9. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Directed by George A. Romero
Starring David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, Tom Savini
Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team members, a traffic reporter, and his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.
An immortal line from perhaps the most influential zombie movie ever made, and the peak of the “of the Dead” series from George A. Romero. Using the zombies as conduits for Romero to relay his message of consumerist America, Dawn of the Dead is as smart as it is gory.
But while the subliminal messaging and wonderful story makes Dawn of the Dead a cinematic masterpiece, it’s the phenomenal on-set effects and make-up work by horror maestro Tom Savini that really makes the film stand out. Some could even argue that the series never managed to top this level of effects, even as it worked its way into the new Millennium with Land of the Dead and Diary of the Dead.
What makes Dawn of the Dead so impressive is it has stood the test of time, showing that all of the imitators that have come since that stock the bottom shelves of ASDA’s DVD section have misunderstood what made the movie good in the first place. The zombie subgenre is not just about the blood and gore, it’s about the story and message that surrounds it.
Originally published October 31, 2014. Updated October 24, 2022.
