Day of The Dead Review

Day of The Dead

Director: George A.Romero
Stars: Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty,Gary Howard Klar, Jarlath Conroy. Sherman Howard, Anthony Dileo & John Amplas
Running Time: 96 mins
Release: 19 July 1985

The Zombies have taken over the word, there's 4000 of them to every living human on the planet. In Florida there is a small group of scientists and military personnel who are holed up in a bunker to avoid the living dead to research why they have come back to life. It's not long before tension mounts between the group and the undead horde make their way into the bunker. An absolute classic zombie film.

Lori Cardille plays Sarah who's the main protagonist. She's a researcher and is the only woman inside the bunker. She s a very strong and capable woman willing to do anything to keep her & her friends alive. She has some of the same characteristics of Ripley from the Alien series. She's at constant loggerheads with Rhodes (Pilato) who's the military leader within the bunker. She's intelligent, brave, logical, a realist and has some great survival instincts. Like many of the actors she has not done much after Day of The Dead. But she is fantastic in this

Joseph Pilato plays Rhodes the leader of the military group inside the bunker. He's egotistical, racist ,intelligent, selfish, cruel, a bully and barely has any humanity left in him. The only real concern that he has is for himself and his men. I see him entirely as a villain but I know others will not. One thing is for sure though is that he's a fantastic character. Despite how much I hate him I loved seeing him on screen he's one of those rare villains that you root for despite the despicable things he does. He has some fantastic scenes and Pilato plays him with a fierce almost menacing intensity which makes him one of the best villains i've seen. Also he has some famous last words.

Terry Alexander plays John the only helicopter pilot in the bunker. John is a realist and wants to get out of the bunker and live the rest of his life on a tropical island. He's neither with the scientists or the military he's more of an outcast with McDermott (Conroy) who lives in a static caravan in a part of the bunker. Alexander is absolutely fantastic in the role and has a great speech in this film with one scene he has with Sarah. He's also a complete bad-ass too towards the end of the film using Rhode's twin revolvers.

Now here's a character I feel conflicted about Richard Liberty's Logan who's the head scientist in the facility. To research as to why the dead have come back to life the good doctor cuts up zombies and performs experiments on them using them as specimens as he does with the dead soldiers which is morally questionable to say the least. Though there is some good in him with the domesticated zombie Bub (Howard) whom he's personally made docile. He's interested in Bub as he is learning (like other zombies) and is slowly becoming more human. He protects Bub as he see's him as a innocent like a child and not a threat unlike the military personnel inside the bunker. One things for sure Logan is completely nuts of which Liberty expresses so well through his dialogue and that crazy look in his eyes. I have to say he's my favourite in this film.

Gary Howard Klar plays Rhodes second in command Steele. The only military personnel that I feel some sympathy for as he's not really a bad man. On the exterior he appears to be cold, harsh, violent and foul but he's not like that deep down as we see in some scenes expressing some of his humanity when he refuses to shoot Sarah and killing one of his men who's going to turn. It's a fantastic role for Klar and I am surprised he's not been in all that much after this.

Jarlath Conroy plays McDermott the communications man. Like John he lives in the static caravan and is also an outcast. I must also note that he is Irish too. He's very resourceful too. He has a tendency to say “Jesus,Mary and Joseph” when trouble arises. Like many other cast members he has not done much since this film.

Sherman Howard plays Bub the conditioned Zombie who's learning to become somewhat human. I feel he's the real heart of the film as you do feel and sympathy towards him. He sort of gives the zombies a voice in the film too. We learn in the film that Bub used to be in the military which makes one of my favourite scenes in the film I was completely outstanding. He's a fantastic zombie and Howard gives a terrific performance without saying a single word. 
 

Anthony Dileo Jr plays Miguel a soldier who is also Sarah's boyfriend who's developed cabin fever and is losing his mind. It's not a big role but it's a pivotal one though. He plays the part of a mentally unstable man very well indeed.

John Amplas plays Fisher another research scientist down in the bunker. It's a very small role but he's very good in it. The main reason I included him was for trivia he played Martin in Romero's Martin.

John Harrison did the music in this film and you'll either love it or absolutely hate it and I can say I love it. It's a great 80's synth soundtrack and there is some spectacularly good pieces of music in this film. My favourite being the introduction when the helicopter lands in Miami. I find it suits the tone of the film very well especially in the last scenes the music is used to a great effect.

This is a terrific zombie film and one of which that is quite thematic as well as being a satire. The biggest ones being the fine line between good & evil and morality. Romero does a marvellous job shooting this film there's some amazing shots in this film especially with some deaths and images of the undead horde. I have to mention Tom Savini is responsible for the special effects in this film and they are nothing short of spectacular for it's time and still holds up very well today. He's the master of gore. and the way he pulled the effects off should really be credited they are truly special.

I have to say this is my first Romero film and the first Arrow Blu-Ray Release that I have seen and I am really impressed. It's a fantastic film and i'm really looking forward to watching the others. I have not seen the special features that came on the discs but I will do in the near future though I did read the booklet that came inside it and I must say it gave me a great insight to the film.