George a romero: Between night and dawn

Not a zombie in sight

released OUT NOW! 1971-1973 | 18 | Blu-ray & dVd (dual format) Director George romero Cast raymond laine, Jan White, lane Carroll, Will McMillan

Lasting success did not come quickly to George Romero. While 1968’s Night Of The Living Dead was an instant hit, it would be another decade before Martin and Dawn Of The Dead crowned him the king of horror. He wasn’t inactive in the interim, mind. This set collects three little-seen films released between 1971-1973.

Most will skip There’s Always Vanilla. A rare excursion away from horror, it’s a humdrum romance set against the backdrop of ’70s Pittsburgh’s music scene. Visually interesting in places, it’s sabotaged by protagonist Chris being an unlikeable, negging creep.

Far better is Season Of The Witch, a curious melodrama with ambiguous dashes of the supernatural. Jan White is excellent as Joan, a neglected suburban housewife who turns to the occult. Rooted firmly in the mundane, it’s nevertheless a witty, weird antecedent of Anna Biller’s The Love Witch.

Most fans will be familiar with The Crazies. Minimal in plot (a viral outbreak in Pittsburgh sends people insane) it transcends its budgetary limitations with pitch-black humour, while Romero’s documentary-style flourishes echo both the end of Night and the beginning of Dawn.

Extras Season Of The Witch has an optional extended cut (14 minutes longer). “When Romero Met Del Toro” is a charming, hour-long chat between the two directors. Vanilla comes with a new retrospective piece, while The Crazies has some previously unseen behind-the-scenes material and a locations featurette. Plus: commentaries on all three films; candid archive interviews with Romero and Jan White; a 60-page booklet and more.

Romero’s preferred title for Season was Jack’s Wife. Instead, it was released as the porny-sounding Hungry Wives.