Night of the Animated Dead

John and Barbara visit their father's grave in Pennsylvania, hoping to pay their respects in peace. However, their tranquility is shattered when they encounter a harrowing sight—the dead rising from their graves, filled with unnatural rage.

During their visit, John is suddenly attacked by an undead creature. This brutal encounter forces Barbara to flee in search of safety, leading her to a nearby farmhouse in a panic.

As Barbara seeks refuge in the farmhouse, she stumbles upon a gruesome scene—a woman lying lifeless, a victim of the chaos outside. The horrific sight leaves her in shock, unable to process the carnage happening around her.

Just as Barbara is grappling with the overwhelming shock, Ben arrives, seeking safety from the undead. He recounts the harrowing encounter at Beekman's Diner, highlighting how a propane truck ignited flames that attracted more undead.

Ben figures out that the undead have a unique fear of fire, which gives him a vital advantage in their desperate fight for survival. This newfound knowledge becomes a crucial element for their defense strategy against the relentless attackers.

Ben quickly assembles a group of survivors, including Harry, Helen, and their injured daughter Karen, along with Tom and Judy. This collaboration serves as both a comfort and a source of conflict as survival instincts clash within the group.

Tensions heighten as Ben and Harry disagree on their survival approach. While Ben advocates for fortifying the farmhouse against the undead, Harry insists on retreating to the cellar, setting off a confrontation fueled by desperate instincts.

News reports reveal the terrifying scale of the undead invasion along the Eastern seaboard. They convey the chaos and rampant destruction unfolding in communities, providing a stark backdrop to the harrowing experiences of the survivors.

Realizing they need to refuel to escape, the group formulates a plan to visit a nearby gas pump. However, this venture is fraught with danger as they prepare to fend off the undead with makeshift torches.

As they execute their plan, a tragic spill ignites the truck, leading to a devastating explosion that takes Tom and Judy's lives. The horrifying scene amplifies the chaos, forcing Ben to rush back to the farmhouse amid the destruction.

Returning to the farmhouse, Ben finds himself locked out by Harry, who is now armed and threatening him. Ignoring Harry's warnings, Ben breaks in, resulting in a fierce struggle as both men fight for control over their fate.

As the chaos escalates, Sheriff McClelland organizes a posse to hunt down the undead. Meanwhile, relationships among the survivors unravel further as Ben kills Harry in the struggle, leaving the group reeling from loss.

Helen discovers her daughter Karen feasting on Harry's corpse, transforming into a terrifying undead creature. In a moment of sheer horror, Karen attacks Helen with a gardening tool, cementing their grim fate.

With the undead overwhelming the farmhouse, Barbara succumbs to the chaos, prompting Ben to search for refuge in the basement. In a desperate attempt to survive, he faces the former lives of those he cared about, now turned undead.

As dawn breaks, Sheriff McClelland’s posse arrives to take down the remaining zombies. However, Ben's attempts to signal them go tragically wrong, culminating in his own death at the hands of Vince, adding his body to the pyre of fallen corpses.