A HISTORIC cinema is planning to pay tribute to a iconic film director who died this month.

American director George A Romero, who died at 77 from cancer, is credited with revolutionising the horror genre and creating the modern cinematic ‘zombie’.

The 123-year-old Market Hall Cinema, in Brynmawr, will pay tribute to the director this Friday with a impromptu ‘cult classic’ screening of one his early films, The Crazies (1973).

John Fennessy, of the Market Hall Cinema, said: “George was more than just the godfather of the zombie craze, he one of the key figures in the independent film making movement.

“George was a writer, producer, director and wearer of the coolest glasses in cinema (and) his films are text books in horror and suspense.

“His 1973 film The Crazies - which was recently given the big budget Hollywood remake treatment - is perhaps his overlooked masterpiece.”

Each October, The Market Hall Cinema hosts a Hallowe’en All-Nighter playing five horror classics through the night; which has previously featured several films by the iconic filmmaker.

Mr Fennessy, who once met Mr Romero at a horror horror convention, said: “The sense of impending dread and chaos in The Crazies is terrifying. I can’t think of better tribute to this visionary film maker.”

He added: “To see a terrifying, horror movie on a huge screen in a darkened room in Wales’ oldest picture house is perhaps the greatest cinema experience you can have.”

George A Romero is widely known for his The Dead trilogy including his breakthrough hit, Night of the Living Dead (1968)

The screening will take place on Friday, July 21, at 10pm with tickets priced at £3.50.

For information, call the cinema’s box office 01495 310576 or visit markethallcinema.co.uk