Movie Review: Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Dawn of the Dead (2004) directed by Zack Snyder based on the movie by George Romero

Nurse Ana (Sarah Polley) losses her husband and child as a plague turns people into fast-moving, ravenous zombies. She flees her suburban home, eventually joining up with a police officer (Ving Rhames) and an assortment of other characters. They go to Crossroads Mall, which seems moderately secure and out of the way from the destruction and death in the city. The mall security team, led by CJ (Michael Kelly), don't want them there but an uneasy truce develops. As they try to work out what to do, more people show up and they spot a guy on a roof across the street. He's on top of a gun shop, so making friends with him seems like it will work out well. Being a zombie apocalypse movie, things do not work out so well.

The movie has the basic story beats of Romero's version from the 1980s but does not start with the heavy-handed political messages. This plot rushes to the mall where the conflicts between the humans are intense, though the high-speed zombie conflicts are even more intense. Snyder has a strong visual style and makes exciting action sequences with extreme gore. The characters discuss the usual problems, like the morality of killing someone who is bitten and will turn soon--should the person be killed before turning, be sent away, etc.? A husband and pregnant wife have a very heartbreaking denouement. The actors do a good job though the movie has few great character moments. It's more of a horror action thriller and works on that level, if you can put up with the gore.

Mildly recommended--Romero's stuff has a little more substance but this has a lot more style. If you like Snyder's stuff you will probably like this a lot.