Film Journal #5 - George Romero’s “Day of the Dead” (1985)
As you can probably tell, I have been watching a lot of zombie films. I got an idea for a zombie movie a couple months back and I have been trying to immerse myself in the genre. That way, when I start writing, I know which concepts have already been tackled and which aspects of zombie movies I can improve upon.
Prior to starting this film journal, I revisited “Night of the Living Dead,” as well as Romero’s original “Dawn of the Dead,” and now have finally finished up his original zombie trilogy by watching “Day of the Dead.”
The first thirty minutes of this film are less then stellar. Over-the-top characters and some crummy dialogue make for a lackluster beginning. You don’t really want to root for anyone and every person you encounter is kind of an asshole. However, once you get to spend sometime with the characters away from situations that require constant yelling and berating, the film becomes much more enjoyable. This improvement in pacing could also have something to do with increased zombie encounters that showcase Tom Savini’s patented gore effects.
“Day of the Dead’s” social commentary is a little in your face, but the last hour is incredibly action packed, providing some exhilarating genre thrills that let you forget the film’s lack of subtlety. I really enjoy the ‘Bub’ character, a zombie who has been tamed and even taught to use fire-arms. Fans of zombie films definitely need to check this out. Stick with “Day of the Dead” through the first third and enjoy the bloody good hour that follows.
