Author Maxim W. Furek's book, “Coal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit,” starts off by discussing the 1968 George Romero movie “Night of the Living Dead,” which was filmed in Evans City. Furek visited the borough and met Mayor Dean Zinkhann in the Evans City Cemetery, where the opening scenes take place. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Maxim W. Furek could have chosen any creepy locale in Pennsylvania for the first chapter of his book, “Coal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit,” but he decided on the filming location of the cult classic film, “Night of the Living Dead.”

In writing his book, Furek met with Dean Zinkhann, Evans City mayor, at the Evans City Cemetery, where the opening scenes of the 1968 film take place.

“I contend that ‘Night of the Living Dead’ wasn’t just a film about zombies,” Furek said, “but takes a sociological look at the turmoil that America was struggling with in 1968.”