The Amusement Park

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1:36

The Amusement Park

1975

54m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

76 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Recently discovered and restored 46 years after its completion by the George A. Romero Foundation and produced by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, The Amusement Park stars Martin's Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies and humiliations of aging in America are manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds. Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film is perhaps Romero's wildest and most imaginative movie, an allegory about the nightmarish realities of growing older, and is an alluring snapshot of the filmmaker's early artistic capacity and style and would go on to inform his ensuing filmography. The "lost" film was restored in 4k by IndieCollect in New York City.

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Critics Consensus

A blunt yet visceral depiction of society's treatment of the elderly, The Amusement Park sees George A. Romero exploring a different -- yet still chilling -- type of terror.

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Scout Tafoya

RogerEbert.com

"The Amusement Park" is the only one of Romero's films that feels deliberately episodic without losing its through-line.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 16, 2021

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

The Playlist

"The Amusement Park" is a concise film (only 52 minutes), but Romero packs it so full of detail and ambition that it contains more to appreciate than most films that run three times as long.

Rated: A-

Jun 16, 2021

Full Review

Maitland McDonagh

Film Comment Magazine

The Amusement Park is sharp social commentary rooted in brutal reality, a clear cousin to Romero's Living Dead movies despite the fact that it was a work-for-hire project.

Jun 16, 2021

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Paul Klein

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

What The Amusement Park offers is not only a dizzying, and at times disturbing look at the world through the eyes of our most vulnerable but a reminder that Romero was one of the best when it came to mixing genre and message.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 4, 2024

Full Review

Soham Gadre

Vague Visages

Romero’s movies have a workshop feel to them, which elevates the horror to a startlingly realistic terror as if it was being documented live.

Jan 9, 2024

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Bill Bria

Vague Visages

Thanks to their need to propagandize, these films often lack nuance and are tonally dull, and some of them even lack creativity. Romero refuses to let The Amusement Park fall into this trap at every turn.

Jun 6, 2023

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Carlos I

The Amusement Park is a dizzying journey into the mind of an elderly man lost in a maze of his own memories, and its long-awaited release is a cinematic gift. That this profound and unsettling film was merely a work-for-hire project further solidifies the genius of George A. Romero, demonstrating his unparalleled ability to extract deep thematic resonance and disquieting artistry from even the most restrictive of commissions.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

Horror fan 4

What a hidden gem. Even with the short run-time this movie was better than I thought it would be. Best scene is the 3 little pigs story time. Tim Treakle

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

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Jonah K

Inevitability is terrifying.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

Full Review

Logan D

An elderly man attempts to enjoy an amusement park but increasingly finds the patrons are against him and his fellow seniors. Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film is an absurdist nightmare that allegorizes the treatment of many seniors in our society. As such, the horror is a reality and therefore heartrending. I enjoyed the artistry but it hits hard. Thought lost until a 16mm print was discovered and delivered to Romero and his wife in 2017. A restored version premiered in 2019. Lincoln Mazel, who plays the unnamed protagonist, lived to be a centenarian and died at 106. I thought he looked pretty spry for a 73 year old in the film!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Overall, it's pretty amazing that George A. Romano made a movie in 1973, which has finally surfaced thanks to the good people at Shudder! This is unlike anything I have ever seen from George A. Romero and cinema. The Amusement Park is a world that is unforgettable and yet disturbing. It is a unique horror style filled with creativity that will have its viewers feeling and sympathising with every moment on screen. Visiting The Amusement Park is worth your while, and who knows, maybe I will see you at the park one day.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think I caught alzheimers just watching this.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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George A. Romero

Director

Lincoln Maazel

Actor

Harry Albacker

Actor

Phyllis Casterwiler

Actor

Pete Chovan

Actor

Marion Cook

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The Amusement Park: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Recently discovered and restored 46 years after its completion by the George A. Romero Foundation and produced by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, The Amusement Park stars Martin's Lincoln Maazel as an elderly man who finds himself disoriented and increasingly isolated as the pains, tragedies and humiliations of aging in America are manifested through roller coasters and chaotic crowds. Commissioned by the Lutheran Society, the film is perhaps Romero's wildest and most imaginative movie, an allegory about the nightmarish realities of growing older, and is an alluring snapshot of the filmmaker's early artistic capacity and style and would go on to inform his ensuing filmography. The "lost" film was restored in 4k by IndieCollect in New York City.

Director: George A. Romero
Screenwriter: Wally Cook
Distributor: RLJ Entertainment
Production Co: Laurel Tape & Film, Lutheran Film Division
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 8, 2021
Runtime: 54m

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