Interesting that it remained such a big deal in his life (even though it's such a minor -- if iconic -- screen role).
God, that opening is stunning. Near-perfect filmmaking. It's like the entire zombie genre descends directly from that first chilly opening shot of that crummy Pennsylvania road.
The opening moments of Season 1 Episode 1 of The Walking Dead reminded me immediately of Night of the Living Dead; that same mundane, normal, completely un-cinematic/un-glamorous world that's nevertheless somehow terminally off-kilter and filled with dread.
Since this brings up the film, I must mention the Save the Chapel. A campaign going on right now to stop the town from tearing down the cemetery chapel featured in the film. My friend Tricia is actively involved doing segments called Corpse O' Clock news and she's been able to meet some real key people involved with the film, including a phone interview with Romero himself. What this means for me, well my artwork is featured in the morphing backgrounds of the Corpse O' Clock segments. You can see them in the news portion of the site.
I just watched the 1990 Tom Savini directed version of Night of the Living Dead and I effin' loved it! It does the original justice and the zombies are awesome vintage Savini looking!
February 09, 2012 9:09 AM
[Image] From the Chicago Sun-Times
Bill Hinzman, credited with helping to give birth to a new horror film genre for his chilling role as the first zombie to lurch onscreen in “Night of the Living Dead,” used to joke with his family that they had better handle his funeral arrangements in exactly the right way.
“He just always said he needed to be cremated, because if we didn’t, he would come back,” said his daughter, Heidi Hinzman.
Mr. Hinzman died Sunday at age 75 in Pennsylvania, where the horror classic was filmed.
"Obituary: Bill Hinzman, 75, first zombie onscreen in ‘Night of the Living Dead’"
7 Comments -
Interesting that it remained such a big deal in his life (even though it's such a minor -- if iconic -- screen role).
God, that opening is stunning. Near-perfect filmmaking. It's like the entire zombie genre descends directly from that first chilly opening shot of that crummy Pennsylvania road.
The opening moments of Season 1 Episode 1 of The Walking Dead reminded me immediately of Night of the Living Dead; that same mundane, normal, completely un-cinematic/un-glamorous world that's nevertheless somehow terminally off-kilter and filled with dread.
February 08, 2012 11:17 PM
Since this brings up the film, I must mention the Save the Chapel. A campaign going on right now to stop the town from tearing down the cemetery chapel featured in the film. My friend Tricia is actively involved doing segments called Corpse O' Clock news and she's been able to meet some real key people involved with the film, including a phone interview with Romero himself. What this means for me, well my artwork is featured in the morphing backgrounds of the Corpse O' Clock segments. You can see them in the news portion of the site.
Anyway, RIP Bill:)
February 09, 2012 3:42 AM
Corpse O' Clock?
February 09, 2012 4:35 AM
Reminds me of the scary cuckoo clock in that Tex Avery cartoon...the cuckoo is a skeleton, and the brand on the clock face is "BOO-LOVA"
February 09, 2012 6:47 AM
I would love that clock.
February 09, 2012 6:59 AM
Corpse o' Clock
February 09, 2012 9:05 AM
I just watched the 1990 Tom Savini directed version of Night of the Living Dead and I effin' loved it! It does the original justice and the zombies are awesome vintage Savini looking!
February 09, 2012 9:09 AM