Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Dawn of the Dead is a singular landmark of horror cinema — Romero's satirical use of a shopping mall as zombie playground delivers biting commentary on consumerism that remains iconic and wholly distinctive. Novelty is unquestionably high: no film had fused zombie horror with such overt social critique in this setting before, and the execution is unmistakably Romero's voice. The cinematography has its moments (the garish mall lighting used brilliantly against the horror) but is uneven by top-tier standards. Acting is serviceable genre work — committed but not exceptional. The plot is lean and purposeful though not especially complex. The ending is bleak and effective but not quite as haunting as Night of the Living Dead's conclusion.