Exciting Details on George A. Romero's Unreleased 1973 Horror Film THE AMUSEMENT PARK which Might Get Actually Released
Until recently, I had never heard a film made by director George A. Romero called The Amusement Park. After all, the film doesn’t even showed up on the director’s IMDb page! But, the movie exists!
It was made in 1973 and according to one person who has seen the film, writer Daniel Kraus, it’s a “revelation” and the filmmakers “most overtly horrifying film.” The people who funded the film never wanted it to see the light of day because it is such a “hellish” film.
Well, Kraus is looking to change that! He’s looking for donations to restore the film so that he can push for it to be released. After reading all of his tweets below, I couldn’t be more excited to see this movie! In regards to the greatness of the film, he says:
“This is Romero at the height of his full-throttle, machine-gun-edit, CRAZIES-era confidence. It’s a sun-soaked nightmare: bright, loud, demented, disorienting.”
I feel ashamed that I have never heard of this films before. But, now that I know it exists, I must see this movie!
If you want to get to the level of excitement that I’m at, make sure to read all of the tweets below. When you’re done, tell us what you think! Do you want to see The Amusement Park!?
I’m about to watch George A. Romero’s virtually unseen 1973 movie THE AMUSEMENT PARK (shot between Season of the Witch & The Crazies). Been trying to find this for 20 years. pic.twitter.com/ng6WqOeR6y
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 10, 2018
OK, this movie is a REVELATION. pic.twitter.com/PaZA2HNDAW
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
With the exception of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD—maybe—THE AMUSEMENT PARK is Romero’s most overtly horrifying film. Hugely upsetting in form & function. pic.twitter.com/BmyS5iTIyU
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
The scholar Tony Williams, who saw the film 30 years ago, wrote “The film is far too powerful for American society...It must remain under lock & key never seeing the light of day.”
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
It was never shown publicly. The people who funded it wouldn’t allow it. And no wonder. It’s hellish. In Romero’s long career of criticizing American institutions, never was he so merciless. pic.twitter.com/987qbeb1J0
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
Where can you see this savage masterwork? You can’t. But I’m dedicating myself to changing that. pic.twitter.com/nayHmSzeNq
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
Can you help? Yes, probably. Give me some time to figure out what’s what. This is truly one of those magical (cursed?) objects that I cannot believe has fallen through the cinematic cracks. We’ll drag it back.
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
I mean, THE AMUSEMENT PARK doesn’t even show up on Romero’s @IMDb page! This thing is long-long-long-lost. What does that tell me? It’s dangerous & uncomfortable.
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
Everyone’s excited! That’s good. This is Romero at the height of his full-throttle, machine-gun-edit, CRAZIES-era confidence. It’s a sun-soaked nightmare: bright, loud, demented, disorienting. (It is *not*, as some sources report, a documentary.) pic.twitter.com/h7OIZixyvy
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
But I repeat: there is *no* way to see this right now. That said, rest assured people are working on fixing that. It will take a little time. Please be patient.
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
For right now, there *is* something you can do. @theGARFofficial is accepting donations toward the film’s restoration. —> https://t.co/pyGeMNZULg
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 11, 2018
A big day for Romero's lost 1973 film THE AMUSEMENT PARK! I've heard from @theGARFofficial that restoration donations are pouring in!! Donate at the below link. [I'm tagging some folks who might signal-boost this?] https://t.co/pyGeMNZULg pic.twitter.com/s8HU5PBLoh
— Daniel Kraus (@DanielDKraus) November 12, 2018