Dead Good (Dawn Of The Dead [1978] (DVD))

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Dawn Of The Dead [1978] (DVD)
Date:	22/03/08 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An excellent horror film, full of suspense and excitement.

Disadvantages: The series has plummeted downhill ever since.

In 1968 there was 'Night of the Living Dead', George A. Romero's first film as director which would spawn a number of sequels and inevitably remakes also. Although four films have since followed, it was not until ten years later in 1978 that the man followed it up with 'Dawn of the Dead', the first of the George A. Romero zombie films that I ever saw and one that fascinated me greatly. I stumbled upon this film by chance late one night and am extremely glad that I did so. 'Dawn of the Dead' is my favourite zombie film of all time and in my opinion by far the greatest film that George A. Romero has ever directed.

Thirty years on from its release and 'Dawn of the Dead' is still as excellent as ever, it's basic premise is brilliant and everything about this film impresses me hugely. Much of the film is set within an American shopping mall, we follow the lives of four characters here and we therefore get to know them all extremely well. It is this that I love so much about 'Dawn of the Dead'; we empathise greatly with Stephen, Peter, Roger and Francine, recognising and understanding their plight in being trapped within a shopping mall as zombies roam freely around outside. It is a slick social satire, a brutal display of zombie action which provides for a greatly entertaining viewing experience. The film is amusing, the zombies are instinctively drawn to the shopping mall and appear to be window shopping as they wander around peering into the shops. It is a satisfying social commentary of consumerism, but at the same time also a greatly effective zombie film.

'Dawn of the Dead' has the best of both worlds in that not only is it a strong social satire, but also a convincingly gory zombie horror. It is widely considered to be amongst the best horror films ever made, and to be completely honest with you I have no reason to disagree with this whatsoever. This is by far my favourite of all horror films out there, there are a lot of excellent horror films in existence but it is this one I feel that has the greatest strength of all. I was also a fan of Zack Snyder's 2004 adaptation of 'Dawn of the Dead', it could perhaps be seen that it is more impressive in some ways in that the production values are far slicker and this therefore enhances the realism, there is however something really quite special about the original and it is this that has me hold it as my favourite horror film of all time.

The zombies within this film are slow moving, they're unpredictable and with their glazed over expressions and lack of speech you never quite know what they are going to do next. As you've got to know the four key protagonists here so well here, you're really nervous for their well-being and as the film progresses you hold a genuine fear for their safety. The first time I saw this film it constantly had me on the edge of my seat, there are many a heart in mouth moment and every time I watch this film I am always utterly engrossed. The whole film is extremely tense, great suspense is built throughout and this is furthered through our genuine liking for our four key protagonists. Never does this film cease to amaze me, George A. Romero wasn't even going to make any more zombie films after 'Night of the Living Dead', but I'm extremely glad that he did; had he not have done then my favourite horror film of all would never have existed.

Although the film was released a massive ten years later than 'Night of the Living Dead' we are made aware that only a couple of days have passed from where the previous film finished. Zombies are well on their way to taking over their earth, and the shelter of the shopping mall seems to be as safe a place as any. Originally they intend to take a few things from the mall and move on, they block the doors though in order to stop the zombies entering the building and the theory is that in staying here our four protagonists will be safe. In reality though they are trapped within a shopping mall, and if the zombies do manage to enter then things don't look too good for escaping given that the whole of the surrounding area is surrounded by the undead. It would probably be quite fun to be locked within a shopping mall, not when everywhere outside is overrun with zombies though; that would surely be a bit of an excitement killer. The films tag line has stuck with me for some time, 'When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth' is a powerful line within the film used to great effect.

As well as having an excellent plot basis and brilliant setting, another element of this film that furthers its entertainment value is the performances on display here. Everyone is excellent in their roles, the four key figures within the film perform excellently at all times. Great passion and emotional depth goes into the performances, all four of David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, and Gaylen Ross prove themselves to be sensational here. Ken Foree has had the most prosperous acting career of the lot of them, Gaylen Ross on the other hand has since stepped into the world of directing and currently has two documentary films on the go. Not one single element of this film is at all lacking, everything is entirely excellent and every time I see this film it impresses. How many times I've watched 'Dawn of the Dead' now I'm not too sure, it's definitely up in the double figures though.

Since 'Dawn of the Dead' the quality of this series seems to have deteriorated over time. 'Day of the Dead' followed in 1985, it then took another twenty years for the fourth in the series to emerge with the awful 'Land of the Dead' in 2005, and in 2008 'Diary of the Dead' has been released. There is already a sequel planned for 2009 and this can only be a bad sign if I'm to believe the negative reports that I've heard about 'Diary of the Dead', and given how poor I found 'Land of the Dead' to be I really have no reason not to believe. George A. Romero has never since hit the dizzy heights that he amassed with his 'Dawn of the Dead' original, it's pretty much perfect in every sense and nothing about this film in the slightest ever disappoints. This is by far the best zombie film I have ever seen, the best horror even for that matter; for anyone with even the slightest interest in horror then George A. Romero's 1978 hit 'Dawn of the Dead' is essential viewing. I've always held this film in incredibly high regard, and if a horror film ever emerges that I find more incredible than this then I will be truly shocked.


Director: George A. Romero
Year of release: 1978
Genre: Horror
Language: English
Runtime: 126 mins
BBFC Rating: 18

Summary: 'Dawn of the Dead' is without doubt my favourite horror film of all time.