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Simply A Masterpiece

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A Masterpiece!

Writer/Director George A. Romero introduced the film world to the modern day version of zombies with his 1968 horror classic "Night of the Living Dead" and with this 1978 sequel he takes the living dead horror sub-genre he created to the next level, introducing the living dead to a much wider post-apocalyptic world where civil order has completely broken down. There are a handful of movies like "A Boy and His Dog" or "The Omega Man" or "The Ultimate Warrior" that were made earlier and showed a destroyed world with scavengers living off the remnants of our ruined world, but Romeo's vision of the apocalypse shows the actual breakdown (a pre-apocalypse, if you will) that led to that broken post-apocalyptic world. The only other film I can think of that did something similar to this was Ray Milland's "Panic in Year Zero," although that film was nowhere as harrowing and by the end of the film order was restored. As with all of Romero's Dead films, this second film in the series follows a new set of characters. A TV news station manager is working as things begin to fall apart. That's when she and her "Flyboy" helicopter pilot boyfriend take off for somewhere safe, along with a pair of SWAT Team deserters, one of whom is played by genre mainstay Ken Foree, the only real name actor in the film (unless you count Tom Savini in a memorable bit part near the end of the film) in an early acting role. The group flies out into the night when it becomes clear that the police and national guard have lost control and it's everyone for themselves. There's a great moment at one point that subtly underscores frightening nature of the breakdown when Flyboy asks a police officer loading supplied on a boat where he's going and the office replies, "Down river. We got an idea maybe we can make it to the island!" When asked what island, he replies "Any island." The foursome also fly off without any idea where they are going, but eventually stumble upon a shopping mall and quickly figure out that this place is loaded with everything they need to survive. Before they can move in though, they have to clear the mall of zombies, which is the film's high point and extremely entertaining. This portion of the film is likely why "Dawn of the Dead" is the most popular of the Dead films, because of the wish fulfillment aspect of being able to have your run of a mall, taking what you want, eating what you want, and having everything you ever wanted without any consequences. I think this was the first post-apocalyptic film to make the end-of-the-world seem fun. This kind of wish fulfillment was revisited memorably in "Night of the Comet" and a few other last-man-on-earth and end-of-the-world stories, but Romero uses this story element to make a political statement about consumerism and capitalism, something he's done with all of his Dead films, using the zombie story as an avenue to make a socio-political statement. It's this subtext that sets Romero's zombie films apart from others. Not only are they entertaining, but they also have something to say. Asked why zombies seem to be covering on the mall, Ken Foree replies, "They're after the place. They don't know why; they just remember. Remember that they want to be in here." To which Francine asks "What the hell are they?" Flyboy replies "They're us, that's all." Mindless consumers drawn to the mall, which is what our foursome also becomes once they clear out the mall and find themselves rich, bored, and left empty once they've accumulated everything they've ever wanted. However, as with all capitalist societies, there's always someone else who's envious of what you have and they don't, so enter Tom Savini and is biker gang who want to break into the mall and loot their peaceful sanctuary. This may make "Dawn of the Dead" sound very quite intellectual and thought provoking, which I believe it is, but it's also bloody, cartoony fun on a straight entertainment level, delivering some excellent horror suspenseful movie moments as well. The film contains a number of iconic horror movie moments, including a zombie getting the top of his head sliced off with a helicopter blade, a notorious shotgun head explosion, a blood pressure machine, and really too many classic moments to mention. Tom Savini's cartoony, yet horrifyingly gory special effects are a real treat for fans of old-school practical effects. And in regards to straight up zombie action, there are some unique situations, including one where I was quite taken aback upon rewatching the film where Ken Foree finds himself fighting off two child-zombies and having to shoot them, which was more shocking of a scene than I remember. Another part of the film that has to be given it's due is the terrific score by Gobin (billed as The Goblins) and Dario Argento. The pounding synthesizers over the film's opening help establish the dour and hopelessness of the zombie onslaught, while at the same time the campy mall muzak is a hilarious ear-worm that you cannot get out of your head. One unpleasant surprise rewatching this film was how bad the photography was. There seemed to be many scenes that were out of focus or the lighting was off, that I was did not remember. You could argue that this helps with the film's grunginess and punk rock attitude, but it mainly just looks amateurish. However, that's a minor blemish on what is otherwise a classic horror film that surpasses the original and remains of the best zombie flicks ever committed to film.

From the first time I saw it, and the several dozen times since then, it remains a favourite movie. Why?First of all, the opening scene. I nearly fell off my chair from laughter at that!Then let me point out the atmophseric soundtracks and effects. Coupled with amazing shots, they deliver the weight (or levity) they were supposed to. Plus they have that retro sound, you know from when synthetizers weren't in every household pc.The actors are awesome, if a bit exaggerating at times, but that has a comical or dramatic value. The characters are well formed, and you can build up your sympathy with them over the course of the film.It's full of action, but there are relief-filled moments, where the much sought-after security seems to be achieved. Somehow the mood conveys, that it is not meant to last. Zombies are slow, but that creepiness can be even more frightening than if they were running at you.It's not just the action, but rather the sheer ingenuity and ideas that make this movie great (along the criticism of society). Like how they navigate the mall at first, then how they barricade the doors.Let's not forget humour! It's a bit dark I suppose, a bit ironic, but masterfully delivered! Grab some popcorn and soda from your local mall for this one! :D

Dawn of the Dead is George A. Romero's masterpiece - one of the best zombie apocalyptic movies of all time. It is 1978 classic this movie really started the zombie genre. It is been almost 40 years anniversary now since this movie come out. Night of the Living Dead was George A. Romero's first film that really introduced the zombie genre, but this to me really started the zombie praise. This in my opinion is one of the best zombie movies of all time. It is my number 1 favorite zombie movie I love this movie to death and it is one of my personal favorite horror films of all time. This movie is based on a Zombie apocalypse this group find's them self's with this pilot who takes them with the helicopter in the air and they find a shopping mall. There is a perfect place to go in to a "Zombie Apocalypse." So they go in to shopping mall and they have every single item in that shopping mall after disposal to use on the zombies. As you can tell it is a very fun movie but more important this movie inspires zombies. Without this movie there wouldn't have been The Walking Dead there wouldn't be 28 Days Later there wouldn't have been any of that. This movie is very important this days it was remade in 2004. It is a fun, fun ride I enjoy this film it is entertaining horror flick. Back in the 1978 that come out it was more scary than it is today. This is where I give this movie the most credit, just like... you have a great time watching people murdering zombies. This movie has a great action, great story, plot, great effects the real zombies. It has gore, blood, you se heads been blowing off. George A. Romero's wrote and direct brilliantly this movie. Tom Savini creates a great special effects for the zombies. Great make up, great blood squibs. The film is fast paced it is excellent brilliant. You see all those SWAT team sieging the building shooting the zombies and gunning the down violent gang. You see whole world comes to an end and people shooting zombies even kids are zombies in this movie. The group in the shopping mall has to deal not only with zombies and the disposing them, they also have to deal with poachers who break in to their home and start stealing items and letting zombies in the mall. Tom Savini was one of the motorcycle poachers who was stealing items in the mall. Gaylen Ross was a fantastic babe as Francine news reporter. David Emge as Stephen the pilot was excellent. Ken Foree as Peter a SWAT team member was the best in this movie. Scott H. Reiniger as Roger another SWAT team member was good in his role. They don't make movies like this today anymore. It's a R-rated movie and it is a perfect 10. Dawn of the Dead is one of the best zombie apocalyptic movies of all time, I highly recommend this film to any horror fan.

Dawn of the Dead is for me the best one out of the three original The Dead series by Romero. Ofc I also like Night of the Living Dead (which was released before I was born) and Day of the Dead (the first one of those 3 movies I watched). After watching Day of the Dead, I just had to watch the 2 older ones (in "best" copy-copied VHS-quality) and of course such epics like Zombi Holocaust, City of the Living Dead and so on.Dawn of the Dead is everything that defines the genre of zombie movies and it is a masterpiece of horror that belongs to the hall of fame of "modern" horror like Evil Dead, The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Shining, Psycho and a few other masterpieces.After experiencing Romero's first zombie movies and the two first Evil Dead movies I was bound to be a connoisseur of horror in this incarnation to my last day.Also, I like the Remake by Zack Snyder from 2004. Sadly the remake of Day of the Dead (2008) directed by Steve Miner is a rather poor one.