Romero again captures the culture through the dead.
into Independent Films, waiting for the DVD
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APR
28
2008
The independent production of "Diary of the Dead" is the most refreshing and adept film since Romero's "Dawn of the Dead." The king of the zombies returns to the beginning and re-imagines his saga in a media saturated world.
Where "Night of the Living Dead" reflected the turmoil and tensions of the 1960s and "Dawn of the Dead" was a knock on the consumer driven 1970s; "Diary of the Dead" is almost satirical in its portrayal of a world with too much in formation -- and too many lies.
Presented as a documentary, Diary goes back to the beginning of the epidemic. At the same time it manages to capture the realities of post 9/11 America. Government lies, media bias and political correctness initially hide the fact that the dead are coming back to life and eating the living.
But this is no "Cloverfield" or "Blair Witch Project" clone. In typical Romero fashion, he goes further integrating web video like YouTube and footage from surveillance cameras into this documentary For lack of better comparison this could have been also called "World's Scariest Zombie Chases."
Also of note is a homage to Romero's legion of fans who were disappointed by the remake of "Dawn of the Dead." In the early moments of the movie a director tells his actor, "zombies don't move fast."
Romero has recaptured that claustrophobic, I-need-to-look-over-my-shoulder feeling of the first two films of his Dead series. Gone is the action/adventure concepts that marred "Day of the Dead" and destroyed "Land of the Dead."
No more getting into the head of the zombies (unless, of course, those heads are coming off), but back to getting into the heads of the victims. Examining their motivations for survival -- or surrender.
Pay close attention to the ending scene and reflect on the final comment.
Not since the end of "Night of the Living Dead" has Romero so astutely captured the sign of the times. Only a few words and a great deal of image. An image that leaves the viewer shuttering at the thought, and realizing the truth of the matter.
Diary of the Dead is recommended by ksjr362
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