Zombie king takes Brooklyn!

By Joe Maniscalco

This event is BYOB — bring your own brain.

On May 15 and 16, the Brooklyn Academy of Music celebrates the man behind the monsters — George Romero — during a weekend retrospective featuring five of the filmmaker’s best films.

Romero first shocked movie audiences back in 1968 with his original low-budget black and white thriller “Night of the Living Dead.”

Hailed as a subversive masterpiece for its graphic depiction of flesh-eating zombies, as well as its leading African-American star, “Night of the Living Dead” has now gone on to spawn five sequels, including Romero’s latest foray into the zombie world, 2009’s “Survival of the Dead,” which opens the retrospective.

Zombies have become so ubiquitous since "Night of the Living Dead,' Romero wouldn't be surprised if a zombie showed up on Sesame Street soon, teaching kids to count.

"When we shot 'Night of the Living Dead,' none of us had any idea what it would lead to," said the director, who's honored by the retrospective, especially since his daughter lives in Brooklyn. "But I guess we struck a nerve, and I've been fortunate enough to strike a few more nerves since."

Still, zombies are just the tip of the iceberg, said Jake Perlin, associate film programmer for the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

“I love the singular, unique vision that Romero brings to all his films,” said Perlin. “He doesn’t dumb down things for the audience or scrimp on the gore.”

The George Romero weekend retrospective also features non-zombie entries “Monkey Shines,” “The Dark Half,” and “Creepshow.”

For a chance to see the director in the flesh, Romero will be on hand following the 8 pm screening of “Survival of the Dead” on May 15 for a Q&A. So you can pick the horror maven’s brain just a little bit.

“Romero!” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music [30 Lafayette Avenue between Ashland and Hanson places in Fort Greene, (718) 636-4100], May 15 and 16. Tickets $12. For info, visit www.bam.org/cinematek.

Photo BAMcinématek/Photofest