Wednesday, November 22, 2017

GEORGE ROMERO BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAWN: THE EARLY FILMS OF THE HORROR MASTER



Horror fans felt a loss this past year with the passing of director George Romero. Romero was the creator of a genre left untapped in the field of horror, the zombie movie. Sure there had been zombies in the past but those were just people that seemed hypnotized to do the bidding of someone else. With his film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Romero ushered in the zombie film into undiscovered territory, flesh eating mindless creatures who could only be stopped when their brains were incapacitated. That style of zombie has carried on ever since finally resting with the popular TV series THE WALKING DEAD. But Romero was the one who began it all.

He started with that first film and then carried it forward with the release of DAWN OF THE DEAD, a still immensely popular film. But there was a ten year gap between those two films. Sure, MARTIN was in there but what about the rest of that time? Fans know but few others. Arrow Video has taken steps to make sure that his legacy as well as the films he made in between are not forgotten with this release, aptly titled BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAWN.

Romero and his motley band of renegade Pittsburgh film makers actually did create a few more movies after NIGHT. They weren’t near as popular and chances are that’s why he returned to the genre he was best at, horror. Until now those movies were rare to find. Some were released on video by Anchor Bay years ago but nothing definitive or well produced versions have been available until this release. Included in the set are three films: THERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA, SEASON OF THE WITCH and THE CRAZIES.

THERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA is an attempt and a comedic relationship film. It works on some levels but not on others. Chris (Raymond Bradley), a session musician, returns to his roots in Pittsburgh where he literally bumps into Lynn (Judith Ridley), a model and wannabe actress. They hit it off and move in together. While Lynn supports them Chris begins work on the book he always intended to write. When Lynn becomes pregnant their lives together take a turn for the worse.

The movie is filled with experimental styles and techniques and shows Romero trying to branch out. In the end the movie isn’t that great but it does show that independent film making look and tries to come up with something original. It’s interesting to watch but odds are not something most will revisit.

SEASON OF THE WITCH (aka JACK’S WIFE) is Romero trying to take on a different kind of horror. This time around we’re in the world of the suburban housewife. Bored with little to do and married to a man who spends most of his time at work Joan (Jan Mitchell) finds herself with her best friend at the home of a woman she met, a self-professed witch who dabbles in tarot cards as well. Intrigued she picks up a book on witchcraft and the next thing you know she’s bought candles, cups and more accoutrements as well.

Her daughter is involved with a college professor named Gregg (Raymond Bradley again). After a confrontation with him Joan soon begins having an affair with him. Eventually this road she’s chosen will take her down a dark path to things best left unsaid.

The film is better than the first one of the set but still tends to lean towards the experimental style with various camera angles and lenses. The camerawork isn’t terrible but shows the problems associated with most small independent films, a definite lack of experience and washed out coloring in some parts. All that being said this one is worth catching to see the development of Romero as a director.

The last film in the set is THE CRAZIES. I will say that this one got a release from Blue Underground a few years ago that offered a decent presentation according to fans. Not having seen that version I will say that Arrow has done a remarkable job with this one.

The story here is pure Romero with a small Pennsylvania town suddenly in the crosshairs of a military quarantine. It seems the town has had a chemical released into it that will turn the most mild mannered citizen into a crazed killer. White containment suited military personnel roam the streets rounding up the locals in an attempt to contain the virus and not have it spread.

Among this group is a set of friends who fear the government will simply round everyone up and kill them off. With none of them showing symptoms they set out to escape the town as well as avoid being killed by the military.

The movie offers a conspiracy styled story that if you stretched it enough could fit with the whole NIGHT film as a cause of what brought the zombies to life. Except that these people are alive. Once more the cinematography isn’t major motion picture style but as with the last film you can see the changes in how Romero was progressing. The story itself is superb and plays into the fears most people have of a government willing to sacrifice an entire town in an effort to keep their secrets hidden.

While these films may not be the mainstream styled feature most are used to they are notable in that they show the progression of Romero as a film maker. His later films did indeed carry that highly stylized look that Hollywood films had but few film makers begin that way. They also show an originality that few Hollywood films possess, offering stories that are not the usual fare. Oddly enough more films like these have been made since their original release using similar styles and stories. They are now considered those quirky, offbeat indie films that are praised so often.

Arrow has done an amazing job with these offering them in the cleanest and clearest versions ever seen. If that’s not enough the extras included here are insane. They include a limited edition 60 page booklet featuring new writing on the films by Kat Ellinger, Kier-La Janisse and Heather Drain. For THERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA you get a brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford, AFFAIR OF THE HEART: THE MAKING OF a new documentary with interviews of the cast and crew, DIGGING UP THE DEAD THE LOST FILMS OF GEORGE A. ROMERO an archive interview with Romero, a location gallery with audio commentary by Romero historian Lawrence DeVincentz, a memorabilia gallery and the original trailer.

SEASON OF THE WITCH extras are an alternate extended version of the film, brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford, WHEN ROMERO MET DEL TORO a conversation between director Guillermo del Toro and Romero, THE SECRET LIFE OF JACK’S WIFE an archive interview with actress Jan White, alternate opening titles, a memorabilia gallery and the original trailer.

THE CRAZIES extras are a brand new audio commentary track by Travis Crawford, ROMERO WAS HERE: LOCATING THE CRAZIES a guided tour of Evans City, PA used in the movie by Romero historian Lawrence DeVincentz, CRAZY FOR LYNN LOWRY featuring cult star Lynn Lowry discussing her early career including her role in the film, a Q&A with Lynn Lowry filmed at the 2016 Abertoir Film Festival, an audio interview with producer Lee Hessel, behind the scenes footage with optional commentary by DeVincentz, alternate opening titles, image galleries and trailers & TV spots.

If you’re a fan of Romero this is a must have for your collection to be complete. If you’re just discovering him this is a good way to learn more about his earlier works. And for the sake of posterity, Arrow has shown they continue to do amazing work.


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