Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Director: George A. Romero
Obviously a major influence on Shaun of the Dead, the clue being in the title. Even though the makeup effects are superior in [the sequel] Day of the Dead, there's something about Dawn that is so timeless. It's not just funny and exciting and scary, it feels like it's been beamed in from another dimension. One of the things they veered away from in the [2003] remake is the idea of it being a horror film that takes place over a long period of time; they're holed up in the mall for months. It ends up being less of a horror film and more a satire of consumerism and a black comedy about the end of the world. I could watch the images of zombies walking on ice rinks or up the down escalator endlessly. And the music — half Italian prog-rock and half strange library music from the '50s — creates this otherworldy feel. It's not like any other film.
Next Item in this Gallery
