The Red Circle

The film was packed with the fucking lot: storage drums of zombies (that once cracked open release instant living dead gas), Clu Gulager as a corrupt warehouse owner, an ex-Nazi hiding out as a mortician, re-animated weasels, full frontal cemetary dancing, the nuclear option, and of course , “Tar Man.” Quotable and memorable, this film juggles more than any sane carnival worker would ever dare, and never misses a toss. All unleashed upon us by Dan O’Bannon, who wrote Lifeforce to secretly lure away original director Tobe Hooper. Hooper was set to direct a much different version of this film in 3D that correlated much more with Romero’s original film. The constant in this equation being John A. Russo (co-creator of Night of the Living Dead), who mounted the project after parting ways with George Romero. In moment of genius or, after you watch the film, a possible momentary lapse of sanity, Russo allowed the then screen writer O’Bannon to direct. O’Bannon’s only request: Change everything.

So, get your hands on this film – I highly suggest it for Halloween party gatherings – and remember that if anything happens to the cannisters, you can always get a direct line to pentagon from the number on the side. But most importantly, make sure there are a steady stream of cops and paramedics on hand. It makes the dead happy.

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