By April MacIntyre Oct 13, 2009, 1:45 GMT
Starz Inside: Zombiemania will air at 10 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13 on Starz.
Our fascination with Zombies taps into our primal fear of being eaten alive. Whether it's a hidden man-eater shark lurking in the water, or an undead thing creeping silently out in the dark, the notion that something "out there" can overpower you and consume you alive is a core human fear. And what if that someone is a loved one infected by another Zombie? Will they eat you too? You betcha.
Our fascination with Zombies taps into basic primal human anxieties of being eaten alive. Whether it's a hidden, man-eating shark lurking in the water, or an undead thing creeping silently out in the dark, the notion that something "out there" can overpower you and consume you alive is a universal fear.
And what if that someone is a loved one infected by another Zombie? Will they eat you too? You betcha.
This high energy, comprehensive and entertaining documentary takes you on a cinematic wild ride from classic genre maker "Night of the Living Dead" to Zombie horror laugher, "Shaun of the Dead."
Forget the Vampires, or even the Wolf Man, as the Zombies have taken over again, as their reign in movies, TV, video games and even Jane Austen novels have resurrected the not-quite dead's "Q" scores.
The evening will be hosted by film critic and author Richard Roeper. You'll also meet Mel Brooks' kid, Max Brooks, a preeminent Zombie know-it-all author who delivers humorous answers to questions like, "What kind of sword is best for decapitating a zombie?'' The fans of Zombie films will enjoy the interview with grandpappy of the modern Zombie genre, George A. Romero.
The doc is filled with classic moments including clips from the following films:
White Zombie (1932), Revolt of the Zombies (1936), King of the Zombies (1941), Last Man on Earth (1964), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Return of the Living Dead (1985), Day of the Dead (1985), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Land of the Dead (2005), Fido (2006), 28 Weeks Later (2007).
Especially enjoyable for me was the extended interview with Emmy winning-makeup artist Greg Nicotero on the evolution of Zombie makeup. Greg Nicotero's first makeup job was over twenty years ago on George Romero's 1985 classic, "Day of the Dead."
With over 500 movies accomplished, Emmy-winner Nicotero continues his diabolical makeup deeds with his partners at KNB EFX Group. Greg talks extensively about returning to work with Romero delivering horrific makeup effects for "Land of the Dead." Nicotero explains how they deliver the detailed makeups, and also talks about his relationship with his Zombie guru filmmaker, George Romero, whom he has known for 30 years.
The documentary explores how filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez have added their take on the Zombie lore, as well as Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, who made a splash with their combination horror comedy, "Shaun of the Dead."
Starz Inside: Zombiemania" does an exceptional job at giving the viewer an evolution of the genre from its roots in African folklore and Haitian Voodoo to its current role as a pop culture icon.
With Halloween around the corner, push those tawdry vampire tales aside and settle in with some popcorn and enjoy this rip-snorting documentary premiering tomorrow night.
The next Starz Inside special is Starz Inside: Sex and the Cinema (Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00 p.m.).
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