Dawn of the Dead Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)March 29th, 2004
"Dawn of the Dead" - When Hell is Full, the Dead Shall Walk the Earth
by Homer Yen
(c) 2004
In some of the more unsavory suburbs of Washington DC, you might find it to be a dangerous trip from the shopping mall to the parking lot. Who knows what kind of crazy people might sneak up on you? But if you happen to be in an unfortunate suburb of Milwaukee, a trip from the mall to the parking lot might be a lot more harrowing. You won't find muggers or thugs or the overbearing drunk. Instead, you might find hordes of bloodthirsty zombies ready to devour your flesh.
"Dawn of the Dead" knows what kind of film it wants to be. It's not worried about deep meaning, clever plots, or nuanced performances. It's only goal is to scare the pants off of us and to splatter as much blood and guts across the screen while still maintaining an R rating.
It certainly does the first. The little tricks that the film employs helps to maximize its shock value. Most of the film takes place at a local mall where a handful of survivors lock themselves in while scads of walking dead assemble outside looking for a way in. There are scenes in which some of the characters enter darkened areas out of necessity as grotesque ghouls suddenly appear in the foreground. There are sequences in which characters unwisely search areas by themselves as we use our willpower to help them survive. And that muzak is just unsettling!
As for the blood and guts, there are ample amounts. For those with low constitution, a subtle feeling of nausea may begin to settle in. This is supposed to be a popcorn film. But you won't want to eat while the film is running. To get an idea of what to expect, let's just say that zombies must be shot in the head (of course, a pool cue through the noggin is just as effective) and a daring escape will require the use of chainsaws.
While that may sound detracting, this remake of a classic horror film is actually as funny and tense as it is vile. The film starts off with a bang as heroine Ana (Sarah Polley) awakens to discover that some kind of virus has transformed much of her neighborhood into ghastly looking creatures. She barely escapes from her home, but as she flees, we see exactly what she does. Neighborhoods are burning; people are running for their lives, zombies are roaming the streets, and hysteria looms over this once placid locale. It's a frenetic and heart-pounding opening sequence and creates a perfect, chaotic, WTF moment.
Other survivors include the self-important but tough-as-nails cop, Kenneth (Ving Rhames); sensible thinker Michael (Jake Webber); as well as a handful of others. Some provide a touching storyline, such as the expectant but infected wife. We also feel for the starving sharpshooter hiding on a not-so-distant rooftop. There are other characters that we don't care much for. That's always a problem with ensemble casts. It's better off that some of them are eaten so that we won't have as many people to worry about.
For the most part, the film delivers. It could have probably given us a more fleshed out good-versus-evil story. After all, since zombies have no motivation, it's basically a flat out run-for-your-life premise. It also could have benefited from a shorter running time. You can only do so much in a mall. Yet, the film is stylish and holds your attention and you always feel more suspense than boredom.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3
L: 3 out of 3
V: 3 out of 3
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