I have reported on countless cinematic suggestions from master of the macabre Stephen King throughout my tenure at Dread Central. Today, I am sharing a recommendation that is very close to my heart. This pick is likely my favorite remake of all time. A zombie movie that delivers fleshed-out characters and a strong emotional core throughout. I’m speaking of the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.
In his book, Danse Macabre, King heaps praise on the Dawn of the Dead remake. The author gushes: “Genius perfected would be Zack Snyder’s 2004 Dawn [of the Dead] remake, which begins with one of the best opening sequences of a horror film ever made.”
Kings is not wrong. The film is pitch-perfect, and the opening sequence upends expectations in a major way. I think I dropped my popcorn the first time I watched it. That unpredictable start to the proceedings effectively sets the tone for what’s to come. The flick features well-developed characters, a biting sense of humor, and an abundance of gore. Not to mention, the picture serves up a cover of the Disturbed song “Down With The Sickness” that fits perfectly with some of the film’s irreverent themes.
I’m sure Stephen King would agree, this remake succeeds thanks to a dynamite creative team.
Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this film is as good as it is. James Gunn wrote the screenplay and Zack Snyder sat at the helm. That’s a pretty epic pairing.
If you are keen to rewatch, you can find the picture streaming on Peacock as of the publication of this post.
The 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake plays out as follows:
When her husband is attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Sarah Polley) manages to escape, only to realize her entire Milwaukee neighborhood has been overrun by the walking dead. After being questioned by cautious policeman Kenneth (Ving Rhames), Ana joins him and a small group that gravitates to the local shopping mall as a bastion of safety. Once they convince suspicious security guards that they are not contaminated, the group bands together to fight the undead hordes.
Well, dear reader, that is all we have for you at present. Keep an eye out for more recommendations from iconic genre-focused creators as we uncover them. Also, be sure to follow @DreadCentral on the social media platform previously known as Twitter (now just known as X) so you never miss out on one of our very cool updates.
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