to make a modern horror masterpiece. This was the film that proved the genre could deliver much more than goofy monsters, bad special effects, and a few cheap thrills. It was as thought-provoking as it was gruesome.