10 Zombie Horror Movies That Have No Right Being This Good

Neither the original nor the best, commercial director Zack Snyder had everything to lose when he created a loose remake of George A Romero's beloved 1978 zombie horror classic Dawn of the Dead.

With a relatively slender budget of $26 million stretched across a rather large cast, which included appearances from Scott Reiniger, Tom Savini, and Ken Foree -- all players in Romero's original -- the production was running on fumes, and yet had to look and feel authentic if it was going to survive. As might be expected, critics were sceptical on approach, and nobody really expected the film to be that good, never mind make a lot of money -- especially given that it was missing the kind of headlining star talent that puts bums on seats.

Nevertheless, Dawn Of The Dead, which is about a group of zombie survivors holed up in a mall, struck gold. Snyder's car commercial experience was put to good use, delivering a creatively shot, high-tension and fast-paced feature that just doesn't quit. It killed at the box office and left fans desperate for more -- which they would have to wait another 17 years to get.

Looking back on it today, through the lens of the rest of Snyder's career, makes it all the more improbable, as Dawn Of The Dead is devoid of many of the creative overextensions the director is known for. Perhaps its time to get back to basics?