After the massive success of DAWN OF THE DEAD, most filmmakers would’ve doubled down on horror. George Romero did the opposite. With KNIGHTRIDERS, he left zombies behind and made what is arguably the most personal and unconventional film of his career.
A character-driven drama about a traveling Renaissance faire troupe that stages full-contact jousts on motorcycles, KNIGHTRIDERS trades gore for idealism—and gives frequent Romero collaborator Tom Savini a rare turn as a dramatic leading man, opposite a then-rising star named Ed Harris.
At the time, the film baffled audiences and bombed at the box office. But over the decades, KNIGHTRIDERS has quietly built a reputation as one of Romero’s most soulful and underappreciated works. In this episode, we explore how the film came to be, how Romero’s countercultural ideals shaped it, and how it eventually earned its place as a cult favorite.
Coming Up:
CREEPSHOW (1982)
DAY OF THE DEAD (1985)
MONKEY SHINES (1988)
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop, with special thanks to Todd Davis.
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