Short Takes

Suffocating panic ensues when a colossal biological boo-boo by Uncle Sam renders the sleepy citizenry of Evans City into raving murderous lunatics. Ever Mr. Sunshine, the great George Romero skillfully feigns an earnest search for sanity within the grossly insane circumstance of innocent townsfolk under seige both mentally and by frantic chemsuit-clad goon squads sent to "contain" the epidemic. And much like the zombie defenders of Night of the Living Dead, a plucky clutch of earthy contrarians -- Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones, Lane Caroll, Lynn Lowry and Richard Liberty -- muster heroism in the bleakest of hours. Well, those who don't go nutzoid and deflower their own daughter, or Ginsu an army reservist just for having the world's most ill-advised toupee. Those CineSchlockers who can muster sufficient life force after the here-we-go-again finale (albeit amusingly tied to Return of the Living Dead) should proceed directly to the invigorating commentary by Mr. Romero. Blue Underground also provides a charming interview with Ms. Lowry the ever-crazed "Scary Carrie" lookalike of Shivers and I Drink Your Blood who's now an exceedingly well-adjusted lounge singer. Two breasts. 68 corpses. Crowbar kitchen redecoration. Underwear packing. Knitting needle ventilation. Green Stamp pilfering. Flame throwing. One dead duck. Richard France resists the cold embrace of technology, "Stick it up your big, fat ELECTRONIC ass!!!" (1973, 103 mins, 1.66:1 anam, DD mono, Commentary, Interview, Trailers, Gallery.)