John Carpenter (“Halloween”) and George A. Romero (“Night of The Living Dead”) are probably two of the most recognizable directors in the horror genre. Now Carpenter is paying tribute to his late friend and genre pioneer with the graphic novel “John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park.” An adaptation of Romero’s recently uncovered and released PSA on age discrimination.
The graphic novel version is published by Storm King Comics, which Carpenter is a partner in. It is an all-new artistic interpretation of Romero’s uniquely unnerving film.
“The Amusement Park”
“The Amusement Park” is a 1975 film that Romero made early in his career, but like many artists’ early works it became lost. It wasn’t until 2021 that the footage was rediscovered and released to general audiences by George A. Romero Foundation. The film received high praise for its hunting and surreal imagery, backed by the director’s signature biting social commentary.
Art for the graphic novel adaptation is done by illustrator Ryan Carr with writing by Jeff Whitehead. This version focuses on an impatient businessman in his 20s who meets an elderly man. As they two converse the older man talks about a defunct amusement park. While the younger man becomes increasingly disturbed by a story of an elderly man eager to recapture the memories of youth.
His tale of an amusement park becomes a bizarre, disjointed yarn about the physical and mental changes that come with age. As the elderly man is forced onto attraction after attraction that mirrors the aging process. Only to realize that he is now trapped and must relive each terrifying experience over and over.
“George was a master storyteller. I loved his work,” Carpenter explains in an announcement video for Bloody Disgusting. “The Amusement Park is a unique departure for George. Unlike the movies he generally made. But a very good one. This is one that deals directly with fear of dying. Fear of getting old. Fear of being lost.”
“John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park” is in stores now, you can grab your copy here.
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