Day of the Dead (2008)

When a small Colorado town is overrun by the flesh hungry dead a small group of survivors try to escape in a last ditch effort to stay alive.

Director:

Steve Miner

Writers:

Jeffrey Reddick (screenplay), George A. Romero (motion picture "Day of the Dead")

Stars:

Mena Suvari, Nick Cannon, Michael Welch

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mena Suvari	...	Sarah Bowman
Nick Cannon	...	Salazar
Michael Welch	...	Trevor Bowman
AnnaLynne McCord	...	Nina (as AnnaLyne McCord)
Stark Sands	...	Bud Crain
Matt Rippy	...	Doctor Logan
Pat Kilbane	...	Scientist
Taylor Saracho	...	Local Girl (as Taylor Hoover)
Christa Campbell	...	Mrs. Leitner
Ian McNeice	...	Paul - DJ
Ving Rhames	...	Captain Rhodes
Robert Rais	...	Mr. Leitner
Michael McCoy	...	Mr. Noble
Laura Giosh	...	Mrs. Noble
Vanessa Johansson	...	Receptionist

Storyline

In Leadville, Colorado, Captain Rhodes and his army seals off the town to contain an influenza-type epidemic. The locals are not allowed to leave the town and the Pine Valley Medical Center is crowded with sick people. Corporal Sarah Bowman was born and raised in Leadville and goes to her home with Private Bud Crain to visit her mother. Sarah finds that her mother is ill and takes her to the local hospital. However, the sick people suddenly transform in flesh eating, fast moving zombies which attack the non-infected humans. Sarah, Bud and Private Salazar get a jeep and head to the town exit to escape from the dead. But Sarah hears the voice of her brother, Trevor, on the radio and is compelled to go to the radio station where Trevor is hidden with his girlfriend Nina. The group of survivors drives to the isolated Nike missile site seeking shelter, where they discover an underground army base.

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Plot Keywords:

horror movie remake | zombie | colorado | epidemic | corporal | 

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Taglines:

This spring, the dead will rise!

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong pervasive horror violence and gore, and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Day of the Dead: The Need to Feed

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$301,771

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Taurus Entertainment Company, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Song playing in the background, about 7 minutes into the movie is the theme tune to iZombie, a TV show where the lead character is a zombie.

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Goofs

CPL Cross ends a radio transmission with CPT Rhodes with "Over and out." "Over and out" is a contradiction. "Over" means "I am finished speaking, please reply." "Out" means "I am finished speaking, do not reply."

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Quotes

Salazar: [about Ben] This shit is ridiculous. I mean, why Thriller over here ain't trying to eat us?
Sarah Bowman: He's a vegetarian.
Salazar: That's the best explanation you can come up with?
Sarah Bowman: You got a better one?
Salazar: All I'm saying, as long he don't try to mistake me for a soy bean burger, we're gonna be all right.

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Alternate Versions

-** SPOILER ALERT! *** The alternate ending on the DVD has Salazar's character disappearing off screen after opening fire in the Nike missile silo. He screams, fires again, then the horde of zombies appears. The film continues exactly as it did in the theatrical release, until, as they escape in the SUV, they pass a building in the exterior of the missile base. Salazar emerges, screaming that he wasn't bitten, and muttering that everyone expects the black guy to die. He gets into the SUV, and they drive off. At that point, the screaming zombie pops into frame.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Worst Horror Movie Remakes (2015)

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Soundtracks

Coolest Boy On Earth
Written by Jordan Galland
Performed by Domino
Published by Slush Puppy Music(ASCAP)
By Arrangement with Natural Energy Lab

User Reviews

If only it hadn't carried the name Day of the Dead

Steve Miner, as a director, isn't bad. He directed my favorite entries in the Friday the 13th series, Halloween: H20, and Lake Placid. None of these movies are Oscar worthy, but they are all good, fun horror films. What he was thinking when he directed the Day of the Dead redux is beyond me.

A small Colorado town is overrun with the living dead, following a flu like virus that has swept across the land. As soon as the virus kills someone, their skin immediately decays and they become superhuman beasts. These zombies don't just run (a modern zombie element which has caused a lot of controversy in recent years) they jump, shoot weapons, and somehow manage to crawl on walls and ceilings. At the forefront of this super-zombie apocalypse is Mena Suvari (who phoned in her part) and Nick Cannon (who should have) as well as a few other meaningless characters. People die, things explode, and an hour and a half of your life is wasted as you watch this deplorable film.

Honestly, if this film had carried any moniker other than the classic Day of the Dead, I would have given it a bit higher of a rating. I'm thinking 3 or 4, mostly because some of the make-up fx are pretty nifty. Instead, the filmmakers decided to take everything Romero created and turn it on its head. Experimentation is a good thing, but not in this case. This should not be called a remake...or even a reimagining for that matter. It has nothing to do with the original film, aside that there are zombies involved and the military has a presence. I say, pull it from the shelves now, and send it out retitled. George Romero really shouldn't have to put up with this nonsense anymore.