Day of the Dead

release year: 1985
genre: zombie horror
viewing setting: home DVD, 10/19/03

synopsis: A remote military base houses scientists and soldiers who live under siege from hordes of living dead.

impressions: This entry in the zombie series gets panned a lot, probably because it's more bleak and less adventuresome than the others. There are few characters to sympathize with here, and a lot to hate. Plus, there's very little hope given through most of the movie for any happy ending. The levels of blood and gore - and general creepiness - are fairly high.

things to watch for: When the zombies finally get into the fortress.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A gunslinging zombie.

acting: fine jobs by the principals - the heroine lady, the pilot, the radio guy, the mad scientist, the head soldier, and the a-hole soldier. The guy who played the zombie "Bub" did a good job too - you had to begin to wonder if this zombie could actually be rehabilitated. Most everyone gets what's coming to them.

final word: Good zombie movie.

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