Day of the Dead

Name: Day of the Dead
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: July 19, 1985
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander

1985

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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Day Of The Dead

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Movie Details & Credits

United Film Distribution Company (UFDC) | Release Date: July 19, 1985 | Unrated

Starring: Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander

Summary: A small group of military officers and scientists dwell in an underground bunker as the world above is overrun by zombies.

Director: George A. Romero

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 96 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Eric Henderson

Here, a pessimistic Romero dares to tackle the very essence of man’s inhumanity to man. And in the end, Day of the Dead is every bit as compelling and unsettling as its more lauded predecessors. Read full review

100

Empire Kim Newman

It's an intelligent, well-written, excellently played movie, with top flight gore/horror effects, perverse humour and a provocatively bleak vision. Also, it has the world's first true zombie hero in Bub, who listens to Beethoven and eats people. Read full review

Time Out London Staff (Not Credited)

Tense rather than terrifying, and with a strong black comic undercurrent, it rests on the mordant observation that zombies or no zombies, chances are the living will tear each other apart. A fitting conclusion to a remarkably astute series, a landmark in the horror genre. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Fans of the first two films in the series may be a bit dismayed by Day of the Dead's deemphasis of gory action in favor of characterization, but the need to exploit the horror of the situation has passed and the film works by concentrating instead on its implications and possible solution. The standard 1950s sci-fi/horror film conflict between science and the military is also resurrected here, with distinct political overtones. Read full review

Keith Phipps

Though it’s still a disappointment in relation to its two predecessors, it has much to recommend it. It begins and ends brilliantly. Read full review

Paul Attanasio

Romero has some fun with cackling frat-style boors in the background, all of whom get their comeuppance. But by and large, the acting is extremely flat and strident, and shot in a much more conventional style than Romero's other movies. Romero, in other words, seems bored by the whole enterprise, less interested in the story than in sausage-making. [23 July 1985, p.E2]

Gene Siskel

It's bankrupt in terms of imagination. All he (Romero) does is place his zombies in the basement of a missile silo and have a few crazed military types scream at the zombies and at each other. End of movie. [03 Sept 1985, p.5C]

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User Reviews

daebu_char

Mar 24, 2021

I honestly don't understand why this film receives so much flack when, in my opinion, it's the best one out of the three movies in the Living Dead series and certainly my personal favorite. From what I gathered, it wasn't as popular as the previous two films and more specifically "Dawn ofI honestly don't understand why this film receives so much flack when, in my opinion, it's the best one out of the three movies in the Living Dead series and certainly my personal favorite. From what I gathered, it wasn't as popular as the previous two films and more specifically "Dawn of the Dead" which seems to be the fan favorite. It seems to me like people at the time more or less wanted Romero to deliver Dawn of the Dead 2 and set themselves up for disappointment when they found out this isn't a direct sequel. Instead, the film follows different characters while further fleshing out the post-apocalyptic world overrun with zombies. One thing I personally find funny is the notion that the film has "bland" characters and "over-the-top acting" which I've noticed many people bring up... not sure about that because I thought the acting was incredible, and the protagonist--Sarah Bowman--one of the first 'strong female protagonists' in American film before that became a thing. What I loved about Sarah's character, in particular, was the fact that she was strong (arguably one of the most resilient characters for sure), but she was still a woman at heart, not some manly ""badass"" Mary Sue cliché devoid of vulnerabilities sadly so prevalent today. Over the course of the film, she faces sexism and death threats from an unhinged self-appointed leader of the military, and has to balance multiple things like her work as a scientist and taking care of her husband who's having a mental breakdown. The other characters were quite intriguing as well, and the subplot involving the domestication of the zombies creepy and macabre. I honestly wish I hadn't seen movies like 'Resident Evil: Extinction' that flat out copied certain plot elements from this film prior to watching Day of the Dead. As I said, I LOVED this chapter in the trilogy, and while it's different from the other two installments as far as the story and characters are concerned, the atmosphere is still distinctly Romero-esque and unique. Without a doubt 10/10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lancej

Mar 17, 2020

The characters even the dialogue scenes weren't expecting but they were great scenes this suffers from what alien3 did which was great it was much darker and not what was expected,this film was rich I character dark and gory,captain Rhoades too,such an underrated gem

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AcidCasual

Dec 15, 2020

You want to hate this film but you can't for the love of god you just take it like a b**ch. All elements of this film i'm sure could be improved, no, they defiantly could but you wouldn't even dare change it.

Sadly it seems that Romero was unable to muster some inner strength to create aYou want to hate this film but you can't for the love of god you just take it like a b**ch. All elements of this film i'm sure could be improved, no, they defiantly could but you wouldn't even dare change it.

Sadly it seems that Romero was unable to muster some inner strength to create a truly great film but what he did make is a mastery in creating the definitive zombie film. It has the right blend of interesting locations, impending death, the blurred lines of sinister with a categorical virtuoso level of bad language and one liners from actors who, if they're not being agonisingly annoying there collateral for your enjoyment. Whilst reminding you of how you would act if you were in that situation yourself.

The most enjoyable scenes are the ones where people are at each others throats because they're unpredictable. The most lovable, relatable character is a zombie and the timid underdogs leave you no option but to feed them to kid - Whilst you know behind the doors, in the tunnels, the living dead are getting closer.

You will genuinely enjoy this film, on your own, drunk.

Any other time, it's just not worth it - that's it's charm.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Dec 6, 2019

George had pushed himself in the previous chapter. This seems like overstretching things. Now, does that pay off? Come on, that's subjective. But, no.

Day Of The Dead I, or anyone for that matter, would be and should be austere towards the writer and director George Romero's belovedGeorge had pushed himself in the previous chapter. This seems like overstretching things. Now, does that pay off? Come on, that's subjective. But, no.

Day Of The Dead

I, or anyone for that matter, would be and should be austere towards the writer and director George Romero's beloved zombie-defining trend-setting horror franchise. It comes with a lot of expectations. It should deliver considering the hype and momentum it carries. Now, unlike others I tend to not lean on the subject that is shown but rather the way it is shown. So for a satirical psychological horror thriller franchise as such, I will take the most remote-est storyline of this world. And I mean, break the genre, bend the rules, change the formula and isolate yourself as far as you can from the gold mine that I, we, George knows, should be a safer ground. In fact, make it everything listed before. This hotchpotch of ingredients should be the recipe. And though, George does not and may never combine these many risky factors, he is, I think, in his own way, breaking the established ground. What made these "dead" so infamously ruthless and grossly scary, he has tried to lop off that very subject matter. "He could be domesticated!" George, talking about one of the ghouls, pleads to his audience through a character and their slips the glass out of his hand. What made his formula so unique, is bashed with a hammer. The aim is good. He practised hard. But on that. Just that stroke. Another issue, is of course, the way the rest of the blank is filled, the time is spent. It is the same blood dripping, spraying all over, organs pouring out imageries that gets better as an achievement in technical procedure on how it works. Not in storytelling. That part is the same. Overcooked.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

stevekm

Apr 1, 2023

A B-movie for sure. Not that great but interesting watching how people react under pressure. Some stand up, some crack, some become head cases.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NickTheCritick

Nov 6, 2021

This is a solid movie by George A. Romero tough it doesn't turn out to be as good as "Dawn of the Dead" and "Night of the Living Dead". I found it quite ordinary without the energy and originality of the two I mentioned before. Anyway better than any of the zombie movies that are coming out today.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Jun 25, 2019

The only thing redeemable about this movie was the last 25 minutes. Everything before that was just an utter bore. The constant overacting, The bland characters and the failure to take advantage of the premise of being stuck in a close-quarters area surrounded by zombies. It was veryThe only thing redeemable about this movie was the last 25 minutes. Everything before that was just an utter bore. The constant overacting, The bland characters and the failure to take advantage of the premise of being stuck in a close-quarters area surrounded by zombies. It was very disappointing for me and honestly, If it wasn't for the ending, This would be a 0 in my book.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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