DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)

• Director: George A. Romero
• Featured special makeup effects: Tom Savini
• Cast: Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato
• Film: 101mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: 20:30 – 23:15 [18+]

As the world is overrun by zombies, a group of survivors sheltering underground must decide how to deal with the undead.

“THE DARKEST DAY OF HORROR THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN…”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11^th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! —  a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

Opening night begins with host Token Homo unveiling the full SYNTHETIC FLESH! programme of 26 films. Then, he is stupidly proud to introduce one of the greatest — and goriest! — displays of monster makeup FX in the history of horror cinema, DAY OF THE DEAD (1985).

The final part in George A. Romero’s iconic LIVING DEAD trilogy, DAY OF THE DEAD comes after the initial zombie outbreak in NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968), and the rise of the swarm in DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978). The film tells a new story of how the last remnants of humanity have taken refuge underground, seeking survival and a solution. Romero’s favourite of the original films, the Pittsburgh-based filmmaker described DAY OF THE DEAD as a “tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse even in this small little pie-slice of society”.

The film’s jaw-dropping FX were designed by legendary makeup artist, actor, stunt performer, and director, Tom Savini. A former combat photographer during the Vietnam War, Savini is renowned for creating realistic gore FX, earning him the nickname ‘The Sultan of Splatter’ among a generation of slasher fans raised on FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980) and THE PROWLER (1981). However, it was Romero’s two monster movies — DAWN OF THE DEAD and DAY OF THE DEAD — that won him wider recognition, nominated for a ’Saturn Award’ for Best Make-Up Effects in 1979 and winning in 1985.

“It took over a year for DAY OF THE DEAD to arrive in the UK after its original American release. I’d never been more excited to slip through my local cinema’s lax age controls to see a film I had been reading about for that entire time. Romero’s nightmare vision haunted me from the very first ‘hello’, but it was Savini’s extraordinary zombie makeup and gore FX that captured my teenage imagination. Howard Sherman’s performance as experimental zombie ‘Bub’ reveals the true heart of the monster under layers of latex and ranks alongside horror legends like Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney. I can’t wait to celebrate the film’s 40^th Anniversary with you all.”

Token Homo

Polite notice: We are projecting DAY OF THE DEAD with subtitles from the best available digital source. DAY OF THE DEAD contains scenes of extreme violence, very graphic gore, and discriminatory language. If you need to know more, read the BBFC’s content warning (itself a litany of horrors…).

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50+. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on IG & Letterboxd or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london