Survival of the Dead (2009)

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer (WGA):

George A. Romero (written by)

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

On an island off the coast of North America, local residents simultaneously fight a zombie epidemic while hoping for a cure to return their un-dead relatives back to their human state. |

Plot Keywords:

Zombie | Apocalypse | Sixth Part | Sequel To Cult Favorite | Violence

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Devon Bostick
Athena Karkanis	...	Tomboy
Julian Richings	...	James O'Flynn
Kenneth Welsh	...	Patrick O'Flynn
Kathleen Munroe	...	Janet / Jane O'Flynn
Joris Jarsky	...	Chuck
Alan Van Sprang	...	'Nicotine' Crocket
George Stroumboulopoulos	...	Talk Show Host
Wayne Robson	...	Tawdry O'Flynn
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Seamus Muldoon
Stefano DiMatteo	...	Francisco (as Stefano Colacitti)
Matt Birman	...	Lem Muldoon
Heather Allin	...	Sally Muldoon
Michael Rhoades	...	Good Old Boy #2
Zeljko Kecojevic	...	Zombie #5
Jerry Schaefer	...	Zombie #2
Craig Dawson	...	Police Officer Zombie
Wayne Curnew	...	Muldoon Zombie Hunter
Philippa Domville	...	Beth Muldoon
Eric Woolfe	...	Kenny
Pete Zedlacher	...	Talk Show Stooge
Salar Madadi	...	Construction Worker Zombie
Mitch Risman	...	Drooling Zombie

Also Known As:

...of the Dead (Canada: English title) (working title) (USA) (working title)
George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead (Canada: English title) (complete title)
Untitled George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead Sequel (USA) (working title)
Untitled Romero Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

Port Dover, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Blank of the Dead Productions

Trivia:

This marks 'George A. Romero''s second time using the SCOPE format (2.35:1, 2.39:1, 2.4:1) for his Living Dead films. The first time was Land of the Dead (2005). The other Dead films were either shot in 1.33:1 (Night of the Living Dead (1968)) or 1.85:1 (Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985)).

Movie Connections:

Follows Land of the Dead (2005)

Future of Zombie Movie

There can be no denying that Romero made an invaluable contribution to the world of horror with "Night of the Living Dead".

"Dawn" was also excellent (in its time) with "Day" being less so.

Nonetheless these 3 movies created a fantastic "zombie universe" which had the potential for infinite sequels and sub-stories.

"Land" was middling at best but still worth seeing because Romero was making it.

However it seems that this great master has lost his way. Instead of continuing the saga he has diluted it with Diary (and almost certainly "Survival").

One of strongest features of "Night" is that it was deadly serious. Diary by contrast attempted college humour. Why?

I was stunned by Snyder's remake of "Dawn". It was fantastic. Which begs the question - why don't the film companies take Romero's "zombie universe" and give it to new directors more committed to that universe than Romero himself appears to be.

Romero - with the greatest respect given for his gift of the sub-genre in the first place - appears more interested in experimental film-making in general that to any loyalty to the "zombie universe". That is unfortunate to the myriad of fans who simply like the great stories where all the world is zombies and the main characters are just trying to survive. This simple premise is eminently watchable (again and again). There is no need to insert post modern comical moments or any other experimental pretensions. Just tell the story.

Snyder took the genre seriously and made $ 100, 000, 000.

It would be fantastic if Romero could have taken the genre equally serious and treated us to some good follow up sequels. Unfortunately he did not. (To hear him discussing the possibility of doing a "Shaun of the Dead" type movie is too horrible to contemplate - the reason Shaun works is because you had the serious versions made by Romero himself).

(Of course social commentary could always be a part of this genre but it should be interwoven subtly as with "Night" and "Dawn".)

In the end - and it is sad to say - the "Zombie universe" should be left to fans like Snyder so that this universe could continue before Romero himself destroys it.

After waiting for years for Romero to revive the genre "Land" (less so) and "Diary" (much more so) has destroyed any confidence I had of Romero being able to contribute anything to this genre.

"The Walking Dead" comic is the closest thing out there to what could have been done by Romero. When the time comes to make this into the movie I hope the makers adhere more to Snyder's vision (or Romero's original vision) than attempt to make a jocular or "modern Romero" movie.