DAWN OF THE DEAD

(vt Zombie Italy; vt Zombies UK)

   Film (1978). Laurel. Dir George ROMERO, starring David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reininger, Gaylen Ross. Screenplay Romero, with Dario Argento (who also cowrote the music) as script consultant. 127 mins, cut to 125 mins. Colour.

   The first of two sequels to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) - the other was DAY OF THE DEAD (1985) - this was (unusually) premiered in Italy, under the title Zombie. DOTD is true sf, not just because of the pseudo-scientific explanation for zombiism but because Romero is interested in zombies not only as occasions for horror - though DOTD remains primarily a HORROR film - but also as phenomena (their sociology, their possible intelligence) in the way that an sf writer might be interested in ALIENS. Where the first film was unremittingly black, this has a comic-strip and satirical humour about it, as four survivors hole up in a shopping mall besieged by zombies and bikers. Jokes about the death of capitalism, even while the capitalist instinct survives, are focused on the many goods displayed in the spotless temple of consumerism. The subtext (we, the working class, are, or could be, the zombies) is spirited though unsubtle, and the film is remembered by most for its violent, brilliantly choreographed action.

   PN

   See also: SATIRE.