Dawn of the Dead 1978

"When their is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

Greetings! We now continue with the George Romero Series. The second installment of his Living Dead universe hit the theatres in 1978. You can view all the trailers HERE. 

Although Made 10 years after Night of the Living Dead. This films starts with the begin of the outbreak. Just from a differing viewpoint. This one starts at the news channel trying to dessiminate information to the public. The crew is in disarray and leaving the station.

Marshall law has been declared and it is law that all dead bodies get turned over to the proper authorities. The SWAT is called into clear out a building and that is where we meet two of our four main characters for this film.

As two of the SWAT and two from the TV station take to the air in a helicopter they pass over a group of rednecks taking pleasure in the killing and slaughter that they have been afforded. The crew stop for gas and we are treated to two little children undead. Note* the word "zombie" was not used until Land of the Dead in Romero's Series. 

They eventually find a shopping mall to land on. The smarter of the two decide to make a run on the stores and see what can be used to help make the place livable. Peter and Roger do a decent job of clearing out some area for them. This is not to be confused with Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead (2004). the Soundtrack is comical as the undead are seen in all their ungracefull glory. At this point one can argue (and it has been argued before) that the undead in the mall represent the Zombie in all of society that is victim to it's own somnambulism through everyday life. 

The four make a pretty good use of the storage area and rations that they have stumbled upon. It appears as if the mall itself is meant as a place of refuge. As they become cocky they start to take chances that they really shouldn't be taking. they try to seal off the exits using trucks from a near bye construction site. Roger is bitten and infected and eventually dies off and put down by Peter. One down three to go.

Franny turns out to be pregnant and Stephen isn't sure if he wants to keep it. So Romero brings up another hot button issue, Abortion. Eventually, roaming marauders notice the electricity and the activity in the mall. they make the offer (or underhanded threat) to be let in. When Peter denies them entry they try to over run the mall. Demolishing  the barricades and compromising the integrity of the mall. The Marauders are lead by none other than Tom Savini.

After the compromise of the mall, Stephan is bitten and infected and dies in an elevator. Eventually Franny and Peter make it to helicopter and take off. No indication is givin as to where they are going except for a few statements earlier in the film about Canada.

The gore factor is creeping up as Romero brings in Tom Savini and eventually Greg Nicotero. As each movie progresses so does the gore factor. Coming up Next, Day of the Dead.

I am giving this 3 and one half severed thumbs. and remember,

I watch this shit so you don't have to!

Shane

	David Emge	...	Stephen
	Ken Foree	...	Peter
	Scott H. Reiniger	...	Roger
	Gaylen Ross	...	Francine
	David Crawford	...	Dr. James Foster
	David Early	...	Mr. Sidney Berman, TV Interviewer
	Richard France	...	Dr. Millard Rausch
	Howard Smith	...	TV Commentator
	Daniel Dietrich	...	Givens
	Fred Baker	...	Police Commander
	James A. Baffico	...	Wooley (as Jim Baffico)
	Rod Stouffer	...	Rod Tucker - Young Officer on Roof
	Jese Del Gre	...	Old Priest
	Clayton McKinnon	...	3rd SWAT Cop in Projects Apt.
	John Rice	...	2nd SWAT Cop in Projects Apt.
	Joseph Pilato	...	Head Officer at Police Dock (as Joe Pilato)
	Randy Kovitz	...	2nd Officer at Police Dock / Biker
	Ted Bank	...	3rd Officer at Police Dock
	Patrick McCloskey	...	4th Officer at Police Dock
	Rudy Ricci	...	Biker Leader (Radio operator)
	Tom Savini	...	Blades - Assistant Head Biker
	Taso N. Stavrakis	...	Sledge, Biker / Various Zombies (as Taso Stavrakos)
	Marty Schiff	...	Charlie 'Moonbaby', Biker (Blades' sidekick)
	Tony Buba	...	Biker - wearing sombrero
	Pasquale Buba	...	Biker (wearing sarapi)
	Joe Shelby	...	Martinez / Motorcycle Raider / Van driver #1
	Nick Tallo	...	Jack, Biker (with seltzer bottle)
	Butchie	...	Butchie - Bearded Biker Riding Chopper Bike with Sidecar (as 'Butchie')
	Larry Vaira	...	Mousey, Biker (with Tommy Gun)
	Dave Hawkins	...	Timmy, Biker (with TV Set)
	Tom Kapusta	...	Biker
	Sharon Ceccatti	...	Lead Zombie (nurse)
	Pam Chatfield	...	Lead Zombie
	Mike Christopher	...	Lead Zombie - Hare Krishna Zombie
	Clayton Hill	...	Lead Zombie - Wearing white sweater
	Jay Stover	...	Lead Zombie - with M-16 rifle