Day of the Dead (1985)

A small group of military officers and scientists dwell in an underground bunker as the world above is overrun by zombies.

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer:

George A. Romero

Stars:

Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Joseph Pilato

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lori Cardille	...	Sarah
Terry Alexander	...	John
Joseph Pilato	...	Rhodes (as Joe Pilato)
Jarlath Conroy	...	McDermott
Anthony Dileo Jr.	...	Miguel (as Antonè DiLeo)
Richard Liberty	...	Logan
Sherman Howard	...	Bub (as Howard Sherman)
Gary Howard Klar	...	Steel (as G. Howard Klar)
Ralph Marrero	...	Rickles
John Amplas	...	Fisher
Phillip G. Kellams	...	Miller
Taso N. Stavrakis	...	Torrez
Gregory Nicotero	...	Johnson
Don Brockett	...	Featured Zombie
William Cameron	...	Featured Zombie

Storyline

Zombies rule the world, except for a small group of scientists and military personnel who reside in an underground bunker in Florida. The scientists are using the undead in gruesome experiments; much to the chagrin of the military. Finally the military finds that their men have been used in the scientists' experiments, and banish the scientists to the caves that house the Living Dead. Unfortunately, the zombies from above ground have made their way into the bunker.

---

Plot Keywords:

military | scientist | bunker | experiment | florida | 

---

Taglines:

First there was "Night of the Living Dead" then "Dawn of the Dead" and now the darkest day of horror the world has ever known

---

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

George A. Romero's Day of the Dead

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Film Distribution Company (UFDC), Laurel Entertainment Inc., Dead Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 96 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the end credits of the movie to the Love Ballad song "The World Inside Your Eyes", Sputzy Sparacino's first lead vocal part of the lyrics singing "Only you, only me. Here alone, all alone. It's our destiny. Plans were made. Now they've changed. Know what's right, know what's wrong. Life just rearranged. All we can do is to try and understand. I've given all I can. My future's in your hands. Come take my heart, my soul, my love, my life! Hold me tight, babe. Take me to the world inside your eyes. Take me to the world inside your eyes." never appeared on the end credits at the beginning of the song. It was instrumental for a minute until we heard Sputzy's band mates in Modern Man as the Chorus voices whispered singing "Eyes, Eyes, Eyes" and then co-lead Singer Delilah's vocal part of the song lyrics "Is it you? Is it me? Holding on for so long, trying desperately. Is it right or is it fair? Wanting more, so much more, and it's never there. I am with you when I feel like I'm alone. It's easy to pretend this world could never end. Come take my heart, my soul, my love, my life. Hold me tight, babe. Take me to the world inside your eyes. Take me to the world inside your eyes!" with the bandies of Modern Man singing their chorus parts "Tonight" could be heard near the very end of the song as the credits finally ended. But you can hear Sputzy's first lead vocal parts of the song on the soundtrack album itself. Then you can finally hear what the original recording sounds like.

---

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, the calendar on the wall show the month of October, beginning on a Tuesday. At the end of the movie, her November calendar begin on a Monday. Unless they skip several years, November should begin with a Friday.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
McDermott: Nothing, nothing at all.
Sarah: Send again.
McDermott: I've been sending up and down the coast from Sarasota to the Everglades and still getting back the same dead air. There's nothing! There's nobody or at least nobody with a radio.
Sarah: All right then let's set down, we'll use the bullhorn.
McDermott: Set down? Wait a minute, that's not in our contract!
Sarah: It's the biggest city within 150 miles and we're going to give it every chance.
McDermott: Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Sarah: Set down, John!
John: I'll set us down. But I won't leave my ...

---

Connections

Referenced in West Is West (1987)

---

Soundtracks

"If Tomorrow Comes"
(uncredited)
Composed by Jim Blazer, John Harrison and Sputzy Sparacino
Performed by Modern Man
Vocals Performed by Sputzy Sparacino and Delilah
Keyboard, Strings & Drum Programming Arrangements by Jim Blazer
Produced by Tom Cossie

User Reviews

The third film in the "dead" series.

Day of the Dead (1985) was the third film in the "Dead" series. For awhile this was going to be the last chapter until recent events have changed the mind of the series creator George A. Romero. Whilst it was going to be a huge budgeted venture for Romero and Laurel Films, a small budget and a few extras limited the scope of the director's vision for this film. But like all good film makers he made do with what he had around him and made a dreary and depressing film.

Society is dead. Zombies have overran the living and the survivors can only be found in very small numbers. One of these groups are bunkered inside an old underground bomb shelter. The survivors inside this subterranean military installation have been divided into three groups: the soldiers, scientists and civilian employees. Stress, sexual tension and a dire situation have split the group even further apart. The dead have been growing in numbers outside and dwindling supplies have made everyone desperate. But within the base their is some order. But what will happen with that collapses?

The third film of the series is not as great as the second film but it's a good film. Performances from the actors may be uneasy and the tight budget restrains the director's vision but it still succeeds as a very frightening and depressing horror film. Savini and company have made the gore more realistic and nauseating. Gone is the cartoonish blood and cheesy gore effects. State-of-the-art splatter effects have been included adding a whole new element to this awesome trilogy. I have to strongly recommend this film. If you love the first two, you'll definitely enjoy this this installment of the one and only trilogy of cinema!

Highly recommended!