“Night of the Living Dead" at Rozz-Tox -- October 11.
Saturday, October 11, 7:30 p.m.
Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
With legendary film critic Pauling Kael describing the film as "one of the most gruesomely terrifying movies ever made," George A. Romero's legendary zombie thriller Night of the Living Dead enjoys a spooky-season screening at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on October 11, this low-budget masterpiece also inspiring Rex Reed to state, "It is unthinkable for anyone seriously interested in horror movies not to see it."
Night of the Living Dead was directed, co-written (alongside John Russo), photographed, and edited by Romero, produced by Russell Streiner and Karl Hardman, and stars Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. The story follows seven people trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania, where they are under assault by flesh-eating reanimated corpses. Although the monsters that appear in the film are referred to as "ghouls," they are credited with popularizing the modern portrayal of zombies in popular culture.
Having gained experience creating television commercials, industrial films, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood segments through their production company The Latent Image, Romero, Russo, and Streiner decided to make a horror film to capitalize on interest in the genre. Their script primarily drew inspiration from Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I Am Legend. Principal photography took place between July 1967 and January 1968, mainly on location in Evans City, Pennsylvania, with Romero using guerrilla filmmaking techniques he had honed in his commercial and industrial work to complete the film on a budget of approximately $100,000. Unable to procure a proper set, the crew rented a condemned farmhouse to destroy during the course of filming.
Romero's work premiered in Pittsburgh on October 1, 1968. It grossed $12 million domestically and $18 million internationally, earning more than 250 times its budget and making it one of the most profitable film productions of all time. Released shortly before the adoption of the Motion Picture Association of America rating system, the film's explicit violence and gore were considered groundbreaking, leading to controversy and negative reviews. It eventually garnered a cult following and critical acclaim, however, and has appeared on lists of the greatest and most influential films by such outlets as Empire, the New York Times, and Total Film.
Frequently identified as a touchstone in the development of the horror genre, retrospective scholarly analysis has focused on its reflection of the social and cultural changes in the United States during the 1960s, with particular attention towards the casting of Jones, an African-American, in the leading role.[ In 1999, Night of the Living Dead was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
For the October 11 screening of Night of the Living Dead, guests are advised to bring blankets or lawn chairs and not bring their own food or drink, as the service window will be open. The 7:30 p.m. screening of the film for ages 17 and older will be held in the back garden, weather permitting, admission to the event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)200-0978 and visiting RozzTox.com.
