By Miles Storey

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.