Left 4 Dead (1987 film)

1987 poster

**Left 4 Dead** is a 1987 American horror action film directed, written, produced, and starring George Johnson. It also stars Northern Calloway, Richard Knott, and Rebecca Butler as four survivors killing zombies and infected people. This film not only became a huge hit in regular movie theaters, but it became a hit in drive-in theaters. It was to spawn sequels, video games, and even TV series.

## Cast

* George Johnson as Francis
* Richard Knott as Bill
* Northern Calloway as Louis
* Rebecca Butler as Zoey
* Joe Derita as Boomer
* Betty Anderson as Witch
* Trinidad Silva as Smoker
* Burt Kwouk as Hunter
* Lou Ferrigno as Tank
* Dean Paul Martin as News Chopper 5 Pilot

## Production

### Development

In 1986, while George Johnson was in a production of The Wild House Party 2: The Party's Back, his wife persuaded him to watch Dawn of the Dead. After watching this movie, Johnson was hooked. He decided to put The Wild House Party 2 on hold and make a new movie.

One character that has been removed from the final cut was Screamer, a noisy special infected character. Although actress Emily Matthews was cast in the role, but all of her scenes were ultimately cut from the film, and were never released until 2017, when Left 4 Dead's 30th Anniversary on Blu-Ray was released.

### Casting

Although actor Michael N. Richardson really wanted to play the role of Francis. But for unknown reasons, George Johnson decided to play Francis. Jason Miller was considered for the role of Bill, but Johnson turn him down because he not old enough to play the role. His longtime friend actor Richard Knott was selected to play Bill. Betty Anderson has selected the role of Witch. Dana Plato was considered for the role of Zoey, but her mother refused to allow her to screen test after reading the script. On the final day of casting, Northern Calloway & Rebecca Butler joined the cast as Louis and Zoey.

### Filming

Principal photography began on November 14, 1986, on Staten Island, New York. The hospital scene was filmed at Staten Island University Hospital on November 27, 1986. Principal photography finally ended on January 22, 1987.

### Post-production

After a test screening of the film in July 1987, Johnson and the studio decided to reshoot the ending with a different plot. The original ending was abandoned after Richard Knott declined to reprise the role of Bill for the sequel when his older brother passed away from cancer. In the original ending, Bill and the three remaining survivors successfully make it to the bridge by restarting the generator. They all escape on a boat to go to the island.

Bernard Matthews, the father of Emily Matthews who played Screamer, passed away during Left 4 Dead's post-production. Dean Paul Martin, who played News Chopper 5 Pilot, died on March 21, 1987, at the age of 35, also during post-production. After the passing of both Matthews' father and Martin, Johnson initially did not want to continue filming as he needed some time to grieve. However, the studio insisted on continuing with the production, and as a result, the entire ending was re-shot in August 1987 with a new plot. In this new ending, Bill is killed by Tank and others, leaving only three survivors on the bridge. The re-edited version of the film, including the new ending, was submitted to the MPAA in the same month, and it received an R rating after the review.

## Release

*Left 4 Dead* was released on October 15, 1987, in the United States.

### Home media

The film was released by Orion Home Video on January 23, 1988, on VHS, Beta, and Laserdisc. It was re-released on VHS for its 10th Anniversary on March 23, 1998.

In 2017, Shout! Factory, released the Left 4 Dead's 30th Anniversary on Blu-Ray, that features bloopers, deleted scenes, documentary of the film, and the original ending before it was reshot.

## Video game

A Shoot 'em Up game was based on the film published by LJN for NES in April 1988, a few months after the VHS release. In 1994, Left 4 Dead: The Interactive Adventure was released for both Sega CD and 3DO. This FMV game was developed by George Johnson Interactive, Absolute Entertainment (Sega CD version), and Interplay Productions (3DO version) and published by Sega (Sega CD version), and Acclaim Distribution (3DO version).

## Sequels

The film has gone on to spawn multiple sequels and a television series.

### Left 4 Dead 2

After Left 4 Dead became the best film of 1987, George Johnson and his son Daniel Johnson, begin to have plans to make a sequel to that film. They made *Left 4 Dead 2*, which is still becoming a huge success.

### Left 4 Dead: The TV Mini-Series

George Johnson Entertainment produced the television mini-series, Left 4 Dead: The TV Mini-Series. That lasted from 1990 to 1991.

### Left 4 Dead 3: Back 4 Blood

In 1996, George Johnson who recently recovered from lung cancer begin plans to make a second sequel to that film titled *Left 4 Dead 3: Back 4 Blood*.

### Future

In early October 2022, George Johnson's younger son, Derby Georgy Johnson, announced that he will make a third sequel to the film titled *Left 4 Dead 4: The Reunion*.

In mid-October 2022, Hailey Matthews will reprise her role as Rochelle, after that Michael N. Richardson will finally play Francis in the film, Betty Anderson will reprise her role as Witch, Chris Knowings will play Louis' son, Ron, and Rebecca Butler will reprise her role as Zoey, and Derby will produce and direct this film. Dennis Simmons who played Nick will reprise the role. They will begin filming in March 2023.

But in May 2023, the production of Left 4 Dead 4: The Reunion had to be put on hold due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Matthews decided to support the strike by picketing. The production of Left 4 Dead 4: The Reunion will be resumed when the strike ends. On September 29, after the WGA strike ended, They went back to the film's production.

On October 25, 2023, the production was finally completed. And post-production begins the following day.

It was announced the movie would be released in Summer 2024.

## Gallery

*Main article: Left 4 Dead (1987 film)/Gallery*