George A. Romerowas an influential horror director active between the late 1960s and 2000s. He is particularly famous forhis zombie movies, most notably hisNight of the Living Deadseries, which practically spawned a subgenre all by itself. Above all,Romero was a highly creative filmmaker who excelled at creating immersive cinematic experiences despite the limited budgets of his early career.Indeed,with a budget of around $125,000and a worldwide gross estimated at $30m,Night of the Living Deadis one of the most profitable movies of all time.
For good reason, Romero has been nicknamed “the Godfather of the Dead”, though his filmography goes far beyond just zombie movies. He also made the cult dramaSeason of the Witch, the character study/psychological horrorMartin, and the charming anthology filmCreepshow, to name a few. At their best, Romero’s movies serve up pulpy thrills alongside surprisingly thoughtful themes, often revolving around capitalism and the more negative aspects of modern society. A true legend of the genre, Romero’s movies are sure to be referenced and emulated for decades to come.
10’Knightriders'
Released: 1981
“You got to fight for your ideals, and if you die, your ideals don’t die.“Knightridersrevolves around Billy (Ed Harris), a man who leads a group of modern-day knights that reenact jousting tournaments while living by a strict code of honor. The difference is that they ride motorcycles rather than horses. However, Billy’s vision of maintaining integrity clashes with the commercialization of their performances and internal power struggles within the group.
Here, Romero once again displays his enduring interest in portraying small communities as reflections of broader American society. But in contrast to most of his movies,Knightridersis fundamentally hopeful. It suggests that one can find happiness by staying authentic. The characters' struggles with money and fame feel less like political commentary and more reflective of Romero’s personal experiences as an artist. After all, he remained independent for most of his career, even though this meant that not all of his projects were successful.The result is a passion project that is rough around the edges but still charming.
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9’The Dark Half'
Released: 1993
“Most of us keep that inner being locked up, hidden away. A fiction writer doesn’t have to do that.“Based on the novel byStephen King,The Dark Halffollows Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton), a successful author who secretly writes violent crime novels under the pseudonym George Stark. When Thad decides to “kill off” Stark by revealing his true identity, he inadvertently unleashes a malevolent force as Stark comes to life, wreaking havoc on Thad’s life.
As people connected to Thad’s past are brutally murdered, he becomes the prime suspect, struggling to convince the authorities of his innocence while trying to contain his demonic creation.The film is over-long and the narrative is a bit of a mess, but it’s redeemed by Romero’s sharp direction, creative murder scenes reminiscent of classicgiallos, and a committed dual performance from Hutton.The villainous Stark is certainly against type for the actor. Plus, the climactic gore scene offers a satisfying payoff.
The Dark Half
A writer’s fictional alter ego wants to take over his life…at any price.
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8’The Crazies'
Released: 1973
“The virus… it’s in the water!” This horror-thriller tells the story of a virus outbreak in a small Pennsylvania town. Codenamed “Trixie”, the disease turns its victims into homicidal maniacs. Unsurprisingly, the town quickly descends into madness as the infection spreads. Amidst the panic, a group of survivors, including the local sheriff, his pregnant wife, a nurse, and a firefighter, join forces to evade both the infected and the military forces sent to contain the outbreak.
The cast comprises mostly amateurs but, despite the lack of star power, the performers turn in commendable performances, given a sense of realism by the lack of big, recognizable names. Still, the narrative is slight at times, and the effects are flimsy, reflecting the small budget. These elements would be improved upon with the 2010 remake. Nevertheless, Romero deserves props for ably building suspense despite his meager resources. His commentary here on war, scientific ethics, and the breakdown of societal norms in the face of apocalypse is also interesting.The Craziesis a misfire, but a creative one, anda terrifically underrated movie.
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7’Monkey Shines'
Released: 1988
“He had his little demon do it for him.” Allan Mann (Jason Beghe) becomes deeply depressed after an accident leaves him paralyzed from the neck down. Concerned about Allan’s well-being, his best friend Geoffrey (John Pankow) gifts him with a highly intelligent capuchin monkey named Ella to assist him. However, the bond between Allan and Ella takes a sinister turn when Allan’s suppressed anger begins to influence the monkey’s behavior.
Monkey Shinesis a unique mix of humor, charm, occasional frights, and overall strangeness.This is solid genre filmmaking, albeit with some limitations in content and intensity, most likely because it was Romero’s first studio film. Nevertheless, the stylish camera work, including point of view shots from the monkey’s perspective, is well done. Most of all, Romero’s direction is commendable for juggling contrasting tones simultaneously and (mostly) making them seem cohesive. In short, while far from a masterpiece,Monkey Shinessucceeds more than it should.
Released: 2005
“In a world where the dead are returning to life, the word ‘trouble’ loses much of its meaning.“Land of the Deadtakes place in a future where the remnants of humanity survive in fortified enclaves while hordes of zombies roam outside. A powerful businessman named Kaufman (Dennis Hopper) rules over the last remaining city, Fiddler’s Green, where the privileged few live in luxury while the less fortunate struggle in poverty.
A group of scavengers led by Riley (Simon Baker), and his tough-as-nails friend Cholo (John Leguizamo) plan to steal a truckload of supplies from Kaufman and escape to a rumored safe haven. However,their mission brings them up against threats both living and dead.Land of the Deadwas the first time that Romero worked with a substantial budget in over twenty years.He does the most with this larger canvas, merging gritty aesthetics with sharp themes of social division.The film marked a return to form for the director after 2000’s disappointingBruiser.
Land of the Dead
The living dead have taken over the world, and the last humans live in a walled city to protect themselves as they come to grips with the situation.
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5’Creepshow'
Released: 1982
“This is going to be extremely painful.” Creepshow isa comedy horror anthologythat pays homage to the classic EC Comics of the 1950s, includingThe Vault of HorrorandTales from the Crypt. It weaves together five macabre stories: “Father’s Day”, “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill”, “Something to Tide You Over”, “The Crate”, and “They’re Creeping Up on You!”, two of which were written by Stephen King. They offer up a smorgasbord of frights, from vengeful zombies rising from the grave to a mysterious crate harboring a bloodthirsty creature.
The tales range from the unsettling to the goofy, but they are united by frenetic energy and an anarchic sense of fun.Creepshowstands out with charming stars likeLeslie NielsenandTed Danson, along with its innovative practical effects and stylized cinematography reminiscent of comic book panels. As a result, it has aged better than most horrors of its era. Plus, Stephen King and his sonJoeshow up in small but memorable roles.
Released: 1977
“Most people spend their lives worrying about dying. For a long time, I wished I would die.” Martin (John Amplas) is a troubled young man who believes himself to be a vampire. He drinks the blood of his victims, but his gruesome behavior soon attracts the attention of his elderly cousin, Tata Cuda (Lincoln Maazel), who believes him to be a genuine vampire and seeks to destroy him.
Martinis an urban Gothic that showcases Romero’s ability to convey profound depth with minimal resources.There are many elements to admire here: the skillful editing, unflinching violence, complex character study, abundant social satire, and deliberate pacing. It starts out as something of a slow burn but builds up to an ending that strikes with all the force of a stake to the heart. In a lesser director’s hands, this could have been a forgettable B-movie, but Romero elevates it into something far more sophisticated.
Released: 1985
“We don’t have enough ammunition to shoot them all in the head.” While taking shelter in an underground military bunker, a tight-knit group of scientists and soldiers grapple with the relentless zombie outbreak that has engulfed the globe. As they strive to analyze and comprehend the nature of the undead, tensions escalate due to the growing authoritarianism among the military ranks.
Although it opened to a lukewarm reception,Day of the Deadhas gone on to become a cult film. Its devotees praise it for the score,Tom Savini’s remarkable special effects work, the relentlessly bleak atmosphere, andthe pessimistic themes about human nature. After all, rather than the zombies, the real threats here are human frailties. Indeed,Romero described the movie as"a tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse.“Not to mention, no other Romero film can top this one in terms of sheer gore and mayhem.
Day of the Dead
In Day of the Dead, a group of scientists and soldiers take refuge in an underground missile silo while attempting to manage the crisis of the undead overrunning the world. As tensions rise, they must balance survival against the horrors above and the mounting pressure within their ranks.
Released: 1978
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“Every dead body that is not exterminated becomes one of them. It gets up and kills!” Set in a world ravaged by the undead,Dawn of the Deadcenters on a crew of survivors who take refuge in a shopping mall. Among them are two SWAT officers (Ken ForeeandScott Reiniger), a helicopter traffic reporter (David Emge), and his girlfriend (Gaylen Ross). They band together to defend their newfound sanctuary against the relentless onslaught of the dead.
Dawn of the Deadfires on all cylinders, from the acting (uniformly great) to the plot (nonstop) to the themes (surprisingly smart) and the gore (delectably over-the-top).It features perhaps the most iconic headshot in zombie history, where a cranium practically erupts into smithereens…you’ll know it when you see it. In terms of subtext, the movie takes shots at consumerism and the dull conformity of mass culture, with the zombie shoppers looking not that much more braindead than their living counterparts. Sure,Dawn of the Deadisn’t subtle, but when a movie is this fun, it doesn’t need to be.
Dawn of the Dead
A nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall.
Released: 1968
“They’re coming to get you, Barbra!” When it comes to Romero’s defining movie, it’s hard to make a case for anything other thanNight of the Living Dead. This lean, mean, microbudget horror established the blueprint for the modern zombie film, doing for the living dead whatDraculadid for vampires. It’s a simple story about a group of strangers who become trapped in a farmhouse besieged by reanimated corpses hungry for human flesh. But what the movie lacks in scale it makes up for in creativity and bold vision. There’s no shortage of impactful, iconic imagery here, and Romero dishes it up by the plateful.
Sure,Night of the Living Deadfeels a little dated now, but that’s only because its DNA has permeated the horror genre so thoroughly that it’s hard to see how groundbreaking it was for its day.Almost allthe key zombie tropesoriginate here, like zombies being slow, being dimwitted, craving human flesh, and being vulnerable to having their heads destroyed. Indeed, Romero almost single-handedly conjured up the zombie mythology. AsThe Walking Dead’s head of special effects,Greg Nicotero,once said: “George made up the rules.” Horror filmmakers today continue to play them.
