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Dawn of the Dead (1978)

 -  Horror | Sci-Fi  -  24 May 1979 (USA)
8.0
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Ratings: 8.0/10 from 64,869 users  
Reviews: 630 user | 178 critic

Following 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.

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Title: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Emge ...
...
...
Gaylen Ross ...
David Crawford ...
Dr. Foster
...
Mr. Berman
Richard France ...
Scientist
Howard Smith ...
TV Commentator
Daniel Dietrich ...
Fred Baker ...
Commander
James A. Baffico ...
Wooley (as Jim Baffico)
Rod Stouffer ...
Young Officer on Roof
Jese Del Gre ...
Old Priest
Clayton McKinnon ...
Officer in Project Apt.
John Rice ...
Officer in Project Apt.
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Storyline

In this first sequel of "Night of the Living Dead," four people take up residence in a deserted mall while trying to stay alive amid the armies of the dead and a vicious gang of militant bikers. Written by Todd A. Bobenrieth <TAB146@PSUVM.EDU>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

George A. Romero's classic 1978 gore-fest, Dawn of the Dead, is back. See more »

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

X | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

24 May 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead  »

Box Office

Budget:

$650,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Ultimate Final Cut) | (Dario Argento's European Version) | (DVD) | (Extended Version)

Sound Mix:

(German prints)|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Joe Shelby's Biker Van Driver character is the one who wears the funny cowboy hat and glasses. See more »

Goofs

Peter and Roger are cops in Philadelphia, but when they drive to the docks, their police car is that of the Pittsburgh Police Department. See more »

Quotes

Dr. Millard Rausch, Scientist: We must think logically. We must deal with his crisis logically, with calm and unemotional response! We have to remain rational. We have to remain logical.
TV Commentator: Scientists like you always think that way. That's not how people think. We just cannot abandon our moral code to...
Dr. Millard Rausch, Scientist: We've got to! We've got to remain logical. There's no choice. It has to be that. It's that or the end.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The zombies overrun the mall throughout the course of the end credits. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"Tango Tango"
(Mall Montage Scene) (uncredited)
Composed by Barry Stoller
Published by De Wolfe Music Ltd.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Still my favorite horror film...
10 February 2000 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead was groundbreaking, satirical, but it was above all else just a fun kind of movie to watch when I was younger. It's also on the films that I count as having re-watchability, even with all of the gore and violence and chilling factors in the film. It combines a kind of documentary feel sometimes (newsreels come to mind when the zombie montages in the mall go on), but is also very un-real at the same time. The gore, courtesy of make-up impresario Tom Savini, is of the comic-book kind, where it's all very real and horrifying until you realize the color is off on the blood and the color on the faces of the un-dead is off.

I could go on and on about this film, but the key thing is to see it, even just once. You may find it out-dated trash, or time-less beauty. Either way, it's likely Romero's best film, or at least his most ambitious (though I've yet to see Knightriders to comment fully). Energy, humor, sadness, excitement, love, loss, it's everything a movie should be (plus the origin of Sex Machine)!


63 of 74 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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How Long Until You Grew Bored of the Mall? jstover07
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