| Day of the Dead: A review "First there was 'Night of the Living Dead' then 'Zombies - Dawn of the Dead' and now�the darkest day of horror the world has ever known!" George A. Romero's final zombie movie in the living dead trilogy, Day of the Dead stands as a classic, yet severely stunted epic. However, it may now not be the last Romero zombie movie, plans are that a 'Dead 4' is coming to us eventually as Romero is in the midst of writing the new script for this project. However, after having written a superbly apocalyptic script for Day of the Dead, budget cuts ensured that the story had to at first be cut in places, and then eventually excised and slashed into a totally new story, perhaps for the better to fit in with the other two films as Romero's original Day script was doused in religious iconography and a less than enclosed feeling what with swarms of the living and dead sharing a facility on an island. However, Romero did stick with this vision to an extent. After having read the original script and seen the final movie, there are still similarities and even exact parallels between script and movie. But this doesn't mean the movie is bad. Quite far from it, Day of the Dead is a blood n' guts tour de force of tense surroundings and jaw droppingly real special effects as the story of impending extinction for the human race surrounds the whole thing. Basically, a rag-tag collection of worn out humans must strive to both survive the dead invasion outside as well as try and find a solution to their problem, whether this is through medical experiments or training, the team of holed up scientists are unsure as to what will work and whether they will find anything to help before they ultimately face their maker. At the same time, they must also fend off the ever-angry band of disorganised soldiers who accompanied them on the mission from the beginning. The walking dead are all across the globe, out numbering the humans 400,000 to 1 at last estimation. However, this means there has to still be a few thousand humans left in the world, but where? They have lost all contact with each other in the different installations across the globe and they don't know whether they are the only humans left on the planet. The survivors holed up in the missile silo are running low on food, water and ammunition as well as hope. As the situation becomes more and more desperate, Dr. Logan strives to come to a conclusion on the situation at hand while Captain Rhodes riles the soldiers up. Tension is high and emotions are even higher as the dead claw at the metal gates keeping them outside the compound with lazy-eyed fascination. Finally, the numbers begin to decrease after a disastrous capturing of two zombies for Logan's experiments which sends Rhodes on a bloody rampage through the complex resulting in a final battle royal with the undead who converge on the underground silo. Escape is almost unthinkable and death is almost certain, but the few who do stand a chance of escape, must fight and struggle all the way to the end, never giving up as the armies of the dead lumber after them, hungry for their flesh. Described as a "masterpiece of modern horror" by Sounds and have "horrifyingly good special effects" by the Financial Times, Day of the Dead is the disjointed son of Dawn of the Dead. This 1985 finale to the dead trilogy was viewed by some as a disappointment, but by many, this film is still loved and cherished like the other two films in the trilogy. However, this film stills does feel somewhat awkward as Romero's trademark editing and pace is found without a trace. The quick scenes and frantic pace mixed with visual glory is not found in this movie, but at least the subtle social commentary and observation can still be viewed, but not to the extent as in Dawn. When compared to Dawn, Day of the Dead is a disappointment, but when viewed as a part of the dead trilogy it can be celebrated as a film made in the dying years of successful independent cinema. Romero's direction of the subject matter is still crisp as ever and Tom Savini's special effects wizardry is as unyielding as before. Since the days of Dawn of the Dead, the effects have dramatically improved and now we can see decaying zombies lumber at our screens with ultimate realism. Watch out for the nicknamed 'Dr. Tongue' at the beginning of the movie who has no jaw at all, only his tongue dangling down his neck as gore drips from the cavernous wound on his face. Except for a rubber crocodile in one shot, the effects in Day are incredible. Blood, guts and flesh eating soak this movie and at times seem to try and make up for the poor story line and final movie due to unjust budget cuts. But nevertheless, Day of the Dead is a mind-blowing movie, which is just pipped at the post by its two predecessors. But still, Day has many things to offer, including Joe Pilato as the aggressively real, Captain Rhodes, in a classic performance. Originally having a small part in Dawn of the Dead in the police docks scene, Joe Pilato reprises a position amongst the long list of zombie-battling characters in the living dead trilogy. Day of the Dead may be lacking some of the merits of the first two installments, but it remains to be a powerful movie or unrelenting realism and expert direction and execution. This movie may be down-trodden for lack of budget, Romero's editing style is missing, the bitter social commentary is somewhat subdued and the tone of the movie is disjointed from the depicted situation, but in the end, Day of the Dead is one of the best zombie movies ever made, just not by Romero. But every filmmaker has to have an off film, but this isn't his worst attempt. Despite this, the movie is still definitely worth several viewings and a place in your collection. What trilogy would be complete without it's ending? Classic moments and great images are abundant in this movie and occasionally echo back to Night of the Living Dead as far as enclosed hysteria is concerned. A legend in its own right and a movie unjustly plagued with bad luck, Day of the Dead must be seen, and must be seen now! |