Dawn of the Dead

When the dead start walking, the fun stops. Or maybe the opposite happens. Who would have thought that a serious zombie movie would be strongest in light-hearted and almost cheerful montages? Thanks to these, it deviates significantly from the genre and can only surprise the viewer like a breath of fresh air. I don't care much for the category of bloody massacres, so from my side, it is a 70% positive surprise. In the flood of blood, editing, and atmosphere, the glaring illogicalities in the characters' behavior and the light violence of that enthusiastic over-shooting are easier to overlook. (30/07/2007)

Zack Snyder holds the reins of the film firmly in his hands and it is evident literally in every shot. The zombies are no longer lazy stumbling creatures, but deadly monsters. And it is thanks to this change that Snyder managed to achieve such a fast pace and dynamic action scenes that have an incredibly impressive rawness – especially within zombie horror. The fantastic visuals, along with the immensely likeable characters, cool lines, and a healthy dose of cynicism (the director winks at us basically in every other scene), make this possibly the biggest hit of 2004. (25/06/2004)

A tribute as it should be and on top of that one of a few horror remakes that makes sense, has something to offer and doesn’t just dwell on its famous predecessor. And going to watch it in a multiplex inside a shopping mall was quite apt, I thought. P.S.: Second time round, even the “sprinter" zombies, who could beat the world record for a hundred meters didn’t bother me. (13/05/2022)

After many years, I watched Dawn of the Dead again... And I must admit... Having such a successful film premiere in Hollywood is something few people manage to achieve. But Zack Snyder made an indelible mark on history with this debut. Dawn of the Dead particularly benefits from two aspects. It offers a gripping atmosphere that at times pins the viewer to their seat. And it is filmed so flawlessly... It is genuinely beautiful to watch (Snyder excels at this; the audiovisual aspect is his domain). You will also incredibly like all the characters, each standing out in their own way (for me, Michael Kelly probably leads, but even the badass cop with a shotgun, Ving Rhames, has something going for him). The action is top-notch and properly bloody. And above all, it keeps things grounded (no CGI mess), which I absolutely appreciate. Sure, the plot might not have much to surprise you with, and there aren't many story twists here. But what I can say with certainty is that I can't think of any other film with more original end credits. It gave me chills. The best zombie-themed film in all of cinematic history. I give it 9/10. (25/06/2023)

I like Snyder’s conception of the zombies. They are no longer the torpid bitches of Romero's classic, but fast predators that are terrifying and you have to be very wary of them. The opening of the film is another pleasant shock, it has no long introductions, no suspense, it gets down to business right after five minutes. The plot immediately shifts into fifth gear (the initial chaos at the family houses and the shot of the city a the massive car pile-up), after a while it drops to fourth gear and it stays there until the closing credits. Fans of the genre will feel that they have just seen something familiar in an exceptional package, a remake and a beautiful tribute to the genre at the same time. It will put a smile on their face that will not not leave them even after leaving the cinema, as if they had just watched a romantic comedy. (08/09/2004)