Horror fans can be a bitchy bunch. Especially when it comes to remakes. Last year we all dreaded the remake of Tobe Hooper's 1974 classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (which in my opinon turned out good) and this year we've been whining about the Dawn Of The Dead remake (myself included in that group) - but I've come to realize after this and the TCM re-do that these remakes are better than most of the original horror films coming out of Hollywood these days.

This re-envisioning by screenwriter James Gunn and directory Zack Snyder takes the title and basic premise of George A. Romero's original but is really more of an independent story than a remake. The story basics has the state of Wisconsin being overrun one day by hordes of undead flesh-craving zombies and this gathers together a bunch of different people (young nurse Sarah Polley, cop Ving Rhames and various others) as they hole-up in a massive mall to try and stay alive. Eventually though things start to go wrong and this follows their eventual attempts to escape the undead plague.

Whereas Romero's original was a thoughtful and smart movie with social commentary that just happened to have zombies in it; this is more of an adrenalin rush as it's loaded with all sorts of hi-octane action sequences, oodles of impressive gore (some of the best head-shot moments in recent memory and one awesome moment involving a "chainsaw stumble"), a pretty witty sense of humour (I love it when they're picking off zombies from the rooftop who resemble celebrities) and enough stylish direction to make it an entertaining time. Sure, it can't compare to Romero's original; but I guarantee if this didn't have the connection to that film people wouldn't bitch so damn much and probably avoid being one of those people who judge it solely on how it "stands-up" against the original.

Be sure to stay right until the end.

Review based on R-rated version, this is also available on DVD in an "Unrated Director's Cut" that runs approximately ten minutes longer and contains a little bit more blood. It also contains featurettes not found on the DVD reviewed here focusing more on the special effects. (Chris Hartley, 3/21/04)

Directed By: Zack Snyder.
Written By: James Gunn.

Starring: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer.

Picture Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: Universal presents the film with a nice crisp and clean transfer, which is a given considering it's a newer movie. But there was no noticeable flaws here and it looks great.

Extras: It's a mixed bag of stuff here with the newly produced tie-in footage entitled "Andy's Lost Tape" (a video diary of the owner of the gun shop across the way) and "Special Report" (news cast footage following the epidemic's spread) really adding nothing to the film and looking pretty "digital video" in nature, then there's an alright "making of" featurette, a handful of deleted scenes with optional commentary, and an entertaining commentary featuring director Snyder and producer Eric Newman that was recorded the day before the film was to premiere in theatres.