Nov 1, 2006

Subject Halloween '06

Took the littles trick or treating and they managed to obtain large pillowcases of tooth decay in a small amount of time. We went home to check the loot and make sure it was alright and then they decided to trade for stuff they really wanted. It was like the floor of The New York Stock Exchange! I decided to put in NIght Of The Living Dead while we did that (it's a family tradition to
watch the flick every Halloween) And after watching about ahlf of it I discovered that we would need dog food before the night was through. Actually, the wife reminded me and I was off to the store.

Now, here's the interesting thing;

Night Of The Living Dead was made in 1968. I was six years old. Yes, I am fully aware that I am an old man, now shut it.
I probably saw the flick on Shock Theater when I was about ten so that would have been 1972 or some such year. Once again, I am aware that I'm an old man. Deal with it.

Since that time I have probably seen this flick hundreds of times. Sometimes you just gotta watch it. So, here I am walking out of our house to the car. Now, we live in an old farmhouse on ahill right outside of town. There's a privacy fence and tons of woods behind the house. With the exception of the porchlight, the yard itself is not very well lit and that includes the driveway.
The wind was picking up a little and it was quite cold by eight o'clock. Probably in the mid 30's. So, here I am; old man who has seen this flick a hundred or so times, walking by myself out to the car;

and then the hackles on the back of my neck shivered like I was suddenly given Spidey Senses. I just knew that zombies were coming down from the woods towards me and that I was in a world of hurt. I was ten again and petrified because I knew that for that moment, that zombies were very real and were looking at my fat ass as a super size snack.

Needless to say, my steps were a little quicker getting to the car even though I knew that none of it was real. It was just a movie.
But it was moe than that. Night Of The Living Dead manages to create such a sense of dread as this little cross section of humanity is trapped in a situation that none of them would wish on the other. As the film progresses the situation gets worse and worse until...

Well, you've seen the flick.

I think it's a pretty good trick wehn a low budget, 38 year old movie can scare the Hell out of a 44 year old man if even for just a moment.

Good job Mr. Romero.