Comments on: The Anti-Blockbusters: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

By: Matthew Bradley

Matthew Bradley — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:48:46 +0000

Thanks, Sam. Just realized–belatedly–that I had already plugged the book here when I commented on your recent “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper” review, and apologize for inadvertently sounding like a broken record. So many blogs, so few brain cells! :-) That’s an interesting point about THE OMEGA MAN, and one I’ve never heard, although I’ve long made the same observation about Matheson’s MASTER OF THE WORLD, inexplicably directed by a veteran of Roy Rogers Westerns, William Witney, who displayed no affinity for the SF genre at all. I suppose there’s a reason Boris Sagal never became a big name…

By: Sam Christopher

Sam Christopher — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:52:59 +0000

That sounds genuinely interesting, Matthew. Speaking of versions of I Am Legend, I once read a review of The Omega Man in which it was said that the film’s main shortcoming was the flat direction, that it would have benefitted from someone with a darker vision like George Romero. I do look forward to seeing your book.

By: Richard Aaronson

Richard Aaronson — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:52:19 +0000

It’s amazing that, with only $16K & a group of people who made beer commercials for a living, George Romero created one of the movies that gave birth to the modern horror film (I consider Psycho to be the first modern horror film, but Night is definitely its younger brother). Every time I watch it, I enjoy this movie more. Sam’s right; one can go on & on about the greatness of Night of the Living Dead…

By: Matthew Bradley

Matthew Bradley — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:05:11 +0000

It’s ironic that after three “official” adaptations of I AM LEGEND, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD still seems closer in spirit to Matheson’s novel, although the look of the first and most faithful version, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH—particularly that of its shambling vampires—may have influenced Romero et al. as well. If nothing else, it demonstrates what a tremendously influential work I AM LEGEND continues to be. Those interested in learning more about its various screen incarnations may wish to check out my forthcoming book RICHARD MATHESON ON SCREEN.