George A. Romero: How One Man Reshaped Horror Forever | Coffee Chat of Horrors

Pour your coffee, my Creepeies — today we’re diving deep into the legacy of George A. Romero, the visionary filmmaker who completely reshaped the horror genre and redefined what we now call the modern zombie. From his early days at the Carnegie Institute of Technology to directing segments for Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Romero’s journey is as unexpected as it is iconic.

In this episode of Coffee Chat of Horrors, we explore how Night of the Living Dead (1968)—a film that never once uses the word “zombie”—became a groundbreaking cult classic that changed horror history forever. We’ll break down his innovations, his inspirations (including I Am Legend by Richard Matheson), and how his vision swept away older Caribbean zombie folklore to create a new cinematic monster.

We’re also talking about Romero’s later classics like Dawn of the Dead, Martin, Creepshow, Tales From the Darkside, and his incredible work mentoring future filmmakers at the Douglas Education Center, where he launched his own filmmaking program before his passing in 2017.

Stay spooky, join the conversation, and let me know which Romero film shaped your horror heart the most!