Dawn of the Dead (2004)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Zack Snyder

Writers (WGA):

George A. Romero (1978 screenplay)
James Gunn (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 March 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

When the undead rise, civilization will fall.

Plot:

A nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman, and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall.

Plot Keywords:

Mall | Nurse | Shopping Mall | Hospital | Policeman

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

US Showtimes:

(register to personalize)

Cast

Sarah Polley	...	Ana
Ving Rhames	...	Kenneth
Jake Weber	...	Michael
Mekhi Phifer	...	Andre
Ty Burrell	...	Steve
Michael Kelly	...	CJ
Kevin Zegers	...	Terry
Michael Barry	...	Bart
Lindy Booth	...	Nicole
Jayne Eastwood	...	Norma
Boyd Banks	...	Tucker
Inna Korobkina	...	Luda
R.D. Reid	...	Glen
Kim Poirier	...	Monica
Matt Frewer	...	Frank
Justin Louis	...	Luis
Hannah Lochner	...	Vivian
Bruce Bohne	...	Andy
Ermes Blarasin	...	Bloated Woman
Sanjay Talwar	...	Doctor Rosen
Kim Roberts	...	Cora
Tim Post	...	Reviving Doctor
Matt Austin	...	EMS Technician
Philip DeWilde	...	EMS Technician
Colm Magner	...	Armed Neighbor
Luigia Zucaro	...	Naked Woman
Geoff Williams	...	Metro Bus Driver
Mike Realba	...	Maintenance Man
David Campbell	...	Squished Zombie
Philip Mackenzie	...	Thrashing Zombie (as Philip MacKenzie)
Laura DeCarteret	...	Washington Politician
Georgia Craig	...	Anchorwoman
Tino Monte	...	Istanbul Reporter
Chris Gillett	...	Older Anchorwoman
Derek Keurvorst	...	Scientist
Dan Duran	...	Confused Reporter
Neville Edwards	...	CDC Spokesman
Sandy Jobin-Bevans	...	CDC Reporter
Natalie Brown	...	CDC Reporter
Liz West	...	CDC Reporter
Blu	...	Chips the Dog
Scott H. Reiniger	...	The General (as Scott Reiniger)
Tom Savini	...	The County Sheriff
Ken Foree	...	The Televangelist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kim Kerns	...	Girl on Steve's Boat in video (uncredited)
Darren Marsman	...	Maintenance Man Zombie (uncredited)
Zack Snyder	...	Commando at White House (uncredited)

Directed by
Zack Snyder

Writing credits (WGA)
George A. Romero		(1978 screenplay)
James Gunn		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marc Abraham	....	producer
Armyan Bernstein	....	executive producer
Thomas A. Bliss	....	executive producer
Dennis E. Jones	....	executive producer
Michael D. Messina	....	co-producer
Eric Newman	....	producer
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	producer

Original Music by
Tyler Bates

Cinematography by
Matthew F. Leonetti

Film Editing by
Niven Howie

Casting by
Joseph Middleton

Production Design by
Andrew Neskoromny

Art Direction by
Arvinder Grewal

Set Decoration by
Steve Shewchuk

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
David LeRoy Anderson	....	prosthetic makeup designer (as David Anderson)
David LeRoy Anderson	....	special makeup effects artist
Lance Anderson	....	special makeup effects artist
Heidi Armstrong	....	special makeup effects artist (as Heidi Da Costa)
Patrick Baxter	....	prosthetics technician
Chris Bridges	....	animatronic designer
Barney Burman	....	prosthetic makeup department head
Mario Cacioppo	....	makeup department head (as Mario G. Cacioppo)
Evelyn Carr	....	key makeup artist: second unit
Sarah Craig	....	special makeup effects artist
Gabriel De Cunto	....	additional prosthetics
RaMona Fleetwood	....	hair stylist: reshoots
Cliona Furey	....	prosthetics hair stylist
Kyle Glencross	....	special makeup effects artist
Iantha Goldberg	....	special makeup effects artist
C.J. Goldman	....	special makeup effects artist
Patrick Gorny	....	special makeup effects artist
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	prosthetics hair stylist
Toni G	....	prosthetic makeup department head (as Toni Garavaglia)
Carol Hartwick	....	key hair stylist
Kevin Hutchinson	....	special makeup effects artist
Stacey Iseman	....	special makeup effects artist
Kelly Kavanagh	....	special makeup effects artist
Diana Ladyshewsky	....	hair department head (as Diana Ladyshewski)
Burton J. LeBlanc	....	makeup artist (as Burton Leblanc)
Burton J. LeBlanc	....	special makeup effects artist (as Burton Leblanc)
Daniel Lee	....	special makeup effects artist (as Suk-Min Lee)
Jo-Ann MacNeil	....	key makeup artist
Carol Marinoff	....	prosthetics key hair stylist
Nicole Michaud	....	makeup effects coordinator: additional photography, AFX Studio
Michael S. Pack	....	prosthetic eyes and teeth (as Mike Pack)
Deborah Patino	....	prosthetics makeup artist
Wynona Price	....	makeup artist: Mr. Rhames
Beatrice Salazar	....	key hair stylist: second unit (as Beatriz Salazar)
Sean Sansom	....	special makeup effects artist
David Scott	....	special makeup effects artist
Shaun Smith	....	prosthetics foreman (as Shaun P. Smith)
Dave Snyder	....	prosthetics makeup artist (as David Snyder)
Adrian Stansfield	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Jason Leib	....	post-production supervisor
Michael MacDonald	....	unit production manager
Alan Collis	....	unit production manager: second unit (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Adam Bocknek	....	trainee assistant director
Steve Buhai	....	second assistant director: re-shoots
Michael G. Burke	....	first assistant director: second unit
Raymond J. Duff	....	assistant director: second unit
Jennifer Haufler	....	trainee assistant director: second unit
Joel Hay	....	third assistant director
Cindy L. Irwin	....	daily assistant director
Jordana Lieberman	....	assistant director
Sara MacDonald	....	second assistant director: second unit
Peter D. Marshall	....	first assistant director
Conte Matal	....	first assistant director: re-shoots
Eric S. Potechin	....	second assistant director
Garfield Russell	....	third assistant director: second unit
Clay Staub	....	second unit director

Art Department
Rob Ballantyne	....	assistant art director
David Best	....	graphic designer
Rob Bonney	....	head carpenter
Theresa Buckley	....	property master: second unit
William Cheng	....	assistant art director
Chuck Courrieu	....	lead man: additional photography
Trevor Fischer	....	art department apprentice
Kelly Gilbert	....	construction administrator (as Kelly Gilbert Ursacki)
Kelly Gilbert	....	construction office manager
Jen Gillespie	....	clearance and placement coordinator
Jen Gillespie	....	third art director
James Halpenny	....	construction coordinator
Ron Hewitt	....	property master
Lisa Hipgrave	....	art department apprentice
Michael Huschka	....	assistant property master
Kim Karon	....	set designer
Mayumi Konishi	....	set designer
Tania McGowan	....	art department apprentice
Sean Moore	....	assistant art director
Timothy Peel	....	art department apprentice
Vince Peets	....	storyboard artist
Kaarin Piegaze	....	art department apprentice
Steph Poch	....	assistant property master: second unit
Jordu Schell	....	conceptual artist
Douglas Slater	....	art director: second unit

Sound Department
Sean Paul Armstrong	....	cable person
Sean Paul Armstrong	....	second boom operator
Benjamin Beardwood	....	sound editor
Andrew Bock	....	assistant sound editor
Alfonso Calvo	....	adr recordist
Robert Carr	....	sound recordist: predubs
Evan T. Chen	....	adr editor
Carmen Flores De Tanis	....	first assistant sound editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	supervising foley artist
Scott Hecker	....	supervising sound editor (as Scott A. Hecker)
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Chris Jenkins	....	supervising sound mixer
Jason W. Jennings	....	sound effects editor (as Jason Jennings)
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr recordist
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist
Frank A. Montaño	....	supervising sound mixer
Eric A. Norris	....	sound effects editor
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Tony Shore	....	sound
Greg ten Bosch	....	assistant sound editor
John J. Thomson	....	production sound mixer
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor
Byron Wilson	....	adr supervisor
Alan Zielonko	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Tony Acosta Jr.	....	special effects technician
Damon Bishop	....	special effects makeup
Jason Board	....	special effects foreman
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects coordinator: Los Angeles
Damian Fisher	....	special effects technician
Cliona Furey	....	special effects hair
Chris Jones	....	special effects technician
Arthur Langevin	....	pyrotechnic supervisor
Drew Longland	....	special effects technician
Jim McGillivary	....	special effects foreman
Laird McMurray	....	special effects director
Shane Million	....	special effects technician
Lisa Pacitto	....	shop supervisor
Marcus Rait	....	special effects technician
David Reaume	....	special effects technician
Troy Rundle	....	special effects technician
Stani Veselinovic	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X, Inc.
Kristy Blackwell	....	digital environment supervisor
Mark Chong	....	technical supervisor
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Patrick Coffey	....	digital effects artist: zombie coach
Shawney Cohen	....	CG supervisor (as Sean Cohen)
Marc Cote	....	motion control operator
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Dickson	....	assistant compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Michael Eaves	....	digital color timer: efilm
Jay Field	....	compositor
Shane Glading	....	technical supervisor
Marc-André Guindon	....	animator
Sharon Smith Holley	....	visual effects editor
Noel Hooper	....	digital compositor
Aazim Khan	....	digital artist
Denny Kurien	....	animator
Yannick Leblanc	....	motion control technical director
Kevin Lin	....	quality control coordinator, digital intermediate: Efilm/Panavision
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor
Lisa Maher	....	visual effects producer: CIS Hollywood
Andrew Nguyen	....	matte painter
Vladimir Popovic	....	systems administrator
Matt Ralph	....	digital effects artist
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects producer
Shervin Shoghian	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Mark Stepanek	....	additional 3D support
Derek Sunderland	....	CG artist
Hoa Tran	....	3D animator: Mr. X Inc.
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X, Inc.
Steve Wittmann	....	3D animator
Wojciech Zielinski	....	digital artist
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Nick Alachiotis	....	stunts
Brittney Banks	....	utility stunts
Matt Birman	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Eric Bryson	....	stunts
Randy Butcher	....	stunts: various zombies & Jay Leno Zombie
Damon Caro	....	stunt coordinator: additional scenes
Damon Caro	....	zombie fight choreographer
Tommy Chang	....	stunts
Lauro Chartrand	....	stunts
Scotty Cook	....	stunt double
Shelley Cook	....	stunts
David Jacox	....	stunts
Brian Jagersky	....	stunts
Blair Johannes	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Brad Martin	....	stunts
Christopher McGuire	....	stunts (as Chris McGuire)
Duncan McLeod	....	stunts
Regan Moore	....	stunt performer
Layton Morrison	....	utility stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts (as Ed Queffelec)
Ken Quinn	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunts
Robert Racki	....	stunts
Rex Reddick	....	stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunts
Bryan Renfro	....	stunts
Kevin Rushton	....	utility stunts
Shayna Segal	....	stunt double
Robert C. Shannon	....	water safety supervisor
David Stinson	....	stunts (as Dave Stinson)
John Stoneham Jr.	....	fight coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Thomas	....	stunt performer
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Cetrone	....	stunts: reshoots (uncredited)
Tim Connolly	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Copkov	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tig Fong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Curtis Hibbert	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hiro Koda	....	utility stunts (reshoots) (uncredited)
Henry Korhonen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jon Kralt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Angelica Lisk	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Lucescu	....	stunts (uncredited)
Shawn C. Orr	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chad Sayn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Craig Snoyer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rebecca Stoneham	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Miroslaw Baszak	....	director of photography: second unit
Mark Beauchamp	....	second assistant camera
Nicole Blanchard	....	second assistant camera
Michael Carella	....	camera operator
Jeffrey Cassidy	....	video assist operator
Gilles Corbeil	....	Steadicam operator
Gilles Corbeil	....	camera operator: "a" camera
William Engel	....	grip
Carson T. Foster	....	grip: second unit
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Russ Goozee	....	camera operator: second unit
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Mike Kirilenko	....	key grip
Ari Magder	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Clyde Miller	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera, aerial unit
Christopher Raucamp	....	first assistant camera
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Brent Robinson	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Brent Robinson	....	underwater camera operator
Ronald Schlueter	....	video assist
Shai Vera	....	grip
Paul Zoskey	....	24 frame video operator
Joseph Torres Jr.	....	first assistant camera: re-shoots (uncredited)

Animation Department
Brian Anderson	....	senior animator

Casting Department
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Chad Darnell	....	extras casting: additional photography
Lauren Grey	....	casting associate
Nicole Hilliard-Forde	....	casting associate: Canada
Sara Kay	....	casting assistant: Toronto
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frank Alexander	....	costume supervisor
Ciara Brennan	....	costume breakdown artist
Ciara Brennan	....	costume dyer/breakdown
Natalie Bronfman	....	assistant costume designer
Christina Cattle	....	set costume supervisor: second unit
Tatjana Hutinec	....	costume breakdown artist
Trelawnie Mead	....	costume dyer/breakdown
Gamila Smith	....	costume designer: Los Angeles
Jasmina Vasileva	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Michael Eaves	....	color timer
Berenicci Hershorn	....	assistant film editor
William Hoy	....	additional editor
Jack Lewars	....	assistant color timer: Efilm
Curtis Lindersmith	....	digital intermediate editor
David McGroarty	....	assistant editor
Arthur Montreuil	....	color timer
Danny Rafic	....	assistant editor
Melissa Remenarich	....	first assistant editor (as Melissa Remenarich-Aperlo)
Jeff Schweikart	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Tree Adams	....	composer: additional music
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Robert Bayless	....	assistant music editor
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Bruce Fowler	....	additional orchestrator
Rick Giovinazzo	....	orchestrator
Zigmund Gron	....	preview music editor
Darrell Hall	....	music editor
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
Tim Rodier	....	music preparation
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music coordination and clearances

Transportation Department
Ron Annabelle	....	picture car captain: second unit
Dana Howes	....	transportation coordinator
Wayne Ireland	....	picture car captain
Jennifer Mccormack	....	driver: honeywagon

Other crew
Janine Anderton	....	production coordinator
Emily V. Austin-Bruns	....	assistant: Mr. Rubinstein
Tracey Averett	....	assistant: Mr. Newman
Lillian Awa	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Mark Barclay	....	assistant: Mr. Bliss
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler
Jim Chizmar	....	water safety
Rachel Clarke	....	daily accounting clerk
Wesley Coller	....	assistant: Mr. Snyder
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer
Cathy Coulson	....	office production assistant: second unit
Patricia Cowmeadow	....	set supervisor
Meg Davies	....	assistant: Mr. Newman
Marty Dejczak	....	location manager
Melanie Donkers	....	office production assistant: second unit
Martin Earl	....	assistant location manager
Terry Edinger	....	production accountant
Lisa Jean Felski	....	post-production accountant
Scott Goldberg	....	production assistant
Terri Greening	....	accountant: re-shoot
Pamela Hackwell	....	contact lens technician
Andreas Hass	....	assistant production coordinator: second unit
Rebecca Hertz	....	producer: main titles
Sara Holmes	....	first assistant accountant
Steve Holt	....	on-set medic
Aaron Horton	....	office production assistant
Sandra Lynne Hyhkö	....	assistant production coordinator (as Sandy Hyhko)
Stephanie Keating	....	publicist
Ryan Keaveney	....	production assistant
Rohan Kelly	....	production assistant
Alex Kontsalakis	....	payroll accountant
Richard Kroll	....	researcher: stock footage
Heather Langenkamp	....	production crew (as Heather Langenkamp-Anderson)
Linda Lockett	....	assistant: Mr. Jones
Dave Lombardo	....	precussion specialist
Jessica Lukian	....	prosthetics crew
David McIlroy	....	location manager
Sarah McIntosh	....	second assistant accountant
Linda McKenney	....	production assistant
Brett Miller	....	location production assistant
Sandy Morrow	....	script supervisor: second unit
Noah Newman	....	production assistant
J.P. O'Donnell	....	craft service: second unit
Andre Paquin	....	third assistant accountant
Robin M. Reelis	....	production coordinator: second unit
Errol Reichow	....	location manager: re-shoots
Scott Reitz	....	technical advisor
Andrew Rosen	....	asset coordinator
Dug Rotstein	....	script supervisor
Stephen Schuster	....	title designer: Prologue
Steve Sheridan	....	accounting clerk
Dave Ian Smith	....	fire safety officer
Kyle A. Smith	....	production assistant
Erik Sudmals	....	second assistant accountant
Alan Sutton	....	fire safety
Douglas Thompson	....	production secretary
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot
Troy Waters	....	marine coordinator
Catherine Wheatley	....	assistant: Mr. Abraham (as Catherine Wheatley Vowles)
J. Wilfrid White	....	marine crew
Terrence B. Zinn	....	set production assistant: re-shoots
Chris Moulson	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Strike Entertainment
• New Amsterdam Entertainment
• Metropolitan Filmexport
• Toho-Towa

Distributors

• Universal Studios (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Blitz (2004) (Croatia) (all media)
• Bontonfilm (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (2004) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Pinema (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• Toho-Towa (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD-DVD)

Special Effects

• AFX Studios (special makeup effects)
• Mr. X (visual effects)
• Camera e-Motion (motion control)
• Realities Studio

Other Companies

• Air Power Video and Film Stock Library  stock footage
• BBC Worldwide  stock footage
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  special thanks
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems
• Corbis Motion  stock footage
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• EFilm  opticals
• Entertainment Partners Canada  special thanks
• Eyes Post Group  special thanks
• Fast Images  stock footage
• Four Seasons Aviation  special thanks (as Four Seasons Aviation Ltd.)
• Getty Images  stock footage
• ITN Archive  stock footage
• Independent Television News (ITN)  stock footage
• Journeyman Films Ltd.  stock footage
• Motion Picture Stunts International  stunts
• PS Production Services  special thanks
• Prologue Films  main and end titles
• Reelcraft Services  special thanks
• Reuters  stock footage (as Reuters Archive)
• Silverman Stock Footage  stock footage
• Third Millennium  stock footage
• Twentieth Century Fox Scoring Stage  music scored at (as Fox Scoring Stage)
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  post-production sound services (as Universal Studios Sound)
• Wescam USA  aerial camera systems (as Wescam)

Also Known As:

L'armée des morts (France)
L'aube des morts (Canada: French title)
Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead (USA) (long title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong horror violence and gore, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

101 min | 110 min (unrated director's cut)

Country:

USA | Canada | Japan | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Malaysia:18SG | Sweden:15 | Germany:18 (also director's cut) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Hong Kong:III (director's cut) | Ireland:18 | Israel:16 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/18 | Singapore:R21 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | USA:Unrated (director's cut)

Filming Locations:

Ashbridge's Bay, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Strike Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie premiere was hosted at the Beverly Centre Mall in Los Angeles, with cast and crew in attendance.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: As pointed out on the DVD commentary, there are no mountainous islands in the Great Lakes like those shown during the closing credit sequence which is supposed to take place on Lake Michigan.

Quotes:

Michael: Look, there's no point in arguing about this, all right? We need a solution. We need... we need to get some food over there.
Steve: Yeah, OK, I have an idea. We draw straws and the loser runs across the lot with a ham sandwich.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Andy Barker, P.I.: Pilot (#1.1)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

All By Myself

A great pace covers the weaknesses in plotting

Returning from a busy day in the hospital, Ana spends time with her husband when a neighbours daughter comes into the house and attacks her husband. He dies before returning to life and attacking Ana. She runs and escapes in her car, driving through a neighbourhood rife with violence and fires. After crashing her car, she hooks up with a group of armed survivors who take refuge in a mall. The group settle in and fortify their position as an army of the undead gather outside.

Before I start my review, let me just say that this will be biased as I am always easily won over by zombie movies. The fact that they just keep coming (fast or slow), lack character and only want to kill really just freaks me out. So I tend to get easily scared by the genre (even if `enjoy' is perhaps not the right word) and be easily more negligent towards their faults. Despite telling myself that I wouldn't bother with this film as it would scare me, I went for it anyway in a fit of `confront your fears' type of stupidity! The film starts with a creepy opening and pretty much manages to keep the pace up for the whole film. It, like the zombies, moves fast and brutally throughout and is very, very tense.

Others have complained about the lack of gore - however I found the graphic exploding heads to do that more than enough for my tastes! Better than gore is the atmosphere. The use of news footage is not original but it succeeds (along with the aerial view of the town) in creating the impression of a world turning to sh*t. I don't know about you but this scares me and the film did it well. The speed of the zombie attacks makes for a thrilling ride and it did make me very tense - Snyder managed to make the whole film a threat (especially for a first time director) and I honestly have a very stiff neck a day after seeing this simply because my body was tensed up for the whole film!

The pace of the film also serves to cover the real problems in content and plot. Unlike the original there is no satirical swipe on consumerism - the fact that the zombies are just wandering aimlessly around the mall like they used to in life is pretty much ignored here - but times are very different now I guess. The plot itself also has quite a few stupid moments where the characters act in a way you know they wouldn't in real life. For example people go on suicide missions for little real reasons and you can tell that the script is just doing it to create more action. However, when you are into it, these things don't really seem to matter. The film may be a little silly when you think about it but it does have a good ending - downbeat and realistic (or at least as realistic as it can be!) and left me with no hope of a happy ending - in this regard it is everything that `28 Days Later..' is not.

The cast is good even if the script places their characters secondary to the action. Polley is used to slightly more substantial roles but still does well here. Rhames is lumbered with a religious background that is never explained, but he is a great presence throughout. Weber is the standout role however. His character is a slightly less cartoon version of Evil Dead's Ash. He is the unwilling hero but yet he seems to accept all the obstacles he comes across. He also manages to be one of the group that the audience cares about - most of them are fodder and we know it! Phifer is a good actor but seemed too `gangster' to really be driven to this degree by his family. The rest of the support cast are mostly just there to get eaten but they do OK.

Overall this is not a great film - but it is an effective one. As a film it lacks subtext, comment and plot logic. However as a thriller it is fast paced, gripping and tense with a satisfyingly bleak conclusion. Snyder does a good job as a first timer and creates an atmosphere that is gripping even if it lacks originality. Like I said, I don't deal with zombie movies very well and am easily scared but I reckon that this should satisfy many a Saturday night thrill-seeking crowd even if it does nothing for your brain apart from it's risk getting eaten.