How Star Wars Writers Secretly Created the Cult Zombie Horror 'Messiah of Evil'

Before shaping the galaxy far, far away, two writers behind the original Star Wars novelization and radio drama quietly crafted one of the strangest, most unsettling zombie films ever made: Messiah of Evil. Released in 1973 and largely forgotten for decades, the movie has since become a cult classic among horror fans—often cited as the ultimate Halloween watch. Its dreamlike coastal setting, eerie synth score, and slow-burn dread set it apart from typical undead fare. The film follows a young woman searching for her missing artist father in a seaside town where residents are turning into weeping, flesh-hungry ghouls. With its haunting imagery and surreal atmosphere, Messiah of Evil has influenced generations of genre filmmakers. That its creators later worked on Star Wars—helping expand that universe through novels and audio dramas—only deepens the film's mystique. For horror fans, it's proof that even the most mainstream talents can hide a dark, visionary past.