Dawn of the Dead (1978)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer:

George A. Romero (written by)

Release Date:

24 May 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.

Plot:

Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.

Plot Keywords:

Mall | Sequel | Shopping Mall | Helicopter | Pennsylvania

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

David Emge	...	Stephen
Ken Foree	...	Peter
Scott H. Reiniger	...	Roger
Gaylen Ross	...	Francine
David Crawford	...	Dr. James Foster
David Early	...	Mr. Sidney Berman, TV Interviewer
Richard France	...	Dr. Milliard Rausch - Scientist
Howard Smith	...	TV Commentator
Daniel Dietrich	...	Givens
Fred Baker	...	Police Commander
James A. Baffico	...	Wooley, Maniacle SWAT Cop (as Jim Baffico)
Rod Stouffer	...	Rod Tucker - Young Officer on Roof
Jese Del Gre	...	Old Priest
Clayton McKinnon	...	3rd SWAT Cop in Projects Apt.
John Rice	...	2nd SWAT Cop in Projects Apt.

Also Known As:

George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead (UK) (closing credits title) (USA) (complete title)
Dawn of the Living Dead
The Zombies (Philippines: English title)
Zombi (Italy)
Zombie: Dawn of the Dead
Zombies
Zombies: Dawn of the Dead (UK) (video box title)

Runtime:

126 min | Germany:156 min (extended version) | Italy:117 min (Dario Argento's European/Italian Cut) | Spain:115 min | USA:128 min (DVD version) | USA:139 min (director's cut)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (German prints) | Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) (2004) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Australia:R | Chile:14 (video rating) | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Denmark:16 | France:-16 (re-rating) | France:X (original rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 (original rating) | Norway:15 (re-rating) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:Open (rating surrendered) (1983) | USA:R (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Harold W. Brown Memorial Field - 3926 Logans Farm Road, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Laurel Group

Trivia:

Extras who appeared in this film were reportedly given $20 in cash, a box lunch, and a Dawn of the Dead T-shirt.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Peter shoots the biker with the tommy-gun off his bike, blood is already on the ground.

Quotes:

Peter: Go on, get out of here.
Francine Parker: Peter...
Peter: I said get out of here.
Francine Parker: Jesus Christ, Peter...
Peter: I don't want to go. I really don't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zonbi jieitai (2006)

The greatest horror film.....EVER!

I remember the 1st time I saw Dawn of the Dead at the Midnight show A Long time ago.It had the most profound effect on me as it did the crowded theater that late night.A lot of screams.But even more laughs!

Dawn of the Dead begins a while after Night.And the same sense of Dread,confusion,and Paranoia run about the film.If the country side was unsafe,then the cities are a war zone.Bloody Chaos runs supreme everywhere.From a TV studio gone to hell to the war-zone atmosphere Tenement building overrun by the living Dead.Mankind doesn't seem to be holding up too well and is the brink.

A group of people with the right idea are TV anchor Fran(Gayleen Ross),Her chopper pilot boyfriend Steven (AKA Flyboy;David Emge),plus 2 Swat team members Roger(Scott Reinger)and the imposing,but friendly Peter(Ken Foree).They decide to leave the city for much safer venues in a Traffic helicopter.Good Idea huh?

After a couple of encounters with the living Dead along the way,the 4 find themselves in the thrall of making a shopping mall full of the Dead they're refuge.Who wouldn't? This sets the movie up for the violent free for all in the climax as a Biker Gang (led By Tom Savini himself) sets their eyes on the mall.

Romero loads the film up with a lot of satire.Tom Savini's Fx work is very gruesome here.Heads are blown off.People are eaten.Zombies are dispatched in many different ways.But whats makes Dawn of the Dead so awesomely good is the way it alternates the Black Comedy with the gore and scary parts.A lot of it is belly laughs.

The lead actors do a great job.They are likable and we always care for them.Peter and Roger are the Humorous of the 4.While Steven and Fran are the more serious.Even though Flyboy seems to have a stick up his butt in the beginning,lightens up.Tom Savini makes blade the biker more than just a stock bad guy.

The Music in Dawn is excellent!This was co-produced by Italian horror-master Dario Argento,who wisely hired Italian Rock band Goblin to score the flick.The Scary music is good.But its the Rock Music that we remember when leaving the film.I almost wanted DOTD to go on forever.

I hope Romero gets his 4th Dead film going soon.With the recent success of Zombie-themed flicks like 28 days later and resident evil doing good business.And the forthcoming(not needed at all,but looks good)remake of Dawn that looks to be a slam dunk.It should not take this long.If it never happens,then this is a testament to his genius.

10/10.

Warning!Not for the weak of heart.