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By Felix Vasquez Jr. |
In an interview with George A. Romero, the director revealed that he plans to release the sequel to “Diary of the Dead” which will follow the Southern Bell Ridley who blasted off in the climax and is likely meet up with “familiar” characters to survive in that sweet RV. |
So as the release of the controversial “Diary of the Dead” finally slams down our doors, why not just revisit the “Dead” series to whet your appetite? You’ve heard it all before, so I’ll be sure to make this as original as possible.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) allegedly borrowed much of its influences from “The Last Man on Earth,” and it’s a film many, many horror geeks continue to re-watch and discover new things about. For example, last year I was told that the torch lighting the bodies was a KKK flag wrapped up and burning over Ben’s body, and upon further examination I was shocked to see that it was. Romero continues to deny that he cast Ben for social and racial commentary, but I think it’s just George being a brat, because there are just too many instances of racial undertones to pretend it was all so coincidental. Incidentally, “Night” is being re-released yet again on DVD for the 40th Anniversary, so revisit the public domain horror classic before its remade again by some Hollywood hack or indie director.
How did this not make it on “AFI’s 100 Greatest Movies” list? It boggles the mind.
Dawn of the Dead (1978) is probably my favorite of the series. I constantly jump back and forth between this and “Night” but watching the bold greens and blues matched with the sharp commentary about consumerism and war of the races, I always jump back to “Dawn,” if not for the chaotic Helter Skelter that Romero unleashes on the first thirty minutes that ensure a heart pounding, brutally nerve wracking introduction into a world that’s falling to pieces not just because of the walking dead, but because society is still allowing race, and gender to separate each other. Here, Romero takes the stance that zombie fans have since posed since its initial release. If a zombie apocalypse brought down the world, where would you set down to survive? I am a pure fanatic for all post-apocalyptic fiction, and “Dawn” really never fails to be darkly funny, and terrifying. Get ready for a 3D version coming our way, fan boys!
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