Horror
United States of America
The Amusement Park is a film directed by horror legend George A. Romero, known for his work on the Night of the Living Dead series. The film was commissioned in 1973 by the Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania in order to shine a light on elder abuse and ageism. However, after seeing the final product, the organization deemed it too disturbing and refused to release it.
The film follows an elderly man (played by Lincoln Maazel) as he visits an amusement park for what he believes will be a fun day out. However, he soon finds himself subjected to various forms of mistreatment and discrimination by the younger patrons of the park. Throughout the course of the film, he is ignored, ridiculed, and even physically assaulted by the park-goers.
As the day progresses, the man becomes increasingly disoriented and bewildered, struggling to understand the surreal and increasingly violent world around him. The film is shot in a documentary-style format, giving it a sense of realism that adds to its unsettling nature.
Although it was never officially released, The Amusement Park gained a cult following over the years, and its rediscovery and restoration in 2018 has been hailed as a major event by horror fans. The film serves as a haunting commentary on the mistreatment and abuse of the elderly, and remains a testament to Romero's unique and uncompromising vision.
