Few masters of horror have left a bigger impact than George A. Romero. He's most well-known for his introduction of the modern zombie to the media with Night of the Living Dead and his other subsequent zombie works. He's also very well known for doing horror in a way that really conveyed a deep social message, in some ways ahead of the time.
Though he has sadly passed, fans can rejoice because a brand new George A. Romero film that was previously thought to be lost for close to 50 years has just been released onto horror streaming service Shudder. It's a very different kind of movie, and it won't be for everyone, but fans of the filmmaker will notice that it's very much him. It's a little weird and unconventional, it's captivating and emotional, and it conveys a very clear social message in a terrifying way. The film is called The Amusement Park.
The Amusement Park tells the story of a nameless elderly man who steps out for what he expects to be a fun and normal day at an amusement park. Unfortunately, the park is not what it seems. The film is only 53 minutes long, but it's a complete nightmare from start to finish and in some ways feels longer than it is. The story is meant to be a commentary on elder abuse and ageism in America, and this very much comes across. As a movie, its content is completely wild. But its production and the story of how it came to be is equally as interesting.
The film was shot in 1973, but wasn't released until June 8, 2021 onto Shudder. It was actually commissioned by the Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania to be used as an educational film, about age discrimination and elder abuse. However, they deemed it a bit too edgy and horrifying for their liking and it was shelved and eventually thought to be lost. A 16mm print of the film was found in 2017, and the George A. Romero Foundation commissioned a 4k restoration to be done by IndieCollect. None of the people save for the lead in the film are paid actors. They are all either elderly people who live in care homes or younger people who work with the elderly.
Some aspects of the film are a little dated, but most of it feels like it could fit in with modern horror. "Woke horror" is very much what's in right now, with most acclaimed horror films conveying some sort of sociopolitical message. One thing that does stand out about The Amusement Park, is its beginning. There is a full monologue that explains this film and what it's about. This would never happen with modern horror, as most of them try to bury their message a bit in a lot of visual metaphors. The visual metaphors are still plenty in The Amusement Park, but there's really no subtlety or aspect of guessing.
Part of what makes this film so striking is how recognizable its metaphors actually are. There are elements of elderly people being discriminated against in terms of things like driving and independence. Some of the most heartbreaking scenes relate to the invisibility and neglect elderly people seem to suffer. Even without the monologues that explain what's going on, it would be abundantly clear what the film is trying to convey. When the viewer is watching this movie, which really does feel like a nightmare because of how anxiety-inducing and chaotic it is, there's just this overwhelming sense of sadness and dread because of how grounded in reality it is.
This was meant to be an educational film, but it really does just feel like straight horror. It won't be for everyone because it's such a wild ride, much like the rollercoasters in the movie. It's not terribly gory or gross, but there is some violence. It's eerie and full of stress and anxiety, and the main character is clearly going through an incredibly horrifying time. Overall though, it's just very sad and massively thought-provoking. For most people, this fate is coming. Everyone gets older, most people live to be considered elderly. The horrible things that happen to the old man in this film, are likely awaiting viewers when it's their time if they aren't elderly already. It's hard to find something more rooted in realness than that.
Despite being filmed close to 50 years ago, these metaphors are relevant and recognizable in 2021. That is something that is really resonating with people in the horror community who are affected by The Amusement Park. How sad is that? The issue is still the same now as it was in the early '70s, and that's incredibly depressing. It's also scary because it's a fate coming to most people-- which is a message the film really tries to hammer in during its closing monologue.
For those who can handle something a bit heavy and sad and scary, this is a really interesting and thought-provoking watch. It of course helps that it's a new release from a director people miss dearly. However, the viewing itself also kind of feels like a trip to an amusement park and it isn't one that can be done too lightly.