George Romero (1940-1017)

Going though the long origins of zombies I had to spend a long chunk going through George Romero's work and I couldn't help but admire him. He left the biggest stamp on zombies since their Haitian origins and re-formatted them into their modern incarnation. But that wasn't what I liked about Romero, I like that from his roots as ad producer (which explains his great editing) he consistently tried to make his own films, his friends, his Pittsberg. The Living Dead trilogy, Martin, Season of the Witch, Knightriders are all products of Romero and products of someone from the 'counter-culture'. Early Cronenberg films has that same feel.

Is there a recent horror film you admire so much that you wish you had directed it?

Romero: No. I don't like the new trends in horror. All this torture stuff seems really mean-spirited. People have forgotten how to laugh, and I don't see anybody who's using it as allegory.

What do you think of the way other directors have handled the zombie genre, which you essentially created? 

Romero: I don't rush out to see those films. I have a particular use for them. If there's something I'd like to criticize, I can bring the zombies out. And I get the financing that way. So I've been able to express my political views through those films.

Those are the words of an cynical, out-of-touch old man. Surely some of the post-Living Dead movies on my Top 20 list (https://roadtonowhere.forumotion.org/t127-my-top-20-zombie-films) are worthy of consideration? Yet, there is truth to that blanket dismal. The right-wing tide of zombie media has so saturated America that Romero's inital counter-cultural intentions have been swept away.

Q. Did Fred Rogers help you as a filmmaker?
A. He was the first guy who would hire me. Everyone from Pittsburgh who I know from that period, who is still working in the business in any capacity, started with Fred. Fred was so supportive of people.

Q. What in the world did Fred Rogers think about “Dawn of the Dead”?
A. He said (Romero does a pretty good Fred Rogers imitation) “It’s a lot of fun, George.” He liked “Night” a lot, too. But he wouldn’t let me use Lady Aberlin. She was the actress I wanted for “Night of the Living Dead.”

Mr.Rogers is close to being an actually saint in my books and the fact that George Romero got his start working in Mr. Roger's Neighbourhood is one of incongruous facts that resolves itself the more you understand what both men were doing. Both men were fighting hatred and conformity using the most powerful tool on Earth - the US media.

Redlettermedia has posted a review of Martin in honor of Romero's passing. I share their love for that film and their review coincides closely enough with my own feelings. If they hadn't mentioned Matin's amazing soundtrack, I might not have posted it.... It ends with a tribute to Romero.



Romero took up Canadian citizenship in 2009. He died in Toronto.