George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is one of the most influential films in modern horror. It brought depictions of onscreen violence to the next level, while at the same time retaining the elements of the best monster movies which came before. With the success of this film, George Romero inspired a generaton of filmmakers to work outside of the studio system.
Born in 1939 in New York City, Romero began making films in his teens. After graduating from the Carnegie-Mellon Institute of Art in Pittsburgh, he formed his own company, and produced television commercials and industrial films.
Night of the Living Dead was to be his ticket into the movie business. This nightmarish tale of zombies became a sensation.
The hit sequel Dawn of the Dead was released some eleven years later. Having a bigger budget enabled Romero to depict the gore in an over-the-top fashion. He also showed his knack for cynical black humor by setting the film in a mall.
Romero's films have often shown bleak depictions of his hometown of Pittsburgh, as in Martin. This story of a young man who may or may not be a vampire, is another example of the director's fine work.
