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George Romero: Are Zombie Films Really Dead?

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I’ve always been a huge fan of George Romero. And if you’re a fan of any sort of zombie films, you should be, too. The director changed the face of the zombie forever with his 1968 indie flick Night of the Living Dead. Everything since has just been more or less been trying to recreate the magic of that black and white masterpiece.

The impact of the film is still being felt today. The popularity of films such as World War Z and television shows like The Walking Dead are proof enough. But despite their popularity, George Romero has been finding some difficulty getting his own ideas out to the public. Is he a victim of his own creation?

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director makes it very clear that he has, in fact, been pushed out. To quote:

Hollywood Reporter: Do you have thoughts on the future of the Dead franchise?

Romero: I’ve sort of dropped out of it. The Dead are everywhere these days. I think really Brad Pitt killed it. The Walking Dead and Brad Pitt just sort of killed it all. The remake of Dawn of the Dead made money. I think pretty big money. Then Zombieland made money, and then all of a sudden, along comes Brad Pitt and he spends $400 million or whatever the hell to do World War Z. [World War Z author] Max Brooks is a friend of mine, and I thought the film was not at all representative what the book was and the zombies were, I don’t know, ants crawling over the wall in Israel. Army ants. You might as well make The Naked Jungle. As far as I’m concerned, I’m content to wait until sort of zombies die off. My films, I’ve tried to put a message into them. It’s not about the gore, it’s not about the horror element that are in them. It’s more about the message, for me. That’s what it is, and I’m using this platform to be able to show my feelings of what I think.

This certainly is concerning, and the sadness behind these words is overwhelming. Romero’s films are some of the best that the horror genre has to offer. Regardless, it seems as if the passage of time has started to bury the filmmaker’s influence in favor of a more modernized, bubblegum-type zombie.

Zombies really are everywhere. Like the movies, they’ve been slowly closing in on pop culture until that final moment when we are completely overrun. Plants Vs. Zombies. Pride + Prejudice + Zombies. iZombie. The list goes on.

Romero has a point – mostly. It appears that if the image of the zombie has become so iconic that the idea of the undead being a vessel for a metaphor has become old news. Dawn of the Dead was a cynical outlook on consumerism. The creatures here flocked to shopping malls and trudged around mindlessly, much like the media had been commanding them to do throughout most of their lives. With each film, George Romero had been making a statement. These were personal films, ones with meaning and depth. And while I certainly did enjoy Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, it was mindless fun at best.

I do agree with the Night of the Living Dead creator for the most part. I understand what he is saying about feeling like he has been abandoned by all of these people who have taken influence from him, knowingly or not. However, I think there’s also something that needs to be said about this.

The difference between The Walking Dead and almost every other zombie-themed movie, book, or game, is that the strongest part about it is the human element. For all of the Walkers that can be found in TWD, it’s proven – especially by Negan – that even in a world infested with flesh eaters, the real monsters are still the people. It has always worked best when there is a strong element of human drama. When major characters die, the ratings skyrocket. Which is fine. That’s what happens with a good drama.

The Walking Dead understands human tragedy so much that I’ve heard many people call it a “Soap Opera with zombie cameos – which, in my book, is fine. It’s crossed more than one boundary and upset its fair share of people. Yet, the reason it remains so popular is because of the cast. Maybe the show isn’t making a political statement like Romero, but there is undoubtedly more to the show than just Walkers.

Again, it’s important to note that the show is the exception and not the rule. Zombies elsewhere have taken on a silly, comical appeal. More often than not, the undead rising from the graves are depicted in horror comedies. The more outrageous, and the more you can satirize the idea of a zombie, the better a movie seems to do. It’s an incredibly strange and unexpected trend.

I think that Romero still has it in him to make a good film. I truly do. He’s a smart, likable guy. We just need people to keep his name alive and to keep reminding everyone where The Walking Dead and World War Z came from in the first place. Despite the overabundance of zombies in this day and age, it seems pretty lonely without George A. Romero.

Demand his movies. Wear your Night of the Living Dead shirts. Help keep zombie films…human.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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