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Diary of the Dead
Diary of the Dead Image
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Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 67 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Joshua Close, Michelle Morgan, Shawn Roberts
  • Summary: Jason Creed and a small crew of college filmmakers are in the Pennsylvania woods making a no-budget horror film when they hear the terrifying news that the dead have started returning to life. Led by Jason's girlfriend, Debra, the frightened young filmmakers set off in a friend's old Winnebago to try to get back to the only safety and security they know: their homes. But there is no escape from the crisis or any real home for them to go back to anymore. Everything they depend upon--all that they hold dear--is fractured as the plague of the living dead begins to spread. (The Weinstein Company)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Glenn Kenny
    100
    A giddy kick-out-the-jams entertainment. Diary takes a tack that's not exactly new, but is new to Romero, and as one might expect, the director brings a sharp and uncompromising new perspective to it.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    90
    In most horror movies, it's a given that we should root for the heroes to make it out alive, but Diary of the Dead isn't nearly so certain, and so it terrifies us all the more.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    60
    The body has its needs, and one of the problems with Diary of the Dead is that it doesn't get into your body; it doesn't shake you up, jolt you, make you shiver and squeak. It's clever, or at least clever enough to keep you going and interested from start to finish. It just isn't scary.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 19 out of 42
  1. TarekM.
    10
    Not Romero's finest, but still a dazzling gore fest.
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. eTurkey
    4
    It wasn't the odd choice to film this movie in a documentary-style narrative which was the sole let down, but rather the character development (or lack thereof) of the survivors. I honestly couldn't care less if they died which is not exactly expected of an audience when watching a horror flick as traditionally they should root for the good guys. The entire film was morbidly depressing and is definitely one of the weaker installments in George A. Romero's "Dead" series. Thankfully massive amounts of blood and gore weren't lacking. Phew!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. GabrielL
    3
    I don't know how in the hell this movie got any good reviews. If it wasn't directed by Romero it would have been straight to DVD. The audience I was in laughed so much at the lame dialogue that you would have thought it was a comedy. There isn't a well acted character in the movie. The Amish guy everyone seems to love was only in the movie for five minutes, and is likable because he's the only character who doesn't say anything stupid. Any social commentary is delivered by obnoxious college dimwits or the drunk college professor (who got more unintentional laughs than anyone.) There are a few good zombie deaths and by-the-numbers scares...enough for three points...but otherwise, you should just rent the original Dawn of the Dead, or Slither if you want something newer. Seriously though, watch Slither, it's awesome...and don't waste your delicious brain on this crapfest.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 42 User Reviews

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