George A. Romero Talks 'Night of the Living Dead' and Zombies

We met up with legendary horror maestro George A. Romero, who shared his stories about the difficulties of getting Night of the Living Dead funded and released, and how it became "a black film" after the assassination of Martin Luther King.
"Zombies cannot run. I say this definitively as the Godfather of Zombies." - George A. Romero

[@FrankNFurter1000]

'Gimme a break, they're dead!' - Perfect.

[@jagerbomb]

Yet his much later films the zombies became half sentient and started to copy and resemble the previous person they were (Day of the Dead, Survival of the Dead). Desperately trying to breathe something new to the genre.

[@furious3383]

@@jagerbomb So did Ben in the 90 remake. Having succumb to his gunshot wounds that he sustained in his shootout with Cooper where he managed to hole himself down in the cellar where he bled to death while trying to wait for help and turned the next morning when Barbara came back with help. Ben despite having reanimated by this time was yet still able to recognize Barbara and still tried to say something before he was eventually euthanized by one of the rescue workers.

[@martincarlos3759]

That was one of so many unforgettable lines. Here when Rhodes in Desperation says to the ignorant scientific team: "They're Dead, they're fucking Dead and you wanna teach 'em some tricks?!".

[@Forgan_Mreeman]

I was 11 at the time. i remember finding this movie in an old crate in my grandparents garage. it had "NOTLD" written on it in faded marker. I'm like "wtf is this?" so I pop it in the VCR. I was shaking in fear watching this movie. I had never seen anything like it. fast forward 14 years and I own a chain of haunted house attractions. This movie holds a special place in my memories.

[@trendingvideos9683]

What's the name of the chain?

[@fishrenfroeboyd7954]

About the same for me, sometime in the 80s my parents got night of the living dead on VHS. By the late 80s and early 90s it was already a dusty, beat up VHS tape with a faded lable when I started to operate the VCR. I remember watching it and it was the only old black and white horror movie I really enjoyed as a young kid. I remember thinking it must have been made in the 1930s haha. It opened me up to old B&W films.

[@Forgan_Mreeman]

Trending Videos zap23 productions

[@GoldFittyCal]

Thank you, Forgan Mmreeman

[@therealnagel]

I have a very similar experience, my grandparents had a buunch of old vhs movies, ranging from “little shop of horrors” and a bunch of Vincent price movies and etc. I ended up seeing “Night of the living dead” in the collection and I begged my grandma to let me watch it and she goes “no no not happening, it’ll scare you to death”, but eventually after tons of nagging she goes “alright, but I don’t wanna hear you crying to come sleep with me and grandpa here tonight!” I ended up watching it at age 8 and it scared the living SHITTTT out of me hahaha, but I still remember it and love it to this day.

[@displayfireworks1]

RIP George , I'm from Pittsburgh and was friends with the pyro-technicians that did the special effects. They are all also passed on. RIP to all of you.

[@SilentBower]

Mad respect

[@extremelymoist6661]

Did you know? George once called The Walking Dead 'a sitcoms with Zombies' This is because of the fact as many regard him as the Grandfather of zombie films, he knows what fits and what doesn't each and every time

[@Petey0707]

no he doesn't

[@kanesmith8271]

He wasn't wrong

[@jacoblutz1818]

They actually asked him to do an episode. That would have been awesome

[@Kritikateur]

The first episode of The Walking Dead (first series) when I saw it I thought: WOW, they did better than Romero here. When I watched the second episode (first series), then I thought as Romero said: "...It is the Zombies sitcom!" Unfortunately for G.A.Romero, some over-talented Artists like he was, are out of sync with times but nevertheless Legends that will live through-out the tests of times! R.I.P. Master. Carus Alambra😔

[@Angel_V141]

@@Kritikateur The Walking Dead comics and TV show focuses on characters and story rather then zombies and stuff like that. Like Frank Darabont says "The zombies are just the icing on the cake." So yeah it is like a zombie sitcom lol.

[@vurhn2009]

George's movie are better than other crappy horror zombie movies

[@IdiocyShow]

Have you seen Survival & Diary? They’re pretty bad movies at best! Even Land isn’t great, it’s good enough, but a MAJOR step down from the first 3

[@JackRed6666]

In my opinion, "running zombies", arent zombies but should be called "infected"

[@FrankD90210]

"Infected?!! Infected with WHAT?!"

[@tacosombrero1879]

@@FrankD90210 Rage

[@scarydave7245]

But That's they are Infected

[@brantisonfire]

NOTLD never showed an infection phase, just the dead rising. Maybe it could be worked in as canon. But his movies showed either the dead coming back to life, or people turning almost immediately after being bitten. I don’t believe he himself has shown an intermediate phase.

[@allbottledup9513]

The defining characteristic of zombies is not their slow walking. Evident by the fact that a lot of “zombie” movies have runners. Everything that defines a zombie is still present in runners.

[@daoyang5988]

Rip George A Romero we will miss you pal!!

[@ely_oh]

Imagine being the innovator of a genre only to be sidestepped in the long run. It's really saddening that George A. Romero never got the acclaim that he rightfully deserved, because he's an independent filmmaker at heart and didn't compromise with bullshit Hollywood standards until the day he died. You'll always be one of the best director and filmmaker of all time for me, Mr. Romero.

[@mitch45ac]

Mr.Romero was the most humble director in the business. RIP

[@aestrada7217]

He was so hard to kill in Black ops 1 zombies

[@insaneclownhoty]

A Estrada be nice, a man lost his life

[@CodeNameCheese_]

@Ultimis Richtofen the one and only Richtofen Richtofen’s right

[@Smile4theKillCam456]

@@insaneclownhoty ...did you not get the reference?

[@insaneclownhoty]

@@Smile4theKillCam456 lol I was quoting a meme from early 2019, of course I get the reference. Scavenger is my favorite wonder weapon of all time

[@youregonnahaveabadtime8969]

"zombies cant run" treyarch pulls out a shotgun

[@Trench303]

Nice

[@blitz_fiend9639]

yup

[@roblosonic505]

Idk man Element 115 can do some weird shit

[@scottlambert741]

First 30 seconds and I’m already grinning from ear to ear. Love this guy

[@gustavoquinones7116]

Rest In Peace George A Romero

[@Grey8270]

Rest In Peace you absolute legend

[@catfishcharlie8376]

I hope Romero makes one more Zombie masterpiece movie before he calls it quits.

[@xDJJDxZombies]

His son is making a night of the living dead origins soon.

[@ghostlyflower9354]

+Trippy Killa oh God that seems awesome but risky

[@vurhn2009]

"Nazi Zombies" COMING IN THEATERS ----. --, 20

[@OkamiAmaterasu.]

He'll always be in Call of the Dead in spirit.

[@venustk5729]

Connor Champie 😢

[@NotASaint1985]

Thank you for this video, it's going into my list of interview and behind the scenes material, which will immortalize this legend I love so much. I never got to meet him, but I love you George!

[@Shadooopy]

Rest In Power

[@creepshowbeats]

The best director ever . Period .

[@pauljosham2551]

A total legend rip George

[@songjunw8981]

Totally agree to him too; Zombies can't run.

[@adamtherock2008]

RIP the King of the Undead :(

[@cifrovoj]

R.I.P George Romero he died in call of the dead

[@jeffreymartinez3654]

I see what you did there

[@epic-a]

Cifrovoj Drakosha rip 😢😂

[@dinozauriukas100]

now he really did die :'(

[@brandonveasley2819]

FlySo Spooky 0___o

[@epic-a]

FlySo Damn... RIP Pioneer of Zombie Horror 😢💔

[@jc6594]

Happy 75th Birthday George :)

[@Monkeyland03]

Love Tales Of The Darkside!

[@brianpkeane4173]

GR 1968 NOTLD was the beginning of the zombie cult classics..when George invited television personalities on the filming set it was classic mockey of old style horror comics. In 1968 In Jersey City at the Lowes during the Halloween midnight show they had people walking up and down the isles with bloody white shirts and scaring people. This was common in the 1950s when a producer of movie theatres dressed actors up and had them walk around when the film was rolling.

[@brandonveasley2819]

Rip Romero

[@kds5895]

May the master RIP

[@richsusa3446]

I really am mesmerized by the f\x in his work. preferably Dawn of The Dead. And Tales from the dark side is one of my favorite shows to this day. "begotten" genre is way over the top. Also it always seemed that you didn't have to put much effort into the writing. love your work!

[@richsusa3446]

that wasn't a insult by the way. Because all of your movies kick ass

[@jeanbenssoussan9158]

A great man...Rip George

[@Jacob_XD]

"Zombies cannot run" *flashback to call of the dead* George making all the zombies run 1Million miles per hour.

[@ericpieper69]

R.I.P George Romero

[@deadpan666true]

R.I.P. George

[@timcrawford2306]

I wonder if George knew how important he was to us? Thank you George for all the great entertainment you've provided me and many others.

[@JoshBG20]

Love and Miss this Guy! RIP Romero

[@carolkewley7410]

George Romero started on Mr Rogers'Neighborhood! omg!

[@georgehoffman4518]

The 1 dislike is from the survivors of call of the dead, they couldn't kill him. So they disliked his video instead. I love George romeros movies.

[@guerricdeveauxv.h4261]

« Zombies cannot run. I say this definitely as The Godfather of Zombies » What about 28 days later, that was a damn good movie within zombies running.

[@TheNotverysocial]

The difference is a virus is responsible for the violent outbreak in one movie, and the patients are still alive but violent. In the other there is no virus. The whole world has been irradiated along with everything in it, and the brains of every living person have been saturated by it. It may be responsible for all of the human dead reviving. Night of the Living Dead is corpses coming alive and murdering and eating people. 28 Days Later is about a virus that induces pure rage.

[@throneoffire7843]

That is why Mr. Rogers was good, I knew it was something about that Mr. Rogers!

[@hanam3589]

This movie is a masterpiece of living dead.

[@markydark8286]

Rest in peace man you will always be a legend.

[@diegojames8678]

“The grandfather of zombies” haha gotta love him

[@kaos421]

RIP G.O.A.T Mr Geroge ROMERO

[@scottduddy]

Thank you George x

[@westcoaststrangler]

Nice to hear romero's opinion on running zombie

[@RabuHina]

I almost got to meet this legendary director when he helped promote Lollipop Chainsaw XD. Sadly I never got to meet him/get an autograph from the guy and tell him my mother (who saw Night of the Living Dead when it came out) thanks for scaring the shit out of her and making an awesome movie lol.

[@binarysunsetmedia1451]

Miss you George

[@Sooty-Sweep]

R.I.P. mr Romero.....Your zombies will live on

[@GoldFsh]

God damn I miss him.

[@zombiedropper1013]

Rip george

[@CherryRedBanshee]

We'll miss you, George.

[@guadalupenieto1326]

R.I.P What a legend

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

Running Zombies Suck.

[@catfishcharlie8376]

I don't no I thought Dawn OF The Dead 2004 was one of the best .

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

Oh I'm not questioning the acting or directing, that was good, I am simply saying Running Zombies suck. Zombies are supposed to be treated like a natural disaster that can be avoided if you kept a level head. Hence why the Romero ones were slow moving and no explained cause of their rise. Much of the horrific scenes happen when a certain character slips or gets in over their head.

[@eRaZeHyper]

nazi zombies.... nuff said

[@Shanethefilmmaker]

eRaZE Hyper That one is kinda getting dull Mr. SS Avatar, for one, the fact that their Nazis doesn't change the fact that they are the undead, unless they go by the Romero Rule of slowly redeveloping their past thoughts and skills they had when they were alive. Meaning unless they remember they are Nazis, they are still pretty much Zombies.

[@eRaZeHyper]

Shanethefilmmaker im talking about the zombies from black ops and WaW

[@deez6500]

call of the dead should be a movie

[@jondoes8222]

I have a rare copy of it on super 8mm sound 5 reels.

[@hatechickenofficial3819]

Awesome!!!

[@DvDPlaya]

Back in those days, a kid was FORTUNATE to get ahold of a videocamera. I was born in the 80's there was no way my Dad would let me use his VHS Camera that you hold over your shoulder. *Nowadays* my 4 year old is making his own movies with stuffed animals and *my* iPad Pro! *I believe* we have have actor/directors with amazing minds in the making.

[@cwallace9713]

Best quote from George "I mean you know what did they go and join a spa the moment they rose from the dead give me a break; they're dead."

[@sameeraalazmi7532]

i love GORGE ROMERO

[@HomicidalDavid]

RIP George A. Romero.

[@DarkSektori]

The people who made that Dawn of the Dead remake should of watched this video

[@kasm7870]

"Zombies cannot run" His most annoying ability in Call of the Dead is making Zombies run.

[@totallynoteverything1.]

he cured their rigor mortis

[@faceduro6719]

I would love to see a Live Play adaption of this movie... looks cool to see it in a Broadway Theater

[@brandibacon8291]

George a Romero is a awesome zombie maker !!!!!!

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

Truely The Master of Zombie Apocalypse Horror movies. 👍👌😊😲👊✊😆 🎃🍁🎃 RIP George A Romero 😔✌

[@SomethingWitty1987]

Very cool.

[@redmood8864]

I watched dawn of the dead and when I saw the child zombie I was scared I was only 8 but with out him I would never be inspired and happy

[@hexiusuniverse2984]

I remember hating Call of the Dead, so, much. it was so hard, i used to play with my twin brother we loved playing it so much though we died so much, now getting to 30+ 3 years later :D not just 5+

[@thearinbear7316]

I agree zombies DO NOT run! One of the reasons why I didn't like the 2004 remake

[@kensei3713]

RIP george your the legend in zombies I always loved you in call of the dead

[@Camarillian]

George, put down the stage light 0_0

[@noracialxd8448]

The only reason zombies in cod is because first they walk and weak then if you didn't know each time you kill a zombie Samantha get stronger and they make zombies stronger making the zombie ankles stronger.

[@GhostRider5370]

RIP Romero

[@throneoffire7843]

Talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Justin-Theobald]

i Like 28 days later by dani boyle with running dead with the rage virus

[@RedRum.]

Lmao this starts with zombies don't run and yet the dawn if the dean remake they ran lol RIP George glad I got to meet you once

[@DVincentW]

1968 is not copyrighted and was boot legged there after; and shown all over US drive ins ect. One reason for the remake in 1990. Directed by Tom Savini (make up master, Machete guy Dawn of the Dead 1979) who was a combat photographer in Vietnam.

[@wiilover07]

R.I.P

[@ralphlorenzperolino3054]

Let's be honest, we all hated his zombified version in Call of The Dead.

[@fatetheanimator9580]

"Zombies cant run" Also George when he gets mad on call of the dead:

[@whitedarkness3768]

CAN YOU HEAR HIM TREYARCH? (yes I'm here from call of the dead)

[@Norrbottning]

Zack Snyder was one of 3 to dislike this video

[@DVincentW]

I see what you did there lol damn funny.

[@praisetheSun990]

And now he ends up in a game about zombies being up to date the most resilient boss in cod zombies and the zombies can run.....

[@vilentman111]

Isn't there 2 kid zombies in dawn of the dead who run?

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

Tom Savini's niece and nephew

[@twinsenstwinsens]

...but can zombies be tweets?

[@emersonsawesome7629]

Am I the only one not here because of 'Call of the Dead'?

[@RyboC18]

I'm here because of that :) btw call of the dead is a cod zombies map where George Romero is a boss that tries to kill you

[@masterchef3033]

+Morbidge Don't forget John carpenter

[@matiasdelafuente9382]

george romero pasa la pelicula deadtime stories

[@patriot6067]

JESUS HOLY FUCKING SHIT there was actually behind the scenes footage of the original NotLD ! I've seen A LOT of Romero related footage but this is something else & £🎯£ @ the ending , "I'M telling you they CAN'T GET IN HERE" . . . Auuhhrgh ! ! !

[@matthewfarmer2520]

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, won't you be mine, could you be mine, won't you be my neighbor. Lol

[@MariaAlvarado-mx2en]

george rip

[@sasoridokueki5754]

I never got down to this question till now but considering he voiced himself in Call of the Dead for Black Ops, what did he ever think of the gaming concept of the Zombies mode there? Or did he ever express his thoughts on the matter?

[@emeraldgreenbluberrykoolai8931]

They can't run but they can certainly bend their rotten backs and knees to crouch down so that they can clutch their little decomposed fingers around obects such as table legs and bricks then above it all they can swing their filthy maggit infested arms in a sudden striking manner so that they can use tools to break windows and bang on doors and walls. I wonder what George's response would be to that. I bet he'd probably just laugh it off. I love George and respect his work. He inspires me but I kind of consider the whole 'zombie ability to use tools'...a slight glitch. When directing, we have to watch out for glitches.

[@wowwolf1614]

Brain speed gorge. Brian speed. R.I.P gorge romero

[@tacogaming5399]

I'm coming for you s what you hear all the sudden and then...RAAWWRR NOM NOM IM A ZOMBIE

[@angelawise8070]

Remero gorgeous is he like a star above the skyline is to down came the rain and the change

[@johnhoward8677]

I think it's creepier to refer to the living dead as ghouls as opposed to zombies, which sounds a little comic book-y.

[@alexhicks5889]

Creepy and accurate.

[@TheRolling123]

Wonder what Mr Rogers thought of Night of the living dead

[@oldiesgeek454]

+rolly g I love your question...Very funny! I'm imagining Mr. Rogers sitting in the theater wearing his signature sweater. Something tells me that he never did see the film.

[@rocioquiroz11]

Don't get me wrong I love 28 Days Later and other zombie films that have running zombies, but I prefer the classic walking zombie. The act of the dead rising to eat flesh is already scary enough and you don't need to make them scarier. The fear in my opinion comes from how people decide to deal with the situation. Weird because Return of The Living Dead technically has running and talking zombies and that's my all time favorite zombie film. Funny how that works.

[@jacoblutz1818]

You herd the man, ZOMBIES DONT RUN! Left4Dead, World War Z I'm looking at you 😜

[@bran77c39]

L4D are called infected not zombies but does falls in resemblance of the zombie genre.

[@j-mellado2481]

ROAAAAAAR

[@capsnah]

After playing call of the dead I'm a little scared of George

[@zacharymartinez445]

XD me too

[@endofyeww20]

when I watched this I can't help but feel like he's gonna pull out his electric spotlight, get pissed, and kill us all

[@arlichar11]

pretty sure first zombie in notld was running... he certainly was moving fast...lol i could write a book about the inconsistencys of that movie... its brilliant...but could have been even better!

[@raytheshredgod6987]

Why does he remind me of Johnny Knoxville?