Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray] [1978]

Product Information

The Universal Blu-ray back in 2008 was rather “meh” considering it was encoded with the more bitrate intensive VC-1 codec, and Scream Factory’s 2017 release looked only marginally better in AVC. There’s still a few weird spots (like the helicopter scene on the roof in the sky has some vertical lines), but overall this is a fantastic looking 4K UHD disc that is a hefty upgrade over the Blu-ray. Additionally, these two HDR presentations benefit from the improved brightness levels, showering nearly every scene with inky, raven blacks. I've no wish to denigrate the considerable work put in by those who work to bring any film to the screen (I know from personal experience how hard that can be), but a remake simply does not involve the same level of creativity and risk as the original that spawned it because the blueprint has already been drawn up, the product successfully road tested, the brand name established and the audience pre-primed.

Finally, there is a softcover novelization of the film written by Romero and Susanna Sparrow with an introduction by actor Simon Pegg. I loaned this tape, and between the two Intervision tapes I was able to edit together a 5-minute compilation containing trailers for Dawn Of The Dead, The Brood, Rabid, and Night Of The Living Dead. Interestingly, a much more bleak ending was planned and even partly shot, but Romero changed his mind during the shoot and opted for the admittedly slightly corny (a word the director himself uses) finale we get.Especially when you consider the fact that this was Zack Snyder’s first feature film and he knocked it straight out of the park. Snyder has a few other fun cameos in the film, even interjecting famous horror director/actor Tom Savini as a tough as nails town Sheriff . We’re thrown right into the thick of it with a TV news station struggling through what is likely to be one of their last broadcasts. There's inevitably some crossover with the first commentary, but the sheer number of contributors here provides a wider perspective and a further selection of anecdotes, and there's even some on-set behind-the-scenes footage included. There’s a discussion about the remake too, which he was involved with (the commentary was recorded shortly before its release).

Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics – 20 minute feature with contributions from Michael Gornick, Christine Forrest, John Amplas and Tom Dubensky. On February 2nd, 1997, BBC2 showed the almost-uncut Extended (AKA Cannes or Directors Cut) version at 11:30pm. They can't seem to help themselves from reverting back to the capitalistic belief that owning stuff provides comforting protection and signifies a well-valued life even as civilization collapses all around them and just outside their front doors. This violent disruption of the status quo brings an end to the group's cosseted existence and breaks down their imposed social structure in a manner that allows the society itself to self-destruct. Originally made as a teaching tool, the first half covers all the levels of the filmmaking process in detail, as well as offering plenty of wonderful behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Dawn of the Dead.

s transfer displays incremental improvements over its predecessor although noise and debris still remain. In either case, fans can better make out the stitching and faded creases in the worn leather jackets of the bike gang, the texture of the fabric in the furniture is more perceptible, and Tom Savini's gory makeup work is gorier and bloodier. From what I can gather, this cut omits much of the relationship drama and comedy elements (though surprisingly keeps the infamous pie scene) and amps up the bleak tone.