It’s the Booze Talkin’, We want to see Romero return to political horror!

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

One of my earliest memories of falling in love with horror was a certain iconic zombie flick. It was a day such as this, a gloomy sort of Los Angeles morning, and the shades were all shut on the windows to keep the place especially dark. On a crappy TV was the classic zombie thriller NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Some of you may remember the old creature features that would run on television in the afternoon. They would offer scary movies with a ton of commercials and a comically ghoulish host. For me, watching Barbara run from the man in the cemetery was one of the most influential moments of my young life. Not only did I become a major genre fan, I also discovered that I loved the haunting atmosphere of the local graveyard and all things spooky.

At the time, I became an instant zombie movie fan. Yet my immature mind only saw the undead chewing on flesh, and the horror of having someone you love viciously attack you because of whatever the hell that radiation was. What I didn’t realize was the incredible statements this tiny film made. Politically speaking, I was far too concerned with playing at a local park than realizing the significance of what George A. Romero had to say as a filmmaker. For starters, the image of the one surviving character being mistaken for a ghoul, only to be shot and killed. And this character happened to be African American at a very tumultuous time for race relations in America. The most chilling aspects of this cult classic came from the final scenes when the zombies suddenly appear to be victimized by the rifle carrying vigilantes who enjoyed the kills far too much.

It didn’t stop there. Romero took it one step further with DAWN OF THE DEAD. This sharp satire on humanity and consumerism was a breathe of fresh air for horror fans. Romero wasn’t the first filmmaker to bring a political slant to his work, not even close, but he certainly did it well. DAY OF THE DEAD featured a zombie that clearly had more soul and understanding than nearly every single living character, a lovable guy named Bub. And even with the more recent outings, LAND OF THE DEAD, DIARY OF THE DEAD and SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, there was something to be said about the state of the world. Romero’s post-9/11 effort, LAND OF THE DEAD, was an especially wicked take on the rich and powerful, and the lack of empathy for those in need.

It wasn’t just the zombie apocalypse that inspired Mr. Romero. MARTIN took on an unusual approach to vampire lore, one that could be a metaphor for mental health and loneliness. And much like the zombie outbreak that filled his resume, THE CRAZIES took on the insanity of a massive outbreak and the damage it can cause on society. The director has never shied away from taking on serious subjects under the guise of a gruesome horror show, and that may be why his work holds up as well as it does.

And here we are in 2017, dealing with an intense divide in the good old US of A. Whatever side you are on, it is very likely that it has affected your own life with friends and family. Yes it is a scary time, so much so that I’d be more than curious to see what Romero could create. Whether it would be another zombie flick, or perhaps something a little more in the vein of THE CRAZIES, what could this master of fright bring us? We are most assuredly going to see more hot button scares with the current state of affairs, and of course with the success of GET OUT, it is clear that audiences are ready for it. What I wouldn’t give to see George A. Romero’s take on the madness at hand.

Maybe it’s the booze talkin’, but I’d love to see Romero return to gore infused political satire. Hell, as a fan of the filmmaker, I’d just be happy to just see another film from him. However, I feel that he rarely just does a film for the sake of grossing his audience out. He wants to do more, and he isn’t afraid to let his own interests as a storyteller with insight on the human condition lead him through. The beauty of his work is that you don’t have to agree with him when it comes to his leanings, but it sure makes his features all the more intriguing. I’d love to hear what he has to say about the insanity we are currently living in.