George A. Romero made a lot of important zombie films, but these are his 3 real masterpieces

If you know George A. Romero For something, these are probably his zombie films. The word “zombie” had existed before Romero begins to make feature films, but it has somehow codified the monster as it is now understood, his films differing history like 1932 White zombie and 1943 I walked with a zombieWhich had more to do with voodoo magic than on corpses. Of course, nowadays, zombies are sometimes created due to a viral epidemic (see 28 days later And The last of us), but these creatures are always considered zombies. As cinematographic monsters, they are versatile of origin and capacity, and it all depends on the story told. Indeed, Romero himself used zombies in a slightly different way in the six zombie films that he ended up making, because these films focus on different characters and often vary tonnely. Sometimes the zombies are used to make a kind of satirical point on society, while at other times, there is less comedy, and the accent has the impression that it is more on survival rather than anything else.

Of these six zombie films, three are classics and the other three … Well, one of them is worth watching, at least. 2005 Land of the Dead deserves a little more credit than it often gets, but in 2007 Journal of the Dead and 2009 Survival of the dead prove a little more difficult to defend. In addition, it should be noted that George A. Romero did more than making zombie films, because his filmography includes a surprisingly good Stephen King Adaptation (Half the dark), an offbeat action / dramatic film (Knights), and some horror films not linked to the zombie, as The madmen (1973). As for his best films, or those that most resemble classics? They were his first three zombie filmsAnd they are classified below as equitably as possible. Although it is difficult to do, since they are all great. Perhaps the essential to be stressed is that if you like zombie movies, or just horror in general, and you don’t watch them, you should really do it a priority.

3

“Day of the Dead” (1985)

Featuring: Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato

Day of the dead May be counted among the most uncomfortable and desperate zombie films ever made. It is still quite entertaining, but you must have a strong stomach to cross it, due to the claustrophobic, the grime and, ultimately, it is bloody. Day of the dead Produced a good time in a zombie apocalypse, instantly creating a feeling of despair and things that are almost entirely dead in the world. The central group of survivors here passes a large part of the film in an underground refuge, some of them being scientists and others being soldiers, and saying that they do not see each other would be a massive euphemism. Tensions are built throughout Day of the deadAnd we hope that it is not a spoiler to suggest that, at one point, all the hell stands out underground, and the zombies are made more horrible because there are apparently even fewer places where to run than usual.

The escape is not an option in more than one title, throughout Day of the dead. It is an intense film that makes you sit with disturbing feelings, while refusing to relax. There is a potential element of a soft camp in the first Romero zombie film which could provide a certain relief I have gone everything on depression, bloodshed and nihilism for his third main zombie film. However, if you appreciate a good horror film of splash, there could be pleasure in having with the more -nauque moments of Day of the deadEven if you have to make sure you don’t eat anything by looking at these parts. Also, Day of the dead could well have the most memorable zombie character in any film Romero, Bub, which displays an alarming intelligence and a greater emotion capacity than any zombie previously seen.

2

‘Night of the Living Dead’ (1968)

Featuring: Judith O’Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman

The one who started everything, with regard to the zombie film in its current form Night of the Living Dead It certainly resembles a film B in games, but not in a harmful way. Part of the writing and the game can be a little higher than seen in his subsequent zombie films, but many Night of the Living Dead feels closer to Timeless. There is something disturbing about it, and the black and white visuals probably help. It is grainy, dark, intimate and, as Day of the deadQuite claustrophobic. It takes place mainly inside an isolated farm, where survivors hold, although this location is not as disturbing as the underground bunker of this 1985 film (even if it technically offers less space). But don’t be mistaken, it’s the premise. Night of the Living Dead is simple. There are survivors in a house, there are swarms of zombies outside, and everything is a fight for survival.

The basic story here is always attractive and engaging, and there is a reason why so many other zombie films focus on a main site defended throughout. He has good dramas and tensions, and offers survivors many opportunities to compete as often as they come up against the deceptions of the undead. Night of the Living Dead is not as dark as Day of the dead Throughout, but he certainly has his desperate moments, especially in the back half. It is always quite depressing, in the end, and it is to its advantage. It was Shocking and without compromise for 1968, and although it is a little less intense today, it always has a certain bite due to its desire to push the limits. In addition, you just have to respect it for helping to define one of the most popular sub-genres in the history of horror films.

1

“Dawn of the dead” (1978)

Featuring: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger

A unique and stimulating horror film, Dawn of the dead (1978) could well be the biggest zombie film ever made, and it makes it easy to distinguish the biggest than George A. Romero also achieved. Deducting the premise here is simple, as it was the case with Day of the dead And Night of the Living Deadseeing like Dawn of the dead Also follows a group of survivors who try, you know, to survive. What stands out here is the relatively small size of the group, because there are only four main characters in total, which means that they are developed and humanized a little more than your character in the average zombie film. In addition, they choose an ideal place (cinematographically speaking) Hold on and defend yourself against zombie hordes: a shopping center, with countless stores and objects to use against zombie attackers… And, ultimately, perhaps also human threats.

Everything is extremely entertaining, but not without darker moments here and there. Everything is extremely well balanced Dawn of the deadBecause it strikes a ton of different emotional beats while feeling difficult to predict and fun, in a way. It is the oldest of the zombie films in Romero (however, once again, not exactly a comedy throughout), and I felt a massive evolution on a filmmaker / technical front, compared to Night of the Living Dead. Day of the dead I might still have had better special effects, of course (This Savin worked on both and has really increased his game with the 1985 film), but Dawn of the dead is more convincing and looks like the film zombie par excellence. If you want to see the birth of the modern zombie film, Night of the Living Dead is the one to look at. But if you want to see the sophisticated zombie sub-genre, then Dawn of the dead is the best bet.

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