X
- 1979
- TV-MA
- United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)
- 2 h 7 m
- 1979
- TV-MA
- United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)
- 2 h 7 m
Summary Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team members, a traffic reporter, and his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Directed By: George A. Romero
Written By: George A. Romero
- 1979
- TV-MA
- United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)
- 2 h 7 m
- 1979
- TV-MA
- United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)
- 2 h 7 m
Dawn of the Dead
71
7.1
Summary Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team members, a traffic reporter, and his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Directed By: George A. Romero
Written By: George A. Romero
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
71
64% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
29% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
71
64% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
29% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Romero’s distinctly Pittsburghian sensibilities can’t be underestimated when explaining Dawn’s appeal; the Monroeville Mall perfectly evokes the feel of a hollow monument standing at the center of a community that couldn’t be bothered to define itself any more distinctively than could be represented by their choice between Florsheim or Kinney’s shoes. The mall, in essence, shoulders the burden of their identity.
Undoubtedly the zombie movie to end 'em all... The horror/suspense content is brilliant enough to satisfy the most demanding fan, and the film uses superb locations like a huge shopping mall to further its Bosch-like vision of a society consumed by its own appetites. But take no munchies.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 58 User Ratings
7.1
67% Positive
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
22% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
10% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 58 User Ratings
7.1
67% Positive
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
22% Mixed
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
10% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, this was made in 1978 or 79... It's a horror but there's a bit of silliness in it too and there was a remake but avoid it. Dawn of the Dead by George A. Romero is the original version and quite possibly the best zombie film ever made and certainly one of the best horror films ever made hands down. Zombies are everywhere and 4 people get into a shopping mall on the roof by landing a chopper on it and getting into the shopping centre up top but have to survive at all costs and avoid getting bitten by the zombies downstairs in the shopping centre. If you like blood, guts and a bit of action then Dawn of the Dead delivers and doesn't disappoint. Beautifully directed by George A.Romero and has many fun moments even the actors have fun here running round the shopping centre shooting up zombies and looking in the stores and playing video games and grabbing supplies. There's a scene when bikers break into the shopping centre too but most becoming prey to zombies and only two of the original 4 of the chopper crew getting out alive at the end. A must watch and this isn't all dark atmospheric horror because some of it's pretty light hearted but it has some dark moments and when it comes to the crunch Dawn of the Dead delivers with blood and some shocks. Stars Ken Foree and a load of other actors and actresses, rated 18 for violence and bad language.
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This the best movie by George A. Romero. Or let's say at least, this is the Romero's movie I like the most, and definitely one of the best zombie movies ever made. I suggest you to watch it because you won't be disappointed. A lot of horror and action here under Romero's directing.
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Dawn of the Dead is one of the best horror films ever made -- and, as an inescapable result, one of the most horrifying. It is gruesome, sickening, disgusting, violent, brutal and appalling. It is also (excuse me for a second while I find my other list) brilliantly crafted, funny, droll, and savagely merciless in its satiric view of the American consumer society. Nobody ever said art had to be in good taste.
Celebrated Italian horror maestro Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA, DEEP RED) co-produced and provided the lively rock score with his band, Goblin. Though all of the performances are at least adequate, this is not an actor's movie. Believe it or not, this is a film about ideas as well as gore. Nonetheless, this is strong medicine and not for all tastes.
As tempting as it may be to herald Romero as the Swift of schlock, his shopping-mall metaphor is really little more than a clever gag. The director's technique has been refined since his "Living Dead" days, but his grasp of characters is still pretty crude, and he reveals himself to be an all-too-predictable liberal moralists when he singles out the woman and the black as the true heroes. These objections should not-and won't-keep Romero loyalists away. For blood, guts and chuckles, most horror fans will undoubtedly find Dawn of the Dead finger-lickin' good. [7 May 1979, p.90]
You're supposed to need a strong stomach to sit through this one, but it's so stupefyingly obvious and repetitive that you begin to laugh with relief that you're not being emotionally affected; it's just a gross-out.
Dawn pummels the viewer with a series of ever-more-grisly events - decapitations, shootings, knifings, flesh tearings - that make Romero's special effects man, Tom Savini, the real 'star' of the film - the actors are as woodenly uninteresting as the characters they play. Romero's script is banal when not incoherent - those who haven't seen Night of the Living Dead may have some difficulty deciphering exactly what's going on at the outset of Dawn.
This is the seminal masterpiece of zombie films. On the face of it, it seems to have a low production value compared to more recent movies but countering this is the depth and complexity of the story and the powerful undertones indicating an end to civilisation from within. The violence is only one part of this film that excels (especially for the time that it was made), the acting and the ambiance pull together with the phenomenal script to produce a masterpiece of epic zombie proportions. The zombie master makes his second film with astronomical success, arguably the best in the whole series. Personally I chose to watch the remake over this one, mostly because I find it slightly more entertaining as it benefits from a larger budget and better pacing. Occasionally though I do go back to this classic and always enjoy it, whilst struggling to relate to it as much as the remake. Maybe I just prefer slightly more modern films, that doesn’t stop this being a classic that any horror fan should watch. I will be watching it again!
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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"Dawn of the Dead" is a complete and utter waste of time. The acting is wooden, the special effects are laughable, and the story is about as original as a broken record. I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to make a movie about zombies, but they should probably stick to their day job. The only thing this film has going for it is its ability to put me to sleep faster than a warm glass of milk. Save yourself the agony and skip this cinematic disaster.
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Maybe it's just a result of 70's culture as this movie has just not withstood the test of time. Stupid cliches about **** and other social aspects of society in an attempt to be cool really fall flat. When directors of films realise films are audio/visual stories rather than a platform for social comment we might get good movies.
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Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Golden Screen, Germany
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Online Film & Television Association
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
