May 3, 2026 · Mary Wisniewski

In “Partially Devoured," Chicago writer Daniel Kraus brings a microscopic point of view to George A. Romero's classic 1968 film, "Night of the Living Dead.”

Kraus answers these questions in loving, exquisite, almost-excessive detail in “Partially Devoured: How ‘Night of the Living Dead’ Saved My Life and Changed the World.” I say “almost excessive” because when you start the book, you wonder, “Do I care that it takes sixty-four seconds to hear the first sound effect—tires on pavement?” But fifty pages later, you do care, because you’re hooked on Kraus’ microscopic point of view. Having watched the film about 300 times, Kraus makes the case that “Night” is art and it’s worth looking at frame by frame. Like the George A. Romero film, Kraus’ book is a work of quirky genius.