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Dawn Of The Dead

Rated '18' by the BBFC for strong, bloody violence and horror.

Directed by George Romero.

Version Reviewed- VHS

The second sequel to George A. Romero's antique horror classic, 'Night Of The Living Dead' improves on the original hugely, presenting a much more intense, gory and exciting experience.

Quite horrifically, the dead are walking due to radiation emitted from a satellite, and are wandering around towns, cities and villages tearing people limb from limb, scoffing residents and generally making themselves a bit of a nuisance.

Following on from the previous films, 'Dawn Of The Dead' has a small group of people attempting to escape the horrifying zombie carnage and fly to safety in a helicopter.  Eventually they come across a shopping mall which would be a perfect place to hold up; there's everything they need there, and if they could barricade the doors and clear the place out, it could potentially become a safe haven during a time of such terror.

After landing and entering they begin to make themselves at home, killing off the residing zombies, looting the shops and finding a safe place to stay.  Eventually, however, it becomes apparent that the walking dead are not the only ones they need to worry about...

'Dawn Of The Dead' is by far the best of the "zombie classics" (Night Of The Living Dead, Day Of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead etc) for the reason that it hurtles along at a much faster pace than most of the others, a deluge of blood erupting from the outset.  Not only is Dawn Of The Dead incredibly bloody, violent and explosive, but it also has its tongue placed very firmly in its cheek.

The acting is, quite frankly, comical (exactly how it should be), and the soundtrack is a mixture of being dark and moody, unbelievably naff and hilariously comic.  This is one film which makes no attempt to remain serious, and in all honesty, with plotlines like this, how can it be?

The zombies range from being relentlessly menacing to 'armless [Do you see what I did there?], and the last hour or so is almost constant comedy.

As a film, 'Dawn Of The Dead' is complete tripe, but as a comic-horror experience, and viewed for laughs, not scares, this is classic.

One of the best horror films I've seen.

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