When There's No More Shrooms In Hell...

As a self-proclaimed film buff, I proudly admit to being a George Romero apologist. While many across the globe sing the praises of Star Wars, I champion the Dead saga of zombie films to be the finest genre cinematic experiences of my lifetime. Unlike the horde of non-Romero zombie romps, George Romero uses his gore fests to express a viewpoint in relation to the world as he see it at that time. A series of zombie allegories, if you will.

I have come to notice two things in watching many of George Romero's non-undead films. First, they never seem to be of the same level of quality as his zombie films. Secondly, his films are still filled with bigger ideas that, while not always perfectly executed, are ambitious as one could ask. Rather than just simply go for shock, he uses explicit violence and gore as part of a greater whole to examine a real world issue through fantasy.

Martin is kind of a more personal idea about a social misfit. The main character is basically a loner with inward tendencies who happens to kill people and drink their blood under the misconception that he is actually a vampire. Rather than follow the popular vampire lore, the character Martin is basically just a disturbed person living in a dying town that is crumbling around him. More than just a standard horror movie, Martin is kind of a character study about someone reacting to their familial and societal surroundings.

The other film that comes to mind is The Crazies. It is sort of a generic title and the end results kind of being fitting, but the ideas are much larger than the execution. In the same vein as the "atomic scare" films of the 1950's, The Crazies tackles subject matter that is found in Alex Jones' daily discussions involving vaccinations, infecting the water supply, martial law and more. Again, the final product is one that felt underfunded, but the ambition is very evident.

Meanwhile, George Romero's Dead films remain (in my mind) some of the most thought-provoking genre films ever made. Whether it be the satirical commentary on consumer culture in Dawn Of The Dead or the detachment of the MySpace generation in Diary Of The Dead, the Dead films manage to weave a serious thread through dark comedy and bleak gore. As for the non-zombie titles, they aren't as initially enjoyable to watch, but the attempt to spark a deeper conversation solidifies my admiration.

Playlist 9/23/09
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Enslaved - Vertebrae
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Opeth - Watershed