The film starts out with a reporter on the scene of an accident. The cameraman picks up in the background that the people who are supposed to be dead, aren’t. So, the undead start attacking everyone. Next, jump to the set of an amateur film maker, Jason, who's making a mummy feature. They hear on the radio what’s going on in nearby towns, and decide to check it out for themselves. It’s all captured through Jason’s lense in a docu-style format, which seems to be the latest craze in horror movies these days. One of the girls attempts to kill herself, feeling that the end is inevitable, but she isn’t fully successful, and is rushed to a nearby (abandoned) hospital. Her gun is used to kill some of the lingering undead, and they continue to fight for their lives for the remainder of the movie.
Do you really want to hear more about the premise of this movie? It’s simple, zombies and everything that goes along with them. I'm sure you’d rather hear me rant and rave about how much it sucked, or how grateful I am to grandpa Romero for making another movie, thus hailing him as the undefeated Zombie King. So, here it goes.
It’s too bad Romero relied more on the old zombie stereotypes, slow movement, needing to be shot in the head to die, etc, to drive his story, instead of trying to reinvent the craze he once started. It’s also disappointing to see his mass use of CGI. Maybe he couldn’t afford Savini on this feature, but it was too apparent that it was almost all done behind a computer. Plus, the dialog, script, and acting were crap. Even the parts that were supposed to be funny (the deaf Amish guy) didn’t make me chuckle. When I watch Romero films I have certain expectations, and when it started out so bland, that set the tone for the rest of the movie. But, it did end on a high note, with the execution of a zombie lady hanging from a tree by her hair and getting everything but her upper cranium blown off with a shotgun.
For me, there wasn’t a single thing that screamed Romero. This could have easily been written and directed by a no name and there wouldn’t have been much difference. Yeah, there’s always underlying social and political connotations in Romero’s films, and if you have an internet connection, you have access to pretty much anything these days. This further increases the want to capture and share stuff, as each person seeks their five minutes of fame. I guess that includes me, with my review site and personal blog, so shame on me for being a follower, and not seeking refuge in a bunker waiting for the world to end, but rather contributing to it’s and my own demise.
And, yes, the government and media lie to us, nothing new there, but does Romero hint at a more female dominated society with the strong role of Debra (Michelle Morgan)? And, possibly a resurgence of the Black Panther party in the face of a world crisis? Keep in mind, the intent of the BPP was to speak out on civil rights deficiencies, and to establish a brother/sisterhood of all black people, which is kind of what we see here in one scene. Maybe it wasn’t his intent, but it makes sense.
The undead may very well will inhabit the earth one day, but we won’t really know until it’s all over, right? It’s a shame Romero didn’t dig deeper into his repertoire and come up with a better movie. Diary of the Dead 2 has the green light for 2009 though. Maybe the old man is just broke, and had to make something in order to eat. I’d gladly send him 20 bucks, or make him a Banquet dinner or two. But, I do shame the major studios for not giving him an open-ended check in order to make his films, since dude has proven himself many times, yet they still don’t believe in him. And, maybe working with limited resources and on a tight budget have really discouraged him, thus effecting his creativity. Or, maybe he just doesn’t know how to connect with today’s horror audience, only time will tell.
At first, I thought that by taking the Weinstein route (Blockbuster exclusive rentals), that would shut out a big audience of viewers, but then again, maybe that’s not so bad after all. Problem is, that further forces fans to make the decision on whether to buy or rent, and I suggest spending $4-5, instead of 15-20 and regretting it. It just wasn’t quite a Romero film, so go watch the original Dawn or Day, and reflect on an age or horror that will never be recaptured.
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OVERALL RATING--2.5-- |
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