Dawn of the Dead (1978 film)

Dawn of the Dead is a zombie horror film, the second in George A. Romero's Living Dead series of films (following Night of the Living Dead (1968)). In addition to launching the so-called "splatter craze" in horror films, Dawn of the Dead received much critical acclaim for, among other things, the subtext involving American consumerism and materialism. It features the tagline "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

Related Topics:
Zombie - Horror film - George A. Romero - Night of the Living Dead - Splatter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The film, shot during a period of approximately four months in late 1977 and early 1978, was made on a relatively low budget of around $1.5 million. Filming of scenes in the Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, Pennsylvania was done only when the shopping center was closed for business, roughly between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Director Romero was quoted as saying, "Filming in the mall was hell." Zombie make-up effects, created by Tom Savini, varied widely from the austere to the impressive. Most undead extras received little more than gray make-up slathered on their exposed skin.

Related Topics:
Monroeville Mall - Monroeville, Pennsylvania - Tom Savini

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, despite limitations imposed by 1970s filmmaking technology, late-night filming and budgetary constraints, the film is one of the most fiscally successful horror films ever (based on production cost versus profit). The film's great success is due in large part to the fact that the film made great use of the international market. It was edited and presented in a variety of ways, based on popular expectations for cinema in each market for which it was intended. For example, Italian producer Dario Argento edited the movie to achieve a story with considerably less character development and a much faster pace, in comparison to Romero's definitive cut, which was peppered with humor and driven by cultural satire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A remake of the movie premiered in the United States on March 10, 2004. The new version varies considerably from the original; many of the major themes, including the primary setting in a shopping mall, remain essentially the same, but the film is a complete rewrite with no input from Romero.

Related Topics:
Remake of the movie - United States - March 10 - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~