10 Army Of The Dead Easter Eggs You Totally Missed
5. Flying Into The Sunset
The shot of helicopters flying into or away from the sunset/sunrise is a visual device that has defined film for over four decades. Many cinephiles would argue that its use since its iconic feature in Apocalypse Now has lessened its impact and its use in Army of the Dead does not exactly add a new spin to this cinematic staple, at least visually.
The film's marketing prominently featured the shot in its trailers and it initially seemed that it would appear at the film's action-packed climax. However, this is cleverly subverted in the film itself as the shot is merely part of a montage detailing the steps of the team's heist.
Its use in various films is either meant to convey a grand moment (whether heroic or ominous) but Snyder's film casually throws it in and depicts its actual climax in a less heroic and more sinister fashion for its ill-fated cast.