In April 1979, George Romero‘s iconic zombie film Dawn Of The Dead made its debut in North-American theatres. Nearly five decades later, it remains a pivotal horror classic, blending bang-on social commentary, humour, intensity and memorable performances.
To mark its 45th anniversary, the film was recently screened in theatres and drive-ins across North America, including Ottawa’s own Mayfair Theatre.
Unlike its predecessor, Night of the Living Dead, which depicted the onset of a zombie apocalypse, Dawn unfolds in a world overrun by the undead.
The movie follows Stephen (David Emge), his girlfriend Francine (Gaylen Ross), their friend Roger (Scott H. Reiniger), and a newfound ally, Peter (Ken Foree), as they flee from a zombie-infested city in Pennsylvania. Seeking refuge, they decide to take shelter in an abandoned shopping centre.
As they settle into the mall, the group notices hordes of zombies aimlessly roaming the premises. Stephen theorizes that the undead are drawn to the mall due to subconscious memories of its importance in their former lives, prompting Romero’s critiques of capitalism and materialism.
Romero expressed his intention to address societal issues through the film’s social commentary, which he stated was more obvious than subtle.
Beyond critiquing consumer culture, Dawn also delves into existential questions. In the mall, the four main characters have all the goods they could ever desire at their fingertips — but is a life of material pleasures enjoyable when society has fallen apart around them?
Additionally, the characters’ internal struggles mirror larger themes of human nature, as they grapple with identity and survival amid escalating conflicts. Peter’s egalitarian treatment of Francine juxtaposes Stephen’s insecurity, sexism and attempts to assert his masculinity, highlighting the theme of power dynamics.
The film also showcases the groundbreaking work of special effects and makeup artist Tom Savini, who made his mark with Dawn after missing out on 1968’s Night of the Living Dead due to military service in Vietnam.
Savini burst onto the Hollywood scene with Dawn, pushing boundaries and shocking viewers. For a scene in which a shotgun is fired at a man’s head, Savini packed a prosthetic head cast with food scraps and fired an actual shotgun to explode it. He also had nearly 300 extras painted in grey to create a realistic zombie look.
The film’s setting is one of its coolest aspects, as Romero and his crew filmed in night shifts at a real mall in Pennsylvania. The shopping centre is eerily empty, as the four characters are alone through the first half of the film.
The film also features a healthy dose of humour — in one scene, Stephen and Peter enter the mall’s empty bank and plunder the cash registers, even though money has lost all value in their world. The two of them agree to take some just in case, as they strike a pose for the bank’s camera.
Despite its satirical take on consumerism and humorous moments, Dawn of the Dead remains a chilling and impactful horror film. Whether viewed as a horror-comedy or a serious exploration of societal decay, the 1979 classic remains a true cornerstone of zombie cinema, as well as Romero’s crowning achievement.
Featured image by IMDb.
