It’s been five years since the father of the dead’s passing into the afterlife and we are still mourning one of the greatest legends not only in the horror game a true innovator in the horror genre, George Romero. His countless contributions to the world of film including giving a classic look and stance to the modern zombie that has been ferociously imitated by many filmmakers etched his name into this world as forever a legacy.
However, while Romero’s contributions to the cinema world may be most remembered for his Dead movies, he often ventured outside the zombie apocalypse. Movies like Monkey Shines, Creepshow, and Tales From the Darkside: The Moviealso have their own card in Romero’s bulging Rolodex. And in case you didn’t know, George Romero played an FBI agent in Jonathan Demme’s Silence of the Lambs.
I feel like at this point in the game, this little bit of horror trivia is most likely common knowledge, but I never like to assume anything. So in any regard, Romero’s uncredited walk-on role in the movie that forever tainted fava beans and Chianti is our fun horror movie fact of the day. The appearance comes after the infamous quid-pro-quo between Clarice and Lecter that dives into Starling’s psyche and traumatizing childhood memories of slaughtered lambs, thus the title of the story. Hannibal’s cleverly concocted conversational skills lead Starling to use up all her one-on-one time with the good doctor, only having to be escorted away by fellow FBI agents, one being, of course, George Romero. His cameo comes in at exactly 6:27 in the video seen below walking alongside that insufferable bastard Dr. Chilton.
So John Kransinki’s A Quiet Place raked in over $50 million in its initial weekend, further solidifying the horror revolution that we’ve enjoyed for more than two years. Kransinski was so effective as a father doing all he could to protect his children and pregnant wife, that it occurred to me that Jim Halpert was not the only alumnus of The Office to make a dent in the world of horror.
Here are just a few who’ve also made a lasting impression.
RAINN WILSON
“Question.” No one was as painfully and rudely inappropriate as Dwight K. Schrute, nor could any inhabitant of the Dunder Mifflin branch irritate Michael Scott quite like our favorite beet farmer. Well, maybe Andy. That said, the fact that the Assistant to the Regional Manager’s queries never came to an end, it was altogether fitting that what made Wilson’s appearance in House of 1000 Corpses so memorable (and ultimately sealed his doom), was that his curiosity could not be quenched.
KATHY BATES
She rode in as Jo Bennett, a no-nonsense southern belle, which wasn’t exactly in keeping with the shenanigans of Scranton, but American Horror Story aside, we’ll never have the capability to see Bates and not think about Annie Wilkes. Don’t get us wrong, Bates’ brilliance allows her to fully embody any role she chooses, but her turn as Paul Sheldon’s biggest fan was, well, a sledgehammer.
LESLIE DAVID BAKER
Let’s face it, Stanley’s monotone aggression and disdainful glances were part of his charm, but every day cannot be pretzel day. At first glance, about the best we could do was note that Baker appeared in an episode of Key & Peele. As we all know, Jordan Peele’s Get Out provided us with the most important horror film since George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), but this isn’t six degrees of Kevin Bacon, so instead, let’s turn to Dwight’s display with the CPR mannequins, because no one was more terrified of that Lecter moment than Stanley.
CRAIG ROBINSON
Big man admitted that he’d be upset if he didn’t at least get a bite of the Milky Way in This is the End, but no one who’s seen Tragedy Girls can say that they A) didn’t absolutely adore the Brianna Hildebrand and Alexandra Shipp-helmed hit, or B) elicit a squeal upon seeing Robinson on-screen pumping iron and rallying the community.
JENNA FISCHER
Pam’s relationship with Jim felt so real that it has become the goal of everyone who desires to live the dream. The foundation of that love was achieved whilst Fischer sat at her desk taking calls and conspiring with Halpert to mess with Dwight, so it’s rather perfect that Fischer rocked a phone headset as a bunch of creepy crawlers entered the equation in Slither. And don’t call her Pammie.
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT
Brief though his appearance as Danny Cordray was, Olyphant is part of The Office universe, and as such, we can look past David, the heroic cop in Romero’s The Crazies (2011), and instead revel in his crazy stance that Ewoks blew in Scream 2.
IDRIS ELBA
Charles Miner couldn’t determine what would motivate The Office’s workforce, but for our purposes here, let’s look past his appearance as Roland in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, and instead take pride in the fact that Elba appeared in the Prom Night (2008) remake, as well 28 Weeks Later. And if we could go back to Fischer for a moment, “how do you confuse 28 Days with 28 Days Later?”
Nightmare Nostalgia 