COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN: DAY 15-“DAWN OF THE DEAD”

In honor of the witching season, we’ll profile a new Halloween-centric title throughout the month of October.

WHEN THERE’S NO MORE ROOM IN HELL, THE DEAD WILL WALK THE EARTH.

Article by Adam Mast

DAWN OF THE DEAD (UNRATED)-1978

George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is a horror classic, there’s no doubt that. For my money though, this gritty follow-up is the best of Romero’s DEAD series. If NIGHT was a bold and stark comment on Vietnam fueled paranoia and racial tension, then DAWN is a shrewd satire on consumerism.

As DAWN OF THE DEAD opens, the zombie epidemic is wide spread. A small group of the uninfected–including a pregnant woman–seek refuge in a shopping mall. Upon arrival, the first order of business is ridding the massive structure of 100’s of wandering zombies. Once that task is completed, our  survivalists truly believe that they may have created a home for themselves in a world gone to hell. That is until a gang of bike riding scavengers try to take over their newly acquired paradise.

Romero really is at the top of his game here. He takes the seeds planted in his 1968 classic and expands on them in a big way. While DAWN OF THE DEAD was reportedly shot on the cheap, it’s huge in scope. Romero even shot the majority of the film in an actual operating mall during off hours, and this lends DAWN an authentic look. Tonally, the film seeps at the frames with an ominous sense of dread. This truly feels like the end of the world.

Adding to the fitting tone and  supremely amazing production value is the great make-up effects artist, Tom Savini who wastes no time incorporating every thrifty gore effect he has in  his arsenal. A machete to the face here, a feasted upon stomach there. The gore in this picture is plentiful and Savini delivers in show stopping fashion. Look no further than the opening apartment complex sequence. A scene in which a  woman has flesh torn from her arm and shoulder blade by way of her zombified husband’s teeth, is about as visceral as you’re going to get. It’s like watching someone take a bite out of a peach.

Of course, this moment only scratches the surface and it’s clear that Savini is only getting started. Throughout the final act of this picture, Savini kicks it up a notch not only delivering the most iconic gore sequences you’ll ever see, but also playing quite a ruthless biker. He even does his own crazy stunts.

Beyond the iconic make-up effects and Romero’s deft touch, DAWN OF THE DEAD is very much character driven. We get to know the lead characters quite well and we can feel their desperation throughout the film. This is a zombie picture, but there’s real drama here. Don’t worry though, this isn’t “The Talking Dead.” Romero carefully and skillfully balances the drama and zombie carnage. He even manages to throw in bursts of most welcome humor (the zombie vs. helicopter bit is beyond brilliant.)

Of course, DAWN OF THE DEAD is topped off with gobs of  social commentary. The zombies hang out in the mall because that’s what they did when they were still alive. They’re us and we’re them. It’s a simple conceit but damn is it effective.

Romero made great movies before and after DAWN OF THE DEAD, but this second entry in his iconic DEAD series remains my favorite of his impressive works. It’s an absolute classic and a must-watch for fans of the horror genre.

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN

October 14th- Student Bodies”–Click Here
October 13th-“Habit”–Click Here
October 12th- “The Twilight Zone” – Click Here
October 11th- “Creepshow” – Click Here
October 10th-“Shaun of the Dead“-Click Here
October 9th-“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”– Click Here
October 8th-“The Final Girls”–Click Here
October 7th-“Something Wicked This Way Comes”–Click Here
October 6th- “We Are Still Here”–Click Here
October 5th-“Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn”–Click Here
October 4th- “Phantom of the Paradise“-Click Here
October 3rd-“Poltergeist“-Click Here
October 2nd-“The Babadook“-Click Here
October 1st-“John Carpenter’s The Thing“-Click Here

About Author

Adam Mast

Adam Mast has been a lifelong film enthusiast dating back to age 6 when his parents took him to see a little movie called JAWS at a drive-in theater in Northern California. This would lead him to several writing stints for various publications and outlets. Mast would also have a hand in several film projects of various shapes and sizes. In 2014, Mast would join forces with colleague John Pugh to create Cinemast.net as a means discuss film from a fan and analytical perspective. Together, Mast and Pugh would also create the 501 (C)(3) nonprofit, Film and Media Alliance of Southern Utah (FMASU) in 2017. FMASU’s mission is to encourage, inspire and educate filmmaking talent and to preserve film history. Adam currently resides in southern Utah with his amazing wife, Tonja, and their four wonderful children.

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