George Romero, director of Night of the Living Dead, passed away at age 77 on Sunday following a battle with lung cancer.
Romero debuted Night of the Living Dead in 1968, which launched the modern era of zombie films. He followed that film up with a zombie franchise that was meant to frighten but also comment on the social and political climate: Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead. He also directed the sorely underrated 1978 vampire film, Martin, and ’80s horror monolith Creepshow.
In the 2009 horror doc Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue, Romero said he’s “always sympathized with the monsters” and that Night of the Living Dead was about “revolution.”
On social media, directors and creators called out the political and social influence of his films. Baby Driver director Edgar Wright wrote a remembrance of Romero and detailed how his work influenced Shaun of the Dead.
Romero started it. pic.twitter.com/i4dnxi8EFV
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) July 16, 2017
Wrote this on the late, great George Romero, to whom I owe a film career. https://t.co/eSaKaRndDC pic.twitter.com/UPMZn3WRrD
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 17, 2017
Without George A. Romero, there is no Walking Dead. His inspiration cannot be overstated. He started it all, so many others followed.
— Robert Kirkman (@RobertKirkman) July 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/saladinahmed/status/886746732599681026?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
RIP George Romero. He might be back.
— marc maron (@marcmaron) July 17, 2017
George Romero was a great director, the father of modern horror movies. He was my friend and I will miss him. Rest in peace, George.
— John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) July 16, 2017
H/T L.A. Times