Back to Fleetwood Flicks!
Movie: Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Director: Zack Snyder
Players: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Mekhi Phifer
Grade: B+
Right from the very beginning you know that this is going to be a different kind of spooky movie. There is no character formation. The audience doesn’t have to sit through an hour getting to know the characters before any action happens. There is blood squirting everywhere and people are ‘dying’ right off the bat. So, somehow a few survivors decide to take their risks by hiding out in the mall. It is not a bad idea, but I don’t know how they managed to keep the undead from getting inside. Most of the doors are made of glass, and it was proven early in the film that the zombies can break through glass. It’s not that important though.
While watching the film, I often found myself wondering if this was supposed to be a horror flick or a comedy. There are definitely a few moments where you’ll jump in your seat. However, there are many more parts where you just can’t help but laugh (and you are supposed to laugh). There are some weird scenes as well, and you’ll find yourself scratching your head and wondering if that just happened.
All in all, I really liked this film. It has the gritty feel of horror movies from the 60s and 70s. All of the stereotypical aspects of movies are thrown out of the window. The audience never gets to know why or how people are getting bitten. They just are. There are a lot of shaky camera shots too, especially at the end, so be sure to stay for the rolling credits.
Random movie quote: “I love you every minute. I love you more than band music and cookie making.” – From The Other Sister starring Diane Keaton and Juliette Lewis
Movie Vault Recommendation: Upon the release of the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, my renting advice for you this week is to check out the first Scooby-Doo. It’s a fun movie, especially if you’re a fan of the cartoon (like me). You’ll really appreciate the ending!
