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Day Of The Dead [1985]
![Day Of The Dead [1985]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G987HPJWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Worthy sequel
Review date: 2008-09-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
Romero once again adds to the canon with healthy measures of bloody paranoia, claustrophia and violence permeating the efforts of a dwindling number of living humans to find temporary respite from the growing numbers of zombie dead.
Reviewers are often fond of looking for some subtext within these films. Dawn of the Dead had its obvious message about consumerism - are these dead people behaving any differently from when they were alive? Probably not.
Here we can see the message is the brutal control of the civilian and scientific populations by a harried and panicked military group in the aftermath of the end of the society. These people have literally burrowed underground into the dark to survive. The sole doctor resorts to barbaric experiments of dubious merit on the dead soldiers with a predictable response from their living colleagues.
However there is still a camaraderie-by-necessity among the civilians; a touch that adds some pleasantness to events which we know will surely snuff out humanity's flame.
Overall a worthy sequel that plays out well within the limited confines of a smallish underground complex. Day of the Dead scores highly for its generous servings of bloody gore! It's a damn fine zombie film and lets not forget it.
Similar Products
- Dawn Of The Dead [1978] [1979]
- Land of the Dead (2005)
- Night Of The Living Dead (Special Edition)(DVD)[1968]
- Night Of The Living Dead [1968]
- Dawn Of The Dead (The Directors Cut) [2004]
Reviews
Underrated
Review date: 2008-07-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
Okay, so most hard core zombie lovers drool over Night of the Living Dead (its underlying racial undertones providing some thought-provoking moments). Then, this was followed by 1979's Dawn of the Dead, to which many people paralleled it with an attack on consumerism. Them in 1985, came Day and people said...what?
Any hidden themes are unclear. Some say it's an attack on genetic modification and god-playing scientists - maybe. But it, as the tagline suggests, is the darkest day in horror.
It's not as action-packed as Dawn, but for claustrophobic nature and tension, it really can't be beaten.
Watch it. Then watch it again. It's about the remains of human lives when they're forced together with people who they share nothing in common with. The undead take a backseat. Definitely my favourite in the saga.
Over remastered version disapoints
Review date: 2008-05-12 Rating: 4 out of 10
I LOVE Day Of The Dead. Not only is this one of my favourite zombie films, but it's one of my favourite films in general.
That said, let's get on to my gripes with this DVD. I bought this DVD after borrowing an older single disc version of this film from a friend.
I was unpleasantly surprised to find that the audio and image has been over cleaned up, which in my opinion diminishes the atmosphere throughout the movie. The sound is quieter in places whereas before it was raw and hard hitting. This is a tragic trend that I see happening to many old classic films that are being re-released on DVD today.
I now understand fully why older generations hold on to their old vinyls or VHS tapes because re releases can often disapoint if not post produced properly.
If you want to buy and watch this classic film, buy the 2001 single disc release DVD of this film. The quality of the 2001 release will more than make up for the lack of extras.
Oh, and it's cheaper, though becoming increasingly hard to get hold of. If you plan on buying the version I speak of, it's the 2001 DVD release. It's 'remastered,' in widescreen, and has a black and white cover with a close up of a zombie on the right side.
I'm going to now buy the version that I watched originally, and will attempt to sell on the double disc version that I still have.
Quick Reviews!
Review date: 2007-09-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Usually seen as the weakest of the trilogy, and by a long way the most gore filled, this is by no means a bad film. The film was plagued from the start with budget problems, and script re-writes. This was originally supposed to be Romero's epic, though the finished product bears little relation to the original concept. If Romero had had better funding, certain improvements could have been made to the script, but he still provides an excellent and grim film. Like the previous films, we are given a sense of claustrophobia, of being sealed inside by what's outside as the film is set mainly in one place. While NOTLD was set in a farmhouse, and the characters may have been able to run somewhere else, and Dawn was set in a shopping mall where all your hearts desires could be found for low low prices, this is set in an underground shelter with miles of caverns leading to nowhere: it's as if the human race has already sealed itself in Hell. The zombies hold the earth.
The few survivors are not plain civilians as before, they work for a government which does not exist anymore, with the soldiers supposedly facilitating the scientists. Both groups are torn amongst themselves, with the soldiers under the command of Rhodes-one of the most psychotic characters ever, yet completely understandable (played with the utmost power and realism by Pilato and surely deserving of some awards), and the scientists all pulling in different directions. This is primarily a film of characterisation as we see how each person reacts to the realisation that the zombies have won. It may be true that none of the characters are likable, but this only adds to the realism as if we were in this situation, it is likely those around us would p*ss us off most of the time. Even at the end, contrary to what others say, the future holds no hope. The only escape is to hide and wait for your own inevitable death.
But the film is very funny, perhaps sometimes unintentionally, as seen in Dr. Frankenstein's antics ("no! no, you must listen to me!" Rhodes
Finally a decent DVD version of Day Of The Dead is released- the first disc is a crisp cut of the film in all it's bloody glory. The second disc has good extras- a solid documentary, and a behind the scenes feature, as well as the usual trailers, filmographies. If you don't have the Trilogy of the Dead box set, this is a must.
FANTASTIC SPECIAL EDITION OF A FANTASTIV CLASSIC !! !! !! !! !!
Review date: 2006-04-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
George A Romero's zombie films are probably the most famous of all the zombie flics and are for good reasons. Day of the dead is the third in Georges line-up and now there is this amazing 2-disc special edition version.
The first thing you notice is that the sleev for the dvd is very cool and catches your eye immedietly with the bold 'day of the dead' title.
The first disc includes the film (obviously) and the other usual additions that you will find on every other dvd really. The second disc has all the extras on and these include filmographies for george romero and tom savini, behind the scenes, a new documentary called ' the many days of the dead' (wich is just over half an hour long), trailers, photo galleries and some more i think.
The film itself is a masterpiece and has some of the best blood/gore special effects i have ever seen on a film before!!!! The infamous scene where a man is ripped in two looks almost what you would expect to be real!
The story goes on the simple lines of a group of solders and a couple of other people, including a scientist, who are trying to survive in an underground bunker. Meanwhile the scientist is experimenting on zombies and learning lots, he is also training a zombie to do things and has desensatised him to attacking humans! Although the soldiers dont agree with his experiments and kill him. After that things go to hell and the zombies break into the bunker, killing the soldiers in their usual manner. The survivors of this event must find their way out of the bunker and safely flee the site.
Dont be expecting any award winning acting though, as this doesnt have it. But to be honest, this is a zombie film, and does a zombie films need great acting....NO. If anything the aweful acting has a good effect on the film. There is lots of annoying shouting and swearing in this too, which does get on your nerves, but that makes it all the better when you see the annoying soldiers get eaten alive!
Over all, this is a must see for the zombie films fan, and if you have aleready seen it: Buy this edition of the film immedietly. Anfd if your havent aleready seen it, buy this dvd anyway, its worth what you pay.
Enjoy
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Richard Liberty
Joseph Pilato
Terence Alexander
Lori Cardille
John Amplas
Creators:
Joseph Pilato (Primary Contributor)
Terence Alexander (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Arrow Films
Manufacturer: Arrow Films
EAN: 5027035004259
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-03-27
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985
Language: English (Original Language)