“Do we need toothpaste?” Asks my wife.
The supermarket is a terrible place.
Ok, Ok, I hold my hands up in surrender, and perhaps slide the keyboard across the floor, towards you with my foot. I admit that the Zombie/shopper idea is totally inspired by George A. Romero’s 1978 classic, Dawn Of The Dead. You see, it was only when a friend invited Romero for a tour of Monroeville Mall that “our George” was given the boost he needed to write the second film in his Living Dead series. His friend pointed out various hidden areas away from the shoppers and that he believed someone might be able to survive an emergency using these facilities. What really struck a chord with Romero was the sheer joy that he witnessed on the faces of the shuffling, retail therapy addicts.
So inspired was Romero that he secured the same shopping mall for filming. Not only did Dawn Of The Dead receive largely positive reviews but it was also a financial success, grossing $55million from the $650,000 that was spent on production. For those who are flippant with figures - that’s $5million more than The Deer Hunter, which it beat to 9th place in the top grossing films of that year. Not bad for a “cult” film. There was obvious terror in the suburbs of America in 1978 as John Carpenter’s Halloween movie was at number 8!
If Romero was surprised by the popularity of his own zombie series then I wonder what he thinks about the current trend for all things zombie? Personally I am a massive fan of most zombie spin-offs and this is thanks to Romero’s Dead series (along with Lamberto Bava’s Demons 1 and 2). They certainly made me consider boarding up every window in the house and hoarding tinned food at the time. However, as much as I loved these reanimated freaks, I have to admit that back then I didn’t think that anyone but myself would view them as cool. Never in a million years did I think that zombies would gnaw their way into the very flesh of popular culture, as they have over the last decade.If you want to view one particular area of success for our undead friends then look no further than the gaming industry. The Call Of Duty games have benefited greatly from introducing a zombie survival mode, which has fast become a fan favorite. Need I mention Resident Evil, Dead Rising, Left 4 Dead, or Dead Island? Oh wait I just did! Just look who has his bloody paws all over this market! The Zombie Godfather himself, George A. Romero. Not only did he write an advert (exclusive to Japan) for one of the Resident Evil games, he even “starred” in one of the hugely popular Call Of Duty, Zombie downloadable packs. He has also stated (possibly while stroking a pot of gold) that video games are where zombies dwell most successfully in terms of financial benefit.
Zombie merchandise aside there is one particular franchise that has captured the fatty, flesh of the masses. The Walking Dead (developed by Frank Darabont) premiered internationally towards the end of 2010 and has never bothered to look over its shoulder as it fled. Season one attracted an average audience of over 5million, which steadily grew (as if infected) to nearer 12million by season three. The season four premier became the most-watched drama series in basic cable history as over 16million viewers tuned in. Many awards have been passed to the franchise including a Golden Globe for “Best Television Drama.” It’s about Zombies, people!!
Whether you’re a fan of the series or not, you can’t deny the popularity of the show and not just because of the stats above. I guarantee you all know at least one person who isn’t a horror fan but who LOVES The Walking Dead. Perhaps that is why there is almost an air of snobbery from true horror fans regarding the programs standard and credentials. Sometimes when something becomes so accessible we don’t feel like it’s our own anymore and therefore reject it. Another angle of course is fans of the comic (the T.V shows origin) don’t approve of the slower pace that the drama is shown at. Which although is a valid point, is also a little unfair due to the sheer volume of work required in television production.My humble opinion is that although the series has gradually lost it’s way after an outstanding first season I think that it’s a shame that we can’t embrace the fact that a horror themed programme is slugging it out in the big leagues. The more successful the franchise the more chance there is if other horror shows being produced and all that roams with it. If they now have the funds to manufacture mugs, bedding, cuddly toys, and zombie underpants then so be it. You don’t HAVE to buy any of it.
I complete my bloody circle by pointing out the fact that a certain Mr. Romero turned down the chance of directing some episodes of The Walking Dead. That’s not to say he doesn’t approve of the concept, far from it, in a 2011 interview he acknowledged that Frank Darabont had “done a good job” and that he was waiting to have the time to watch the entire first season. I agree that Darabont has fought admirably in the format of television but I do get excited at the thought of what might have been if I’m honest.Interestingly, Romero did admit that he would struggle to be a part of it as “my zombies are sort of my own.” When pressed what he meant by this, Romero likened his zombies to a natural disaster where humans deal with the situation with stupidity and greed. I think Romero would struggle to love a lead character enough to let him live long-term because to him the human element is there merely for satirical purposes as a nod towards various social situations.
George A. Romero released the first in his Dead series (Night Of The Living Dead) in 1968. These films continue to entertain me to this day and I often daydream of what I would do, where I would escape to, etc. In a very weird way I feel a bit aggrieved that I’ve never had the opportunity to take part in the ultimate test of nerve and survival. However, what disappoints me the most is that Romero’s social commentary of corporate greed and terrorism are sadly still so relevant today.
Adam “Frowning Clown” Hulse.
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