Thanks, George (831 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 1.87 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Kent Weirdo is back (View user info) at 2005-11-27 05:55:48 EST
Zombie movies are starting to fade out of the limelight that they've lumbered into yet again, it seems. Looks like I'll have to wait another ten years before everyone runs out of ideas again and starts sucking off of entities of the past. It'll happen again. With zombies, it's already happened before.
But even in the bare grips of this zombie mania, which was re-realized by films such as "28 Days Later" (even though it isn't a zombie film, it still gave the genre some steam), and capped off by the disappointing "Land of the Dead", it still seems like a lot of people still don't really consider the film that really got the modern zombie genre off the ground. Shit, most of the zombie fans that I know still haven't even seen it.
...
Released in 1978, Dawn of the Dead is the sequel to the 1968 cult classic "Night of the Living Dead", and was written and directed once again by horror filmmaker George A. Romero, who has been hailed as the father of modern zombie cinema.
The story is set just a few weeks ahead of the events of the first film. The unknown force that is raising the recently deceased is still persisting. As more people are being killed and eaten by the walking corpses - only to become flesh-eating zombies themselves - the world has started to fall into a state of disarray. The end is on the horizon.
Four people - a traffic helicopter pilot, his girlfriend from the WGON news studio, and two national guardsman - run away from their responsibilities (and the growing zombie threat) in a traffic helicopter. They fly around, searching for safety, when they finally take refuge inside a shopping mall that is overrun with the living dead. Through a series of suspenseful sweeps throughout the shopping mall, as they gather supplies and kill the zombies, the four manage to secure the mall as their own safe haven. A monument to decadent consumerism and a barricaded fortress all in one...
But as time passes, they begin to see that the mall has become their prison, rather than their salvation, and the number of undead outside continues to grow each day...
The film's make-up effects and its dated style are probably the most noticeable attributes of the film (which reportedly only cost $1.5 million dollars to produce).
Even so, with its apocalyptic vision, social commentary on consumerism, bits of dark humor, and its sickening scenes of abundant blood and gore (compliments of make-up effects wizard Tom Savini), Dawn of the Dead was well recieved by audiences of the late 70's (especially in Europe, thanks to distribution efforts by Italian filmmaker Dario Argento).
Over time, Dawn has acquired the same cult status as it's prequel, and has even been hailed as the greatest zombie film ever made. Over the decades, it has been imitated, blatantly ripped-off, even remade (2004's Dawn of the Dead). But with the exception of the first film, nothing has ever come close to achieving the greatness (in a culty way) that Dawn has earned.
To me, the atmosphere of the film was probably one of the most gripping attributes. While I could've thought of a few other ways to really cement the vibe, the film does well in presenting a world where there's nowhere to run, and everywhere that you do is ruled by death. I first saw this film at the age of 12, and to me, this was the most frightening aspect. I guess that the reason that I really love this film was that it was the first movie to ever really scare me - nay - it was the first film that has ever completely disturbed me.
Its just too bad that the last two sequels (Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead) didn't turn out as well as they were originally conceived, but 50/50 isn't bad as far as films go.
So, horror fans, the next time that you watch any zombie movie that was made after 1978 (with the exception of The Serpent and the Rainbow), just remember that it probably wouldn't even exist if it weren't for...
User Reviews
Submitted by Stuch (user info) at 2006-03-13 20:34:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Shaun of the Dead". A film by zombie fans for zombie fans.
I have met people who call "House of the Dead" their favourite ever zombie film, it's depressing. "Dawn of the Dead" will forever remain my favourite, for all the reasons you have mentioned and more.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-11-29 16:19:38 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2005-11-28 16:04:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
you should soooo replace siskel and roper. i liked the part in the original with the kids, that was disturbing. and picking a johnny cash as the intro song for the remake was awesome.
---
Ken Foree (who played as Peter; the black male lead) still has trouble watching that scene where he guns down the two zombie children at the abandoned airfield.
You know, I still have to give credit to the Dawn of the Dead remake. Even though Romero had nothing to do with the production, it was still okay as it's own thing.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2005-11-28 16:04:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you should soooo replace siskel and roper. i liked the part in the original with the kids, that was disturbing. and picking a johnny cash as the intro song for the remake was awesome.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-11-28 12:54:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I just bought the DVD last month.
It rocks hard.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-11-28 05:22:02 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-11-27 14:55:13 (#)
Ranking: 1
That's because low-budget movies have more heart and soul in them than the big-budgets, Kent.
---
What about Kill Bill? That film (both volumes = one sinny) came from the bottom of Tarantino's pop-culture/movie-loving heart, and it did well. I mean, I can understand why, what with all of the action shit that appeals to your run-of-the-mill moviegoer, but it still, in a way, had heart (OH YES IT DID).
Though, my comment on low-budget-versus-big-budget was aimed soley at Romero's films.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2005-11-27 23:56:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 anything with zombies.
now i wish someone would make a zombie humor post.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-11-27 14:55:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
That's because low-budget movies have more heart and soul in them than the big-budgets, Kent.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2005-11-27 11:00:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
'Night' is a better film in my op but Dawn is still the shiznit
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-11-27 10:36:06 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
It's also kind of funny to me that Romero's big-budget films weren't as well-received as his low-budget films. But in a way, that kind of rules.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-11-27 09:17:53 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-11-27 07:57:10 (#)
Ranking: 2
"atention all shoppers, If you have a sweet tooth we have a special treat for you."
---
Dude, of all things to quote from the movie, that has got to be one of the biggest gems. You know, the only reason that they played the recorded intercom ads was because they couldn't figure out how to shut that shit off while shooting.
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-11-27 07:57:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"atention all shoppers, If you have a sweet tooth we have a special treat for you."
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-11-27 06:28:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like film review posts.