Day of the Dead
I remember the first time that I saw George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.” I was a junior in high school, and was trying to get over a bout with pneumonia. It was 1974, and the first time that television was going to show the film in it’s complete, uncut version. My bed was by a wall with the window in it, and a storm was brewing outside.
I could hear the gusts of wind pound against my window, followed by torrential rain. 
The set in my bedroom was black and white, so it was perfect for viewing the black and white classic. So, my tummy filled with the best antibiotics and cold medicines God ever created, and my blanket pulled up around my neck, I braved watching what had been described to me as one of the most horrifying films of all time. Lights out, television on. The movie begins. The storm gets worse. Branches scratch against my window, creating an added dimension of eeriness.
I must admit the circumstances were perfect to view Romero’s zombie flick, first released in 1968. It gave me the creeps, and stayed with me long after that cold, stormy night. That’s why I rushed to a theater near me to catch “Dawn of the Dead” in 1979, and the conclusion to the trilogy, “Day of the Dead” in 1985. Nobody does zombies like Romero and Savini, and their trilogy constitutes the mother load of all zombie films. The first film was unsettling. It’s black and white images masked the unspeakable horror that was going on before us.
When a stray virus from outer space awakens the dead, they rise from their graves and crave human brains. That’s bad news for anyone who happens to get in their path. The first film focused on a diverse group of survivors hiding out in a small farmhouse. The second film took consumerism to new lengths by having the survivors take on the living dead in a deserted mall. “Day of the Dead” takes place in a missile silo in Florida, where a small group of scientists and soldiers work together to find a solution to the zombie problem.
By 1985, Savini’s effects had become so realistic you’d swear they were actually killing people. There’s some really gros stuff in “Day of the Dead,” hence it’s lack of a rating. They sent this sick puppy out without papers. People get ripped in half, or have their heads ripped off. Not pretty stuff, yet pivotal to a film that never flinches. There’s a solid story holding all of the sinew together, and a decent cast to carry out Romero’s nightmarish vision. Lori Cardille is especially effective as the sole female survivor, while Joe Pilato fulfills the film’s nasty villain quota.
While the soldiers fend off the zombies from above, the scientists attempt to understand their behavior and motor functions. This allows Romero and Savini to fill the screen with one sick experiment after another. Hold on to your lunch. The missile silo setting is perfect for creating a claustrophobic feel that only heightens when the zombies arrive for dinner. Romero also accomplishes the impossible by creating a sympathetic zombie named Bub, who even though he still craves human munchies, is kind of a neat guy. I wish the DVD transfer were better, because I really liked this film.
COMPLETE CHECK-UP
VISION: [ ] 20/20 [ ] Good [ X ] Cataracts [ ] Blind
The well lit exterior and interior scenes in the digital transfer look sensational. Delivered in the film’s original 1.85:1 widescreen ratio, the colors look sensational and the flesh tones real. Then there’s the low- lit interior scenes that just suck. The low lit scenes have that fuzzy look, obviously a compression problem. They look like videotape that’s been dragged over a low power magnet. Too bad, because the other scenes look vivid and sharp, with just a minute trace of artifacts and no pixelation. The reds are really red, but the blacks never seem to gel. There’s also an annoying light band that separates the top of the frame with the black matting. Definitely not one of the best transfers.
HEARING: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Minor Hearing Loss [ ] Needs Hearing Aid [ ] Deaf
The Dolby Digital mono soundtrack is effective yet not very showy. Then again, what did you expect? Some low level hiss is apparent because you have to turn up the volume to fully appreciate the dialogue mix, which is low.
ORAL: [ ] Excellent [ ] Good [ X ] Poor
No closed captions or subtitles.
COORDINATION: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Good [ ] Clumsy [ ] Weak
“Day of the Dead” features a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the movie, and even though it seems like it was shot for cast and crew and not general consumption, it’s still interesting to watch. Especially for someone like me, who just loves this stuff. Director Romero and make-up effects guru Tom Savini take us through the laborious procedure of making up and then executing hundreds of zombies. It’s interesting to note that the clips of the film used in the documentary look exceedingly better than the same scenes in the actual film. Very strange, bit since the documentary is located on the flip side of the disc, there was probably less compression problems. There’s also the original theatrical trailer and the customary main and scene access menus. It’s also nice to note that the chapter stops on “Day of the Dead” actually register on the DVD player display.
PROGNOSIS: [ ] Excellent [ ] Fit [ X ] Will Live [ ] Resuscitate [ ] Terminal
Not the definitive munchie movie it could have been.
VITALS: $29.99/Unrated/102 Minutes/Color/12 Chapter Stops/Keepcase/DV10602
John Larsen
ATTENDING RESIDENT
ATTENDING RESIDENT: John Larsen
PATIENT: DAY OF THE DEAD
BIRTH DATE: 1985
HMO: Anchor Bay Entertainment
