Dawn of the Dead

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

If there ever was a concept that guarantees a satisfying big-screen bloodbath, it’s the undead wrecking havoc on the living. That’s what spawned the original Dawn of the Dead. And 28 Days Later. And now this Dawn of the Dead, which is essentially a remake of both. But what it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for with violence, laughs, and more blood than an Iraqi picnic. The film uses up its R rating before the opening credits, and no time is wasted before the human feasting begins, leaving but a select few survivors of the now sprawling cannibalism. The group holes up in a mall to hatch a plan and, in the movie’s funniest moments, kills time by stealing clothes, fucking (this is a horror movie), and sniping celebrity zombie-a-likes from the roof. Early, quiet lulls are interrupted by loud bursts of violence and the film eventually boasts enough maimings and mushroom clouds to desensitize a ’Nam vet. So long as you don’t have a pacemaker, a weak bladder, or a ticket to The Passion of the Christ, we recommend you catch the reckless violence while you can.