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Dawn of the Dead
1978 127 min Italy, United States of America 18+
★7.7
Horror, Science Fiction
Director: George A. Romero
Trailers
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Description
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Budget:
$640,000
Worldwide:
$55M
Starring
David Emge
Actor
Ken Foree
Actor
Scott H. Reiniger
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2005
— Best DVD Edition of a Classic Film
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead is widely regarded as an influential milestone in horror cinema that successfully transcends the genre through its biting social satire on consumerism. While many praise its ambition and character-driven narrative, modern audiences are divided, with some finding its pacing, dated practical effects, and production value to be significant hurdles.
| Theme | The film functions as a sharp, enduring satire of consumerist culture by depicting zombies and survivors alike drawn to the mall. | |
| Acting | Ken Foree delivers an iconic and grounded performance that serves as the emotional anchor for the group. | |
| Theme | The film shifts the primary focus from the undead threat to the psychological friction and moral failings of the human survivors. | |
| Score | The score is a point of contention, with some viewing the eclectic electronic tracks as an effective experimental choice and others finding them tonally mismatched. | |
| Production | The practical effects, including makeup and gore, are praised by proponents as atmospheric but criticized by detractors as unconvincing and 'doll-like' by modern standards. | |
| Pacing | The deliberate, slow-burn tempo polarizes viewers; some find it essential for building a dystopian atmosphere, while others find the lengthy runtime boring and exhausting. |