What does Barry think of Oswalt's tipping of the hat, so to speak? Eh, not much.

"I haven't heard it but I know the gist. From what I was told, it seemed like he just needed a funny title. He had an idea for a skit, and he needed a comic title or conception. He picked my film, but it could have been any other. I doubt he's ever seen the movie, so it didn't have much of a connection to me. It couldn't have hurt my film to get that attention though."

The 61-year-old Barry is now retired and enjoying time with his children and keeping his bookstore operational, albeit on a small scale, online. After his early foray into moviemaking, he lived a relatively conventional and happily ordinary life — a guy contented in his role as father and business owner. But it's undeniable that the attention his old movie brought him has put a spring in his step, just as he began suffering heart-related health problems and needed it most.

"When I got sick, I don't know where my mind would be if I didn't have some positive things to think about," Barry says. "The most positive thing is my kids, and also the movie, which came out at a great time in that respect. It gave me something else to think about, and that was good. I observed the discovery of the film like a dream. I feel sometimes like I'm not a part of it, like I didn't make it and I just came across it. I'm pleasantly disassociated with it. I'm glad that some people like the movie, and I don't mind if some people laugh and they think it's terrible. That's fine too."

Barry laughs out loud, before concluding, with characteristic modesty, "I can come up with lots of reasons why people wouldn't like Death Bed."

George Barry's Death Bed: the Bed That Eats is available now through Cult Epics.

> Email Brett Callwood