50 Reasons Why Dawn Of The Dead Might Just Be The Greatest Film Of All Time
George A. Romero's 1978 zombie epic is a true horror classic. Here's 50 reasons why it deserves to be considered one of the greatest films of all time.

1. George A. Romero
Director George A. Romero pretty much single handedly defined the modern interpretation of zombies of which we all know and love. Before Romero's groundbreaking script for Night of the Living Dead in 1968, film zombies were a far more restrained bunch, often appearing in voodoo themed movies like 'White Zombie' as expressionless slaves. Romero took the basics of the zombie concept and gave it a new twist which would change horror history forever - The desire to eat your flesh. As well as a taste for human meat, Romero's zombies weren't the result of Haitian voodoo or witchcraft, but rather an mysterious pandemic or possible radiation leak. Dawn of the Dead marks the point where Romero perfected his vision of the zombie apocalypse, by making his zombies not only a genuinely terrifying threat, but also by turning them into walking metaphores. Dawn also displays many of Romero's best qualities as a director, such his frequent uses of social and political satire and well developed characters. While he sadly continues to run the risk of sullying his own legacy with such dismal affair as 'Survival of the Dead', George A. Romero remains one of horror's most influential figures and the true grandfather of the modern zombie movie.2. The Goblin Soundtrack

3. Ken Foree as Peter
Romero's taboo shattering decision to have a black leading man in 1968's Night of the Living Dead (Duane Jones) as the civil rights movement continued to wage on, kick started a trend throughout Romero's work of showcasing lead characters who were also social outcasts of some sort. While the casting of Ken Foree as Peter in Dawn of the Dead wasn't nearly as shocking to audiences in 1978, Peter was another charismatic black lead character who oozed with cool in the hands of Ken Foree. It's also kinda awesome that he later went on to play Kenan's dad in Nickelodeon's classic family sitcom Kenan and Kel. As a fan of the show while growing up in the 1990's, it was only years later that I realized that Ken Foree was not only Dawn of the Dead's Peter, but also Roger, the long suffering victim of Keenan and Kel's implausible situation comedy. "KEEEENAAANNN !"4. The Shopping Mall

5. Tom Savini's Make-Up Effects
Tom Savini's groundbreaking effects work in Dawn of the Dead established his career as one of cinema's most creative special effects artists. Ushering in the splatter horror of the 1980's, Savini's unique and gruesome set-pieces were unlike anything audiences had ever seen before. Many of the set-pieces were so shocking that they led to film being released unrated in the US, and cut to shreds by censors in other parts of the world. Savini has been somewhat critical of the effects of Dawn of the Dead in recent years, due to the vividly unrealistic blood - often almost fluorescent red and with an oily consistency. Romero himself has continued to champion the look of Dawn of the Dead's blood, arguing that it compliments the comic book feel of the movie. Whatever you think about the unrealistic blood, it's still impossible to deny the ingenuity and wince inducing power of Savini's effects, with particular highlights including a helicopter semi-decapitation and a machete being implanted into a zombie's skull.6. The Satire

7. Score: L'alba dei morti viventi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC3jGCUJsVM&feature=related8. Gaylen Ross as Francine
Compared to Night of the Living Dead's Barbra (Judith O'Dea) Gaylin Ross' portrayal of Francine represents a stronger and more intuitive female lead, clearly reflective of the changes in society between the two films. As a mother to an unborn child with Stephen (David Emge) she longs for a life beyond the zombie apocalypse but is forced to protect herself by any means necessary in order to survive. However, her reactive characterisation cant be entirely placed at the feet of Romero, as it was Gaylin Ross whom suggested that her character shouldnt scream or run during moments of peril. While shes often the damsel in distress of certain sequences - such as when shes stalked by the creepy Hare Krishna zombie - gun toting Francine represents a definite change in the representation of women in the horror genre.9. The Zombies

10. Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2
I've never quite understood how the Italians managed to create so many unofficial sequels to American films throughout the 1970's & 1980's without hardly any legal issues. If an Italian sequel to The Dark Knight Rises appeared out of the blue later this year, you can guarantee that Nolan and co would be on the phone to their lawyers in a heartbeat. While it would be a little harder to get away with today, the Italians managed to make unofficial sequels to The Evil Dead II (La Casa 3), Alien (Contamination) Jaws (Great White) and most notably Dawn of the Dead - which is actually rather good. Directed by gore lover Lucio Fulci, Zombi 2 (also known from its video nasty days as Zombie Flesh Eaters) was made purely to cash in on the huge success of Romero's Dawn of the Dead - known as Zombi in Italy. Completely unrelated in plot, the film takes place on a cursed tropical island in which the dead are suddenly returning to life. Fulci's zombies are an odd bunch, often taking time out to gratuitously shove splinters into the eyes of women and fight with sharks. The trashy Zombi 2 doesn't quite deserve to be placed alongside Romero's masterpiece, but taken as its own exploitation flick, there's plenty here to enjoy. It's ridiculously gory, mixes classic 'voodoo' representations with Romero's modern zombie, and has rightfully managed to carve its own dedicated fanbase. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiKnIcJ3p1Y
Contributor
Stephen Leigh
Contributor
Cult horror enthusiast and obsessive videogame fanatic. Stephen considers Jaws to be the single greatest film of all-time and is still pining over the demise of Sega's Dreamcast. As well regularly writing articles for WhatCulture, Stephen also contributes reviews and features to Ginx TV.
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