Movies - Dawn of the Dead

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	Movies - Dawn of the Dead

Dawn of the Dead is a zombie horror film, the second in George A. Romero's Living Dead
series of films (following 1968's Night of the Living Dead
). In addition to launching the so-called "splatter craze" in horror films, Dawn of the Dead received much critical acclaim for, among other things, the subtext involving American consumerism and materialism. It features the tagline "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth." Many consider it to be the best of Romero's "Dead" films. A re-edited and re-scored European version of the film by Dario Argento was released under the name Zombi in Italy and Spain and under the name Zombie in other European countries.

The film, shot during a period of approximately four months in late 1977 and early 1978, was made on a relatively low budget of around US$1.5 million. Filming of scenes in the Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania was done only when the shopping center was closed for business, roughly between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Director Romero was quoted as saying, "Filming in the mall was hell." Zombie make-up effects, created by Tom Savini, varied widely from the austere to the impressive. Most undead extras received little more than gray make-up slathered on their exposed skin.

However, despite limitations imposed by 1970s filmmaking technology, late-night filming and budgetary constraints, the film is one of the most financially successful horror films ever (based on production cost versus profit). The film's great success is due in large part to the fact that the film made great use of the international market. It was edited and presented in a variety of ways, based on popular expectations for cinema in each market for which it was intended. For example, Italian producer Dario Argento edited the movie to achieve a story with considerably less character development and a much faster pace, in comparison to Romero's definitive cut, which was peppered with humor and driven by cultural satire.

A remake of the movie premiered in the United States on March 10th, 2004. The new version varies considerably from the original; many of the major themes, including the primary setting in a shopping mall, remain essentially the same, but the film is a complete rewrite with no input from Romero.

The plot

Following the scenario set up in the previous movie, Night of the Living Dead, the film depicts a United States of America struck by a plague, the symptom of which is the reanimation of dead human beings whose primary goal is to feast on the flesh of the living. The cause of this plague remains defiantly unexplained. Despite desperate efforts by the U.S. Government and local civil authorities to control the situation, society has effectively collapsed and the remaining survivors seek any refuge they can find. Although several scenes show rural citizens and military effectively fighting the zombies, cities, with their high populations and close quarters, are essentially deathtraps. The chaos is implied to have finally spread to the country as well, as television and radio broadcasts become less frequent.

The plot centers on four Philadelphians: a TV news technician named Francine; her traffic-watch pilot boyfriend, Stephen; one of his close friends, Roger, a S.W.A.T. Team member; and the ever-resourceful Peter, also of the Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team. As in the first film, the black character, Peter, is the primary hero. Roger is increasingly reckless, while Stephen is incompetent and petty; in true horror film style, they both suffer for their character flaws.

The film opens in the WGON Television Studio, where confusion reigns. Following some exposition, the plot turns to another of the film's protagonists, Roger, as he and the rest of his SWAT Team raid an apartment building (presumably because the residents, mostly Hispanic or black, are ignoring aspects of Martial Law). This is the setting of the famous exploding head effect by Tom Savini. It is during this time that Roger makes acquaintance with Peter, suggesting they leave the S.W.A.T. Team, as well as Philadelphia.

Late that night, the four escape Philadelphia in a helicopter stolen from the television station, with the intention of reaching the safety of the Canadian wilderness. Following some close calls while stopping for fuel, the group happens upon a shopping mall, which they decide to make their own private sanctuary, blocking the large glass doors with trucks to keep the undead from freely entering. It is during this operation that the impulsive Roger is bitten, doomed to die painfully (and to rise again). After clearing the mall of its zombie inhabitants, the four settle in, each indulging their every material desire. Eventually Roger, dying from his wound, is put out of his misery by Peter. Time passes, as the undead paw at the mall entrances and society beyond those doors continues to collapse. As the novelty of their materialist Utopia wears thin, they begin to realize their refuge has become their prison.

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Movies - Dawn of the Dead

The plot

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