Horror films have gone through many radical, often negative changes in the past ten years or so. Too many attempt to be "politically correct." They try to be honest, down to earth, and gore free. Millions of teenagers flock to films such as "Scream" because it can be considered witty and exciting. There was a time when horror films didn't have to make jabs at political correctness. They were there to scare your pants off, or gross you out. Perhaps both. The original "Dawn of the Dead," written and directed by George Romero is a classic, hands down. It was the sequel to the other classic "Night of the Living Dead." It told the story of a group of people who barricade themselves in a shopping mall to escape the walking dead, who have, with no explanation, been rising from death and preying on the living. It was a satire as well as a horror film. A statement about humanity as well as a gorefest. Amid the exploding heads and dismemberments, it had something to say. Unlike "Scream," it will have a lasting impact. The last horror film in recent memory that matches the classics from the 1980s and 1970s, was 2003's "28 Days Later," which was a creative exercise in zombie horror. Make room on the mantel, though, horror fans. "Dawn of the Dead" has been re-imagined and brought to the screen...and it's quite unlike any horror film in recent memory.

The basic premise of the remake is the same as the original: a group of survivors from a zombie invasion barricade themselves in a shopping mall, and when they are not fighting the undead, they are quarreling amongst themselves. Sarah Polley is Ana, a nurse who just saw her neighbor rip her husbands throat out. She escapes to her car, and sees the world in chaos. People are running and screaming, with monsters on their tails. Unlike Romero's zombies, the undead here do not lumber along, but run with frightening speed. It's quite terrifying. After more terrifying images of an apocalyptic world, the credits start...I have never seen opening credits this disturbing. Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around" plays, while we see images of society as we know it crumbling. Soon, Ana meets a group of people, including a cop named Kenneth (Ving Rhames), a nice guy named Michael (Jake Webber), a criminal named Andre (Mekhi Pfifer) and Andre's pregnant girlfriend. They soon find themselves at the mall. When more survivors arrive, it's all they can do to stop becoming lunch for monsters...and killing each other.

Let me first say, that if you are a member of the "Scream" crowd, run, don't walk, AWAY from this movie. Unlike the tame violence of that series, the violence here is sure to please the gorehounds who love the original. First time director Zack Snyder (who turned down "SWAT" because they wouldn't let him make it "R") lays on the gore with the help of an Oscar winning make-up artist. Heads explode, bodies are chopped in half, people are eaten alive, people and the undead are gunned down, a chainsaw makes a welcome appearance...If you have a weak stomach, use caution. If you have children, keep them away unless you are a selfish and uncaring parent. Also take note that the film is incredibly disturbing, with some images and situations that I'm surprised the censors let slide. I haven't seen stuff like this for years. Snyder obviously has incredible respect for the genre. If you read any interview with him, he is very open about not whimping out with the gore as so many other directors in recent history have done. The studios originally wanted a PG-13 "Dawn of the Dead" (insert obnoxious laughter here).

Sure, there are many changes in the remake. There are more characters, more action, and more zombies (Thousands, maybe). Most of the changes actually work in the film's favor. The acting in the original was atrocious. Here, the acting is actually quite good. Polley is a likable heroine, Rhames, excuse my French, kicks ass, and Webber is simply a cool guy. My favorite addition to the story is a character named Andy (Bruce Bohne), who is hiding on the roof of a gun shop across from the mall. He communicates with the other survivors through writing on dry-erase boards, and a friendship develops. It's interesting to watch.

Like the original, "Dawn of the Dead" also has some wickedly funny dark humor. The bored survivors snipe zombies based on their likeness to celebrities, for example. They also hit golf balls at the ferocious beasts. Not humor for everyone, but it lightens us up for the kill, because the film takes many turns, which result in extreme horror.

What "Dawn of the Dead" is missing from the original, is the satire. It lacks the feelings that Romero put into his original movie. Feeling about American consumers, and ethics. Although "Dawn of the Dead" is a damn fine horror movie, it never hits these deep points.

To make up for that, the film has yet another advantage over the original: superior technology. While Tom Savini's makeup in the original was way ahead of it's time, it looks a little cheesy now. The rotting flesh and blood in the new "Dawn" is photo realistic to the new thing (the artists studied photographs of real corpses to achieve the realism). The cinematography is frantic and documentary like (similar to "28 Days Later") during the action scenes, and controlled at other times. The editing is decent as well, but the quick cuts may bother some. I also must point out Snyder's brilliant use of music. In addition to Johnny Cash over the credits, he employs several fitting rocks songs, and irritating muzak to deliver the perfect mood.

While it may have no social relevance whatsoever, "Dawn of the Dead" ranks among the best horror films I have ever seen. So if you like the original, have a strong stomach, are not easily upset by gruesome images, and aren't bothered by the constant spray of blood, this is the horror film you have been looking for.

NOTE: Stick around during the credits. The story continues over them, and they are quite worth watching. © Written by Jacob Hall

How We Rated This Film TC Candler -     Richard Propes - B Jacob Hall - B+

TC Candler's Comment

n/a

Richard Propes' Comment

In fairness to this sort of film, I have to confess that it's not my favorite sort of film. Even at its best, I'm not sure I could ever put it in the "A" range, and I'm quite surprised it landed in the "B" range...it did, and...in fact, the only thing that kept it lower was the fact that I just found Ving Rhames completely irritating in this role. I never once bought into his character and since his character was a core one that kept me from completely giving myself to this film.

This film has one of the better introduction scenes that I have seen in a horror film. At nearly 10 minutes in length prior to opening credits, the scene is eerie in the way it sets up the shift that we are about to see. It adds a great degree of creepiness and even sadness to the whole scenario...opening up the emotions before we are hit, in effect, with this onslaught throughout the rest of the film. It's quite a brilliant scene.

I'm probably going straight to hell for this next comment, but it's just an observation. Mel Gibson should have watched this film prior to making "Passion." Okay, now take a breath while I try to explain it. This film does an excellent job of combining those "breaks" that are so often needed in intense, graphic or violent films. A good filmmaker gives the audience a brief...perhaps only a split second break. It's a chance to breathe, squirm, relax then "Boom." It all happens again.

While, of course, the story of Christ's last 24 hours is obviously intense and relentless...I've felt all along that the film needed those breaks. It needed the occasional let up...the peaks and valleys for emotions. While the intensity and pacing of that film are quite well done, it truly became too relentless and overpowering. This film seems to get it right.

Okay, you can breathe again.

This film has a script that works, solid production values, ample gore and generally solid performances including Mekhi Phifer, Sarah Polley and Jake Weber among others. Among the spectrum of remakes, this film is quite solid. It's a great horror film, and wonderful Zombie film...well paced action and solid performances make this a great film for fans of the genre.