So today happens to be a birthday of someone famous. Well, everyday is a birthday of someone famous. But today is a day for horror fans. George Romero turned 70 today. A milestone we all hope to achieve. Well, I do anyway.

Interestingly enough, Romero started his career with a job for Mister Rogers. Yep, that Mister Rogers. Shortly after that job Night of the Living Dead was filmed. And so was born the legendary monsters we have come to know and love. But not really.

Zombie lore has been around for a long time. In Voodoo, there have been references to zombies for ages. Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis is a study of the practice (check out the book or the movie. Interesting stuff.)In some ways Frankenstein can be called a zombie story as it deals with reanimating the dead. The first movie with them was called White Zombie and it was made before Romero was even born.

So Romero did not create them, but he made them cool. Scary cool at first. But over the years, they have evolved into more than just scary cool. Sometimes they are tragic characters. Sometimes they are comedic characters. Sometimes they are even romantic characters. And sometimes they are scary as hell.

However. Those who know me realize there has to be a however coming. Romero hasn't done a tremendous amount of memorable work outside the zombie arena. Creepshow and Martin (not the tv series with Martin Lawrence) being his most notable excursions away from the zombie sub genre. In the last 20 years there have been 2 non zombie movies directed by him. In many ways he seems to have fallen into a rut. Oooh, I know, lets do a zombie movie like this. How about one like this. The industry should be ashamed that Romero was cut out financially from the profits of the original. From that angle I can see the desire for him to get paid with a successful zombie movie. But enough is enough. Do something different. I would like to see something original. Utilize the creativity that was used back in 1968 and give the genre something to buzz about. The next one he makes should be called Rehash of the Living Dead.

Thank you for your contribution to the genre. You created an industry and a monster that will (ironically enough) live forever. I wish the man the best of days and many more to come. And I look anxiously towards the next film he makes where he leaves his comfort zone.

Bloody MonkeyZ

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