Why George Romero Changed Zombies Forever

In the second episode of our three-part special series, we move from the zombi which has its roots in spiritual beliefs developed during the African diaspora, to look at one of the most influential and enduring horror legacies of all time—the Romero zombie.

Considered the “godfather of zombies,” Romero’s 1968 film The Night of the Living Dead introduced the flesh-eating reanimated corpse to popular culture. But that’s not all he did. More than just a reinvention of a frightening fiend, the Romero zombie’s introduction during a time of great political and cultural unrest in America impacted how it was received—and why we still talk about it.

Featuring expert interviews from Author Daniel Kraus, who completed Romero’s novel The Living Dead, as well as Author, Screenwriter, and Lecturer of Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA Tananarive Due, and Professor and Author Dr. Robin Means Coleman, you’ll learn just how influential Romero’s work became.

Next episode

S2020E15 - Modern Zombies: The Rebirth of the Undead