Ahead of this year's Zombie Walk on October 24, organizers held a "Special Directors Cut Edition" Saturday to celebrate director George Romero—already a Toronto resident—becoming a Canadian citizen, as well as the premiere of his new film, Survival of the Dead. Several hundred zombies gathered in Alexandra Park before the walk, and there was a very un-undead-like buzz of excitement as participants fretted over their torn rags and seeping wounds in anticipation of meeting the cult director at their destination, Yonge-Dundas Square. Organizer Thea Munster warned zombies not to mutter "brains" within earshot of Romero, as his zombies do not speak. However, no one mentioned the half-dozen or so people dressed as security agents from the Umbrella Corporation (a creation of the Resident Evil franchise).
Arriving in the square, the zombies shuffled up a red carpet to the front of the stage and watched the surprisingly avuncular Romero receive a surprise gift—a model CN Tower in the grasp of a disembodied hand—from Councillor Kyle Rae and After Dark film festival programmer Colin Geddes. Romero addressed the assembled zombies, asking them, "Where were you when I was filming?"
All photos by Miles Storey/Torontoist, unless otherwise noted.

Newsstand: November 23, 2009

I'm sick of zombies and vampires.
To be sick of Zombies is to be sick of Undeath (apologies to Samuel Johnson)
Wow, some really great makeup here...I've been meaning to do this for years and never have!
When will werewolves get their time in the pop culture spotlight?
There are werewolves in Twilight and Harry Potter. Fox is developing a series about female werewolves and the Benicio Del Toro Wolfman comes out next year.
Come on, who would you rather be - an urbane sexy undead who goes to cocktail parties or a big furry dog-monster that gets shot at by hillbillies?
Wait a minute -- I think I see my son up there in the photo!
;=)
Donna Carrick