133 - Day of the Dead (1985)

DVD Box
Day of the Dead is the final film in George A. Romero's Trilogy of the Dead.

The dead have now taken over all of the known world with the exception of a small bunker in Florida. The inhabitants are a combination of scientists and the military who are divided on how best to deal with the invasion.

The scientists have been ordered to carry out experiments to try and find a cure or vaccine against being turned into zombies and the armed personnel must protect them during their tests.

After the leader of the military dies, the new man in charge decides things are better his way, forcing the scientists to wonder which is worse - death by zombie or death by mutiny.

Theatrical Poster
Source: Wikipedia
Day of the Dead builds on the previous two films in the Trilogy (Night and Dawn), adding extra blood and a lot more dismemberments. Still, it avoids falling into the trap of being a simple horror movie by sticking to the original formula of having mostly tension and comedy wrapped up with the promise of a death that leaves very little to the imagination.

Like Dawn, Day of the Dead pits the moral issue of whether humans are worse in soul than the zombie invaders. Where Dawn had the intrusion of a rogue biker gang, Day has in-fighting between the last few humans and even introduces a zombie hero in Bub whom the audience will endear to and go so far as to cheer him on during the final scenes.

Having compiled his trilogy over twenty years it is impressive to see how Romero hasn't shied away from technological advances. Where other franchises may have discarded newer colouring styles or special effects in order to preserve the feeling of the successful original, Romero embraces it and as a result his films appear to become more enhanced as the series trundles on.

This film though isn't for the faint-hearted. There isn't much to cry about in the tension department but if you love bodies being pulled apart in the most adventurous of manners you'll love it. Truth be told, I used to shy away from horror films but thanks solely to a certain George A. Romero, I love the genre.

Superb!

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