George A. Romero Biography (2)
Known for his intelligence, innovation and sensitivity as a filmmaker, in addition to his uncanny ability to scare, Romero made short films, industrials and commercials before co-writing, directing, filming and editing Night of the Living Dead. The film, made on a budget of $114,000, is a stark parable of the American family consuming itself and still retains the power to shock and surprise.
He did several additional low-budget films in Pittsburgh before solidifying his reputation as a master of the genre with remarkable films: Martin (1978), a lyrical, poignant and deeply disturbing story of a lonely boy who is convinced he is a vampire; and Dawn of the Dead (1979), set in a typical suburban shopping mall where a band of struggling survivors is beset by zombies and their own personal demons. A powerful, apocalyptic action film leavened with Romero's signature pitch-black wit, the movie became one of the most profitable independent productions in film history.
Romero continued to do interesting work throughout the '80s and '90s. His films during this period included Knightriders (1981), a heartfelt film based on Arthurian legend, in which Ed Harris played the leader of a troupe that stages medieval fairs with knights jousting on motorcycles instead of horses; Creepshow (1982), a smart and boldly stylized film was a more mainstream project, featuring a script by Stephen King, higher production values and a cast of well-known actors; and Day of the Dead (1985), a progressive, eerily claustrophobic film, which was the ostensible finale to Romero's zombie trilogy.
1988 brought the production of Monkey Shines (1988), Romero's first studio-developed film, which was hailed by Newsweek as a white-knuckle triumph. Two Evil Eyes (1990), a collaboration with Italian fright-meister Dario Argento, was comprised of two vignettes inspired by Edgar Allan Poe short stories. Stephen King and Romero teamed again in 1993 for The Dark Half, which starred Tim Hutton in a superb dual performance. The movie was praised by critics and is considered among the most thoughtful of the many Stephen King adaptations.
In 2000 Romero made Bruiser, a taut, frightening and highly original tale of revenge, which at the time was his most exciting, stylish and accomplished film.
Romero's latest film, Land of the Dead, starring Simon Baker, Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento, Robert Joy and John Leguizamo, is the first in a new series of heart-stopping zombie films and is bound to re-invent the franchise he invented. Produced by Mark Canton, Bernie Goldmann and Peter Grunwald, the Atmosphere Entertainment MM production is scheduled for release this summer by Universal Pictures.
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