Zombie like flesh! (From Diary of the Dead) Today, George A. Romero bequeaths to us "Diary of the Dead," the fifth in his signature "Dead" series that began with the 1968 classic, "Night of the Living Dead." Before you lurch out to see this latest apocalyptic installment, you'd better brush up on your zombie knowledge, so the horror-nerd sitting behind you doesn't pour fake blood on your popcorn. First, Romero's "Dead" series should not be confused with John A. Russo's "Return of the Living Dead" movies, which mix playful brain-eating zombies with the teen sex and underage drinking that defined the frightfests of the 80s. For one thing, Russo's zombies were infected by 2-4-5 trioxin, while Romero's ghouls became zombies from exposure to radiation from an exploded space probe. Some handy zombie trivia to impress your fellow movie-goers: Both the horror-punk band The Misfits and the alt hip-hop band G. Love and Special Sauce released homages to Romero's flicks (in 1979 and 2001, respectively). More than anything, remember that Romero's films brought dignity and intellect to an often corny genre. Throughout the series, zombies serve as a metaphor for our often dull and meaningless modern existences. As Barbara realizes at the end of the 1990 remake, "They're us. We're them, and they're us." Suggested Sites... MySpace: Diary of the Dead - official page for George A. Romero's zombie apocalypse film. Includes trailers, behind the scenes videos, and a horror short film contest. Romero Talks Diary! - video interview with George A. Romero in which he discusses his latest, "Diary of the Dead." Homepage of the Dead - overview of all of the films from the series as well as articles, fan fiction, art, games, and forums. Internet Archive: Night of the Living Dead - watch the 1968 zombie masterpiece. Wikipedia: Living Dead - article about Romero's "Dead" series with sections on remakes, the Russo-inspired "Living Dead" series, and Romero vs. Russo zombies.

Directory categories: George A. Romero's "Dead" Series, "Return of the Living Dead" Series, Zombies, Zombie Theory

Archived under: Death, Directors, Entertainment, Horror Films, Monsters and Creatures, Movies, Mythology and Folklore, Zombies

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