Day of the Dead (1985)
Goofs
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Character error (1) |
Continuity (2) |
Crew or equipment visible (1) |
Factual errors (2) |
Incorrectly regarded as goofs (2) |
Revealing mistakes (8) |
Spoilers (3)
Character error
Captain Rhodes's infantry officer insignia (the crossed rifles on his lapel) are worn incorrectly. They are worn properly vertically, with the "barrels" pointed inward.
Continuity
When Sarah sits in front of the helicopter a lot of seagulls can be seen and their shadows pass over her. When camera closes in, the gulls are gone.
During the first meeting underground, the orientation of the captain's rank on Rhodes' collar changes from one shot to the next.
Crew or equipment visible
In the opening scene as they fly over the supposedly deserted city, on the left middle side of the screen, a car can be seen driving down the street pulling into a parking spot.
Factual errors
Captains Rhodes, wears the U.S. Army Reserve 99th Regional Readiness Command patch and the U.S. Army uniform tape. Making him and all his men U.S. Army soldiers. Throughout the film you see them all wearing the "Bakers Cap" of the U.S. Marine Corps. They would all have had the Army baseball cap.
(Around 1.06.50) A scene shows that among Logan's subjects, there's a zombie baby. Although it's the size of a very small newborn, it has a full set of adult teeth. This short scene was removed from the 90's European video release.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs
When the soldiers see the zombies coming down on the platform, Rhodes escapes in the opposite direction on a cart, meeting several zombies on the way (he even hits one). These zombies are not coming from the platform as some people erroneously think (which would indeed be impossible). They come from the mine, as the mine gate has been breached (revealed in preceding shots).
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, the November calendars begin on a Monday. Unless they skip several years, November should begin with a Friday. However, the opening scene is revealed to be a dream, so the calendar isn't real. Even if it was the memory of a real calendar, the one at the end of the movie is hand-drawn, so it could be a mistake of the character, not a continuity goof.
Revealing mistakes
At the beginning of the film, when the alligator crawls out of the bank, the band tying its snout shut can be seen.
When the zombies are funneling into the bunker, the soldier zombie quickly adjusts his helmet as he enters the doorway.
An obvious stunt-double for Anthony Dileo Jr. for the scene where Miguel is thrown off of the platform by "Steele". (The stuntman appears to be Taso N. Stavrakis, who also plays Torrez.)
When guns are fired in the zombie-filled caves, no flames can be seen emanating from the barrels.
(around 1h 27min) Zombies have just caught a private who is still shooting on the ground. There is no magazine in his pistol.
When Steele mercy-kills the soldier whose throat was torn out, the man reacts to the headshot and blood comes out of the back of his head. However, no entry wound appears on his forehead.
When Sarah, John and McDermott gun down the zombies in the corral the last one reveals the cable to detonate the explosive squibs running up his trouser leg as he falls.
When the hands punch through the wall in the dream sequence at the beginning of the movie, the hand immediately to the left of the calendar picture gets stuck and forces its way through later than the rest.
Spoilers
Continuity
Throughout the film, Rhodes' M16 changes from a real one to a non-firing Japanese replica. This also happens to Steele's pistol before his death.
Miscellaneous
When Pvt Miguel opens the gate to allow the zombies onto the lift, a zombie wearing a football helmet and jersey with MAILBOX printed above the number 22 is clearly seen. Later during Rhodes escape in the buggy we see another zombie exiting from the caverns wearing a football helmet and what appears to be the exact same jersey with a 22. However, missing from this second one, is the MAILBOX type printed above the number.
Revealing mistakes
During Rickles' death scene, despite having just fired it at an approaching zombie, there is clearly no magazine in his pistol.
