Love him or hate him, there’s no denying filmmaker Zack Snyder has done a lot to renew modern interest in the undead. The zombie subgenre has ebbed and flowed over the years, probably reaching its peak in the early 2010s before receding back to small-time streaming, but there were some genuine gems throughout the undead golden years. Sure, maybe I’m alone in thinking so, but I had a great deal of fun with Snyder’s Army of the Dead, and I wish more filmmakers were willing to go all out for some zombie mayhem.
The forthcoming 28 Years Later might ignite new interest (though those runners are canonically not quite zombies), but we don’t see the undead quite like we used to. Back in 2004, we really saw them. We saw them fast, vicious, and in glorious, digital detail. While Snyder’s Army of the Dead was large in scope, his directorial debut was none other than a remake of George Romero’s undead classic, Dawn of the Dead. It’s one of the best horror remakes of all time, and a pretty sensational debut. Now, you can catch the film streaming on Netflix.
Per Netflix: Thousands of flesh-eating zombies turn a local mall into a gruesome food court in this horror film Variety calls “the best modern remake of its kind.”
These days, Snyder’s remake is fondly remembered for several reasons. Chief among them, of course, is being the rare horror remake that matches the original. There’s also the still-infamous opening scene—one of the best the genre has ever seen—and a remarkable cast of performers who would subsequently move on to much larger fame. Sarah Polley and Ty Burrell, I see and validate you both. Sure, Snyder’s frenetic filmmaking style isn’t quite as tension-fueled and thematically hefty as Romero’s, but it’s as gangbusters a modern update as audiences could ask for.
In our review of Dawn of the Dead’s 4K physical re-release, we wrote, “Nearly 20 years on, Snyder’s version stands as a reminder of the best way to remake a film: honor the original but make it your own.” Adrian Manuel even wrote a fantastic piece positing Snyder’s film as not just a remake, but a sequel to Romero’s original. There’s plenty of love for Dawn of the Dead around here, and if it’s been a while since you’ve had the chance to check the film out, let this be your sign to give it a go.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Dawn of the Dead? How does it compare to the original for you? Are you going to catch it on Netflix this weekend? Let me know your thoughts over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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