Dawn of the Dead (2004)

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Directed by
Zack Snyder

Written by
George A. Romero, James Gunn

Cast
Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell [more]

Dawn of the Dead Reviews

The creatures in this film move a lot more quickly than those in the original, whose slow, staggering gait was ripe for parody. Here, their swiftness proves to be the undoing of more than one character. As zombie films go, this one is a small step beneath Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, which was darker and creepier, but it's still a respectable effort. [read review]  --James Berardinelli (ReelViews) In terms of a remake, the original is still better, but in terms of a movie on its own, it holds up and delivers. It's a solid zombie flick and that's all that it is. It's not much for emotion or story, like the original, but it's big on entertainment and zombie-action. It really depends what you're looking for, but I was looking for a fun zombie-ride and that's what I got, and I was pleased. [read review] --FrighT MasteR (UHM) The 2004 Dawn of the Dead is not a perfect film, or a perfect remake, but it is the perfect kind of remake - one that neither neglects its original source nor tries too hard to emulate it. It is innovative without being ignorant, confident but not arrogant. [read review] --John Dedeke (Diabolical-Dominion.com) Really good horrormovie but with a lack of plot. It's just a movie about zombies wanting to eat people, not very complex. I thought it would be a bit better so I'm somewhat disappointed. If you watch it without expecting an excellent movie, you probably will find it excellent but if you go in thinking that it will be the horrormovie of the century, you will find yourself a bit disappointed. [read review]  --AnthroFred (SlasherPool) This 2004 remake by first-time director Zack Snyder takes away a lot of the social message, and fills it instead with plenty of head-blasting zombie-killing mayhem and a surprisingly unpredictable storyline that—while far from perfect—is a lot of fun to watch. [read review]  --Annette Cardwell (FilmCritic.com) In a world flooded with remakes (nearly 40 of them coming out or ending production in this year alone), how does Dawn of the Dead stack up? It's a good one. Maybe it's not a great, classic piece of horror, but it certainly won this non-zombie fan and doubter over. [read review] --Staci Layne Wilson (Horror.com) There was no burning need for a remake, but this one is respectful of its predecessor. It incorporates the technology and acquisitiveness of the intervening quarter century since Romero's vision. It even features a metrosexual, something unheard of in 1978. [read review]  --Jami Bernard (New York Daily News) Well, it's not a horror movie. It is an action movie - just set to the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse. And it's a pretty fun ride, too, beyond some truly stupid "horror movie cliche" character beats here and there... Does it hold a candle to George Romero's vaunted original? No, but it doesn't really seem to want to. [read review] 7/10 -- (CHUD.com) Although first-time director Zack Snyder apes the agitated, grainy-video spirit of Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic thriller of last year, "28 Days Later," a little too closely, he does have an appropriately macabre sense of humor... And this may be the only flick in movie history in which audiences applaud the point-blank execution of a snarling human infant. [read review] --Desson Thomson (Washington Post) It is, in other words, a paradigm of its genre: bloody (and bloody scary), stylish, smart, audacious and edgy, darkly pessimistic yet inflected with touches of deliciously sick humor. Yes, it's essentially a remake of a sequel, albeit a sequel that happens to be one of the greatest horror movies ever made, but it more than surpasses the original. [read review] --Michael O'Sullivan (Washington Post) Much less thematically ambitious than either Romero's more overtly satirical original or Danny Boyle's moody semi-art-house smash "28 Days Later," the new "Dawn" nonetheless manages to work on its own, more conventional terms. A likable acting ensemble and generous helpings of post-9/11 self-sacrificing heroism keep a surprisingly strong human element going despite the grisly nature of the proceedings. [read review]  --Michael Tunison (Boxoffice Magazine) It also boasts a much higher level of acting than the genre norm, or that in Romero's film for that matter. ... There are more silly horror movie conventions in the remake but also some clever new gross-out gags. Snyder and company even top the last resurrection of a '70s horror classic, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," at its own game. [read review]  -- (L.A. Daily News) The script is particularly weak (and considering the whole point is to get to the gore, that's saying a lot). There are two particularly gruesome killings of zombies that are truly stomach turning for the uninitiated, both of which had us wishing we had passed on the screening. For aficionados only [read review] --Chuck Schwartz (The Cranky Critic) So, yes, "Dawn of the Dead" works and it delivers just about what you expect when you buy your ticket. My only complaint is that its plot flatlines compared to the 1979 version, which was trickier, wittier and smarter. Romero was not above finding parallels between zombies and mall shoppers; in the new version, the mall is just a useful location, although at least there are still a few jokes about the Muzak. [read review]  --ROGER EBERT (Chicago Sun-Times) In the end, DAWN OF THE DEAD is everything and more that you have ever wanted in a zombie film. Pure terror, relentless action, foreboding doom, and a whole lot more. Zack Synder is one to look out for in the coming years. He's sure to be a staple of ourgenre. If you want to be scared ****less and bedazzled by the undead, this is the film to see. [read review]  --Monsterman (Bloody-Disgusting.com) Sure, it can't compare to Romero's original; but I guarantee if this didn't have the connection to that film people wouldn't bitch so damn much and probably avoid being one of those people who judge it solely on how it 'stands-up' against the original. [read review]  -- (TheVideoGraveYard.com) Overall though, the film didn't really bring much innovativeness to the genre, didn't feature enough killings and action (in my humble opinion) and spent too much time with the losers in the mall and not enough with the man-eating freaks outside. [read review] 5/10 -- (JoBlo.com) While the re-envisioned Dawn of the Dead is not as clever as director George Romero's 1978 cult hit, its suspenseful storytelling, bloodthirsty zombies and notable performances make it a masterful horror pic nonetheless. [read review]  -- (Hollywood.com) Impressively directed horror flick that delivers everything you could want from a zombie movie: shocks, lashings of gore, a witty, intelligent script, strong characters and some particularly gruesome set-pieces. [read review]  --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon) to package a mix of sublime special effects sequences with such unmitigated rubbish, and to name it after one of the greatest horror films of all time just as a selling point, is unforgivable heresy. [read review] 4/10 --Alex Ballard (thefilmasylum.com) A zombie film that the teary eyed purest will probably loath but the rest of us will stomach thanks to some great action and gore. Forget the story, because there aint one, just enjoy the eye candy. [read review] 7/10 --Vaughan Dyche (thefilmasylum.com) Be warned this movie is scary and will scare so if you have any kiddies running around put them straight to bed, close the curtains, turn the lights down, turn the sound to the max and enjoy. [read review]  -- (terrorwatch.net) Snyder’s film isn’t likely to be considered a classic 20 years down the road like Romero’s film is, but it’s a winningly extreme episode in the ongoing adventures of Zombie and Harriet. [read review]  --Marc Savlov (Austin Chronicle) Could this be a zombie movie with real braaains? Not on your life. But it is a gross-out great time when the basic '70s thriller is remade with modern flare. [read review] B+ -- (E! Online) Darkly funny, tense and devastatingly grim, it manages to bring a classic horror back to life without stinking of rot. Bust a gut to see it. [read review] 8/10 --Anton Bitel (Movie Gazette) Dawn of the Dead is surprisingly decent, especially compared to another recent horror remake (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, anyone?) [read review]  --David Nusair (Reel Film Reviews) ...a surprisingly entertaining update of the 1975 classic that mixes dark humor and action to create a mostly satisfying film. [read review]  --Gareth Von Kallenbach (MovieWeb) This is a popcorn movie at it's best, folks, and one that you shouldn't miss...even if you are from Wisconsin. [read review]  --Brian Gallagher (MovieWeb) Dawn of the Dead is something that we have seen far to few of lately – a good, scary, intense horror movie. [read review] 8/10 --W. Andrew Powell (The Gate.ca) It's been pumped up with steroid-enhanced direction, but this zombie horror remake's got no soul. [read review] --Michael Rechtshaffen (Hollywod Reporter) When there's no more imagination in Hollywood, the spacky, minge-like remake will walk the EARTH! [read review]  --B. Alan Orange with Imperial Man (MovieWeb) Fiercely funny and utterly horrifying, Dawn Of The Dead is a killer zombie movie. [read review]  --Nev Pierce (BBC Films) The only thing that has improved with the remake is the quality of the blood. [read review] 55/100 --Jamie Gillies (Apollo Guide)

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