Looking for the lowdown on one (if not the greatest) zombie movie of all time ? Do you have a hunger for all of the knowledge that was harnessed for the creation of George A. Romero's quintessential undead classic, Night of the Living Dead ? Then get ready to feast your orbital organs on the newest feature from Glass Eye Pix entitled Birth of the Living Dead.
Rob Kuhns & Larry Fessenden have teamed up to present this documentary about all of the trials & tribulations that faced Mr. Romero and his zombie squad up to and during the filming of the movie itself. This will surely give the Living Dead fans a feel for what the powers that be were up against, and how the horrors of war during the 1960's played a huge part with the script inspiration. Fans in the New York area can check this out first hand on November 6th at the IFC Center, while the rest of the zombie nation can view it the same day on iTunes - give the trailer a look and see if your not ready to peel your skin off with anticipation.
ATTENTION: All fans of the iconic film: Night of the Living Dead will have the opportunity this August 30-31st in Evans City, PA to meet & greet stars from the movie, and then stroll through some of the film's most hallowed shooting locations in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate the legendary film's 45th anniversary.
The Living Dead Festival. organized by Gary Streiner & Chris Wlodarczyk, promises to offer aficionados of the movie different options as far as ticket pricings go - the rates start at $10 for a Friday ticket, $15 for a Saturday admission, and then prices move on up to $50 for varying tours with such stars as Judith O'Dea, Judith Ridley, Jack Russo, Russ Streiner & Richard Ricci amongst MANY more around specific locations like the Evans City Cemetary & the recognized farmhouse - and the best offer of all: $95 gets you a limited-edition event poster designed by Terry Callen of Screaming Brain Studio that will be personally autographed by ALL the stars of the movie !
To obtain ALL pertinent information regarding this killer celebration, head on over to www.livingdeadfest.com and read all of the event info, and then you can purchase your tickets (I recommend buying one of the awesome festival t-shirts !) - so whether you are close by the Pennsylvania area or NOT this August 30-31st, make some travel plans and check out what may be the most exciting 2-day engagement you've ever focused your undead eyes upon !
Fans attending this year's Flashback Weekend 2013 in Chicago on Friday, August 9th will have the opportunity to view (in it's glamorous entirety) - the original 1968 classic "Night of the Living Dead" in 35mm format on its 45th anniversary. So ? Not impressed ? How about viewing it with an introduction from the man that directed this golden beauty ? - the one and only Godfather of the Dead, Mr. George Romero !!
That's right - this will surely highlight a jam packed weekend for horror fans which also include reunions from such classics as 1979's Dawn of the Dead, Pet Sematary, and a new cinematic infusion, The Lords of Salem. If you are in the Chicago area, get yourself on over to this convention and have the time of your undead lives, as this promises to be a weekend (August 9th-11th) of full -tilt horror ! All available info can be found at www.flashbackweekend.com
Matt Boiselle If the almighty one himself, Mr. George A. Romero, had struck a deal with the devil many moons ago to reap the rewards of EVERY zombie movie that had been put out after his 1968 classic, he would be a rich........well, he would be a LOT richer. While it appears right now that the release date on this remake will be October 1st, 2012, we here at Zombies & Toys will let you draw your own conclusions as what to expect after viewing the teaser trailer which can be accessed by clicking on the pic.
Distributed by V2 pictures and re-imagined by director Matt Cloude, this film claims to not only pay homage to the original spookshow, but expand on the storyline to further delve into what happened the night the dead returned to walk the earth. While boasting mainly an independent cast, the movie does have one rather huge name in the credits, Judith O' Dea, who played Barbara in the Romero-helmed classic. While NOT to be confused with Night Of The Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation, which is also releasing this year and stars Jeffrey Combs and Andrew Divoff, zombie fans should be appeased at another opportunity to witness some undead carnage on-screen.
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bill Hinzman. It is with sorrow that we report Mr. Hinzman passed this evening. Hinzeman was most famously known as "Zombie #1" or "Graveyard Zombie" from George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. He was 75.
Bill was one of the nicest and most genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting. He was quick to offer a smile and a handshake and was always pleasant to speak with. I have worked enough conventions to know who is honest, who is fake, and who is blatently rude. You find any pictures of Bill at a show and you can see the type of person he is. He was always taking the time to answer questions and tell stories to many fans eager to meet him.
Matt Boiselle If you are a hardcore zombie fan and generally a lover of the undead as a whole, then the 1968 classic film Night Of The Living Dead, is most likely a staple in your everyday flesh-eating thought process. Unfortunately, the sands of time can be cruel and unforgiving to the purists, and in the following instance, this has proven true once again. Evans City Cemetary in PA, which was one of the main focal points used in the film, has been stricken by the aforementioned sands of time, rendering the Chapel in a state of ruin. The building itself, which has been used as a storage shed for the past decades will require a $ 50,000 repair fee to restore itself to its former state. However, a group of die-hard and devoted NOTLD fans are forming together on FaceBook and at organized fundraisers to resurrect a cinematic landmark. Gary Streiner, the sound engineer on the original film, and grassroots leader of NOTLD festivals in both 2008 & 2009, is spearheading the beneficial efforts to rehab the hallmark. Amongst the donations that have already been recieved, FixtheChapel.com has been selling posters, engraved paved bricks, and scheduling walking tours and vow renewals to help with the costs. If you have the time and a few bucks to spare, head on over to the site and pick up a poster, or just paypal them a donation, and help to preserve a piece if cinematic history.
For the next forty-something hours, you can head on over to the Jib Jab website and cast yourself in their one minute rendering of Romero's classicNight of the Living Dead. This offer is only available to newsletter subscribers, but by following this link Zombies and Toys readers can get in on the action! Click this link to get started.
In 2012,the deceased have risen from their graves with only one instinct-to feed on the living. As academics speculate on the scientific cause of the phenomena, theologians point to the Armageddon foretold in the Book of Revelation. As the cities are over run and civilization crumbles, a family take refuge from the undead army in an isolated farmhouse in West Wales. But the greatest threat is already among them.
This is the premise of the newest re-imagining of George Romero's classic, Night of the Living Dead. North Bank Entertainment, along with Independent Moving Pictures and Mad Science Films, have teamed up and gotten behind director James Plumb to release this british remake of the 1968 paradigm Zombie flick. Filming is set to begin on September 24th 2011 in Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
(click for bigger zombies)
Thanks to Bloody Disgusting for the heads up. Keep following the production of this film right here on Zombies and Toys. Remember, "They're coming to get you, Barbara."
Do none of us put any stock into remakes, or is it just me refusing to hold my breath? When I caught wind of a Night of the Living Dead remake, I shook my head, suppressed my hopes, and clicked the link. What I found was a comic book released by Avatar press in July. There are thirty-three different editions, covers, and additions on the Avatar Press website (here). If you’re into comic books, hop on over and take a look.
“Fans have demanded it, the most unprecedented and horrifying night in American history continues as the next chapter of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is revealed at last! Set on that fateful evening in 1968, shocking reports from rural areas continue to flood the airwaves with accounts of the recently deceased rising up to kill the living. Now government officials begin counter-measures to calm an increasingly panic-stricken public. Questioning whether or not the unbelievable stories are truth or simply an elaborate hoax perpetrated by militants opposed to the Vietnam War, the attention of the nation's Capitol is focused on a threat more believable, as thousands of protesters converge on Capitol Hill to voice their opposition to the War. But with National Guard forces spread impossibly-thin to deal with civil unrest, Washington D.C. is completely unprepared for an event that will forever change the course of the country, and perhaps the world, as an unstoppable army of the undead begins to flood the city, bringing their blood-thirsty reign of terror to the very steps of the White House! Written by the smash duo of Mike Wolfer and John Russo, the original film co-writer, this blood-drenched five-issue series features new artist Tomas Aira. DonÆt miss all the terrifying covers, Paul (Freakangels) Duffield provides the Regular edition, Raulo (Cpt Swing) Caceres melts eyeballs with the Wraparound cover, and twisted Matt Martin splatters the Gore covers all over the page. Also, retailers can get a ultra-rare Classic B&W cover as an order incentive.”
Night of the Living Dead t-shirts available via recycling of old shirts
Who said zombies don’t care about recycling? Now available through Neoflux Productions andBootleg Horror, fans can get their own Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated t-shirts for the corpse-staggering price of 10 used shirts. By mailing in 10 used shirts and, after choosing ink colors and pinning this order form to the shirt you want the printing on, zombie-lovers can receive a NOTLD:R t-shirt pressed, printed, and packed free of charge via mail.
This is a great opportunity to reduce waste, promote recycling and reusing. Shirts will be screen-printed by Bootleg Screen Printing. Free shipping is only within the US. International shipping will be pro-rated; email bootlegscreenprinting@cox.net for International shipping details. Remember that zombies don’t just reanimate, they reuse and they recycle.
As a youngster – all the way to now – puppets have always been a large part of my entertainment life. Seriously, who doesn’t love the Muppets? If you don’t, shame on you! Many crazy and unique things have been done with this medium, from the children’s smash hit “Sesame Street,” to more stinging shows like “Avenue Q” making their mark in recent years with their sharp wit and off-the-wall comedic sensibilities. Great representations of puppets are everywhere. However, fans of the zombie genre have yet to be graced with awesomely fun puppets – until now!
Starting in 2007 at the “It Came From Lake Michigan” film festival, where Angry Young Men Ltd. – a Milwaukee, Wisconsin puppet troupe – were welcomed with free reign to do something of their choosing. So, the group decided to adapt “Night of the Living Dead” into a 30-minute puppet show, with rousing success.
With that said, those creative minds at Angry Young Men Ltd. have brought us “Night of the Living Dead – The Puppet Show” since that event three years ago, constantly refining the production to what it is today. This show is done in a similar vein to the aforementioned “Avenue Q,” with the audience being able to see the puppeteers throughout the performance. This style works well, especially with all of the fast movements required throughout. The puppets are fantastic – almost life size renditions of the characters from the movie.
Thankfully, the original story is stuck to very well, though not without interjecting some fantastic humor into the mix. Have to love the effect of when a zombie is bashed over the head, the head flies apart in all its glory. Comedic moments include the scene where the group is preparing to attempt reaching the gas pump; the “A-Team” theme music is played. Another example: when the gun-toting group arrives at the house near the end, one of the rednecks is yelling statements like “take that, gun control!” Those are merely a few samplings of the comedy bits in the show, and the addition of such lighthearted humor ultimately propel the show to be the fun and unique entity that it is.
As a whole, “Night of the Living Dead – The Puppet Show” is a fresh, hilarious homage to the original classic that is definitely to be experienced. You can watch the show via a few YouTube clips posted on their website as well as being able to order a DVD copy of the show. Or preferably, if the chance to see the show live arises, don’t hesitate to take it. This writer has yet to see the show in-person – only via the mentioned YouTube clips – but with how fun the show was on that medium, seeing it live would be that much better.
I received word this weekend that a limited number of some Night of the Living Dead shirts have just been made. The shirts can only be found at Flying Coffin and feature the iconic face of little girl, Karen Cooper. There are two versions available: One, the image glows in the dark; The other is in reflective ink.
Not exactly cheap at $33 but they do look good. Buy yours at Flying Coffin.
AMC is running a poll asking you to vote for the movie that has spawned the best zombies. You cast your votes and see if your selections are the majority winners. This fun way to voice your opinion launches with these two contenders:
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Planet Terror (2007)
To me, this one's a no-brainer! The fun only begins with those two. But go cast your vote and let your voice be heard!
Fangoriareports that horror legend, Tom Savini, will be directing his first zombie film since his remake of Night of the Living Dead. Enigma Film's Rick Danford offered a few details:
“DEATH ISLAND is a film that will bring a fresh take to the undead genre,” Danford explained. “After his remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Savini said he didn’t want to direct another zombie film unless he thought he could make them scary again. Well, with DEATH ISLAND, he intends to do just that. Greg Nicotero of KNB EFX said that this was one of the most gruesome zombie scripts he’s ever read.”
Danford also offered Fangoria a brief synopsis:
“A B-movie director sets off with his cast and crew for some location shooting on a small island just off the coast of Haiti. The locals call it Il Du Mort—Death Island. The place provides the perfect scenery for the shots they need. But when some of the cast begin to go missing, those remaining find themselves in a battle for their very lives against an island of the undead."
If you have ever wondered what Night of the Living Dead would look like if it were animated you're in luck! This new... er, resurrection of the classic will be a 3D CGI interpretation. Not only that, but it will also flesh out (the puns don't stop) the backstories of the characters. News is sparce on Night of the Living Dead: Origins but I will report more as I come across it.
Oh, and for those nervous, George has nothing to do with this version.
I haven't watched Medium since the first season but I assure you I will be watching at least one more episode. Now on CBS, Medium will feature some zombies in an episode airing this Hallow's Eve. The show's creator, Glenn Gordon Caron, said the episode being shown on the night before Halloween will put Patricia Arquette's character into George Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Albeit only as dream sequences. Still... should be fun to watch.
Through my virtual travels on the good 'ol internets, I encounter and report about as much zombie related news as I can find. Sometimes these travels bring me to the doorstep of stores, companies, and vendors. It's always a good time when I can share news about great zombie merchandise but it's an even better time when I can tell you that one of these companies has agreed to give my readers some of their offerings.
FearWerxis the compay of whom I am referring to. Their store has more zombie and horror merchandise than I have space to write about so it is a must that you go check them out. I mean, they have Winchester Tavern pint glasses! What more can I say?
FearWerx is offering up a ton of goodies for our readers this month. So make sure to say "thank you" if you run into them at any conventions this summer.
Most recently, FearWerx will be at Monstermania in Cherry Hill; Aug 21-23.
They will also be at Rue Morgue in Toronto; Aug 28-30.
Due to the large amounts of prizes this month, be ready for some spur-of-the-moment chances for bonus entries. I'll have the usual FaceBook fan and Twitterfollower bonuses in addition to a few more throughout the month. Because of the late start and amount of prizes available, the contest will run into September concluding on Friday the fourth.
So what are the prizes? One grand prize winner will receive a set of Mego-style Night of the Living Dead toys of Duane Jones as "Ben" and Bill Hinzman as "Graveyard Zombie". The grand prize winner will also receive one of FearWerx's notorious "Zombie Outbreak Survival Kits".
Three runners-up will each receive a "Zombie Outbreak Survival Kit".
Four other winners will each receive a set of Zombie Kit Warning Signs and Zombie Kit Warning Poster.
Every winner will also receive some Zombies & ToysSWAGwhich may include pins, keychains, magnets, stickers, or some other goodies.
In case you were wondering about the contents of the "Zombie Outbreak Survival Kit", it contains: 20' length of "Zombie Outbreak" barricade tape; 4 warning/hazard signs; 8 warning/hazard stickers; 8 zombie classification cards; 8 Z.E.R.O. cards; 2 zombie disposal "toe tags"; 1 "Zombie Attack" poster; 1 "Bite Kit"; 1 glow-in-the-dark Z.E.R.O. logo sticker; CD-ROM "Electronic Training Supplement".
Entering is as easy as ever: email me at zombiesandtoys@gmail.com with "FearWerx" as the subject. Make sure to include your name and address in case you are selected as a winner. To start with some fun, receive a second entry by including the name of the other Mego-type zombie FearWerx is currently offering. You may send a second email at a later date for your bonus entry.
Enough blabbing, feast your eyes on this month's goods!
By entering you agree not to hold myself or Zombies & Toys liable for razor burns, flat tires, rain, poor penmanship, athletes foot, expired coupons, or anything else your imagination can dream up. Entries will be provided to contest sponsor for promotional purposes.
I know most of you have been in suspense all week to see what zombie-related Ebay auctions would be featured today. So get your PayPal accounts funded and have a look!
Four other winners will each receive a set of Zombie Kit Warning Signs and Zombie Kit Warning Poster.
