Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Dawn of the Dead (1978) follows four survivors — two TV workers and two policemen — who flee a rapidly spreading zombie epidemic by stealing a helicopter and finding refuge in an abandoned suburban shopping mall. They clear and barricade the mall, try to make it livable and safe, and then face the slow erosion of their security as the dead press outside and violent human marauders (a biker gang) attack from within. Watching the film you’ll get a mix of tense, slow-building survival drama and sudden, brutal horror: extended scenes of barricade work and rationing give way to frantic, bloody confrontations with flesh-eating zombies and human looters. The movie is vividly gory (classic practical effects), bleakly funny at times, and steadily oppressive as group tensions, boredom and moral compromises mount. Beyond the scares and action, Dawn of the Dead delivers sharp social commentary — Romero uses the shopping mall setting to satirize consumer culture, turning a familiar corporate playground into a symbol of hollow routine and human desperation. Expect visceral shocks, creeping dread, action set pieces, and an ultimately grim, thought-provoking mood that influenced decades of zombie fiction. Ideal for viewers who want relentless horror with a biting satirical edge.

Actors: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger

Director: George A. Romero

Runtime: 127 min

Genres: Horror, Thriller

6.9 /10 71 /100 7.8 /10 7.3 /10