• Release Date:
  Unknown
• Genre:
  Horror
• Disc Aspect Ratio:
  • 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide-Screen)
• Runtime:
  6 hours 25 minutes
• Studio:
  Umbrella Horror DVD
• UPC:
  3000000073230
• Number of Discs:
  3
• Disc Sides:
  3

Director George A. Romero's epic sequel to his legendary Night of the Living Dead has firmly established itself as the equal of its ground-breaking predecessor. Though shot in 1978 -- ten years after the first films' release -- Dawn's story begins as if the events in Night had happened only a few months before: after shambling armies of the recently-dead take over every major city -- seeking warm human flesh for food -- the U.S. government imposes a state of martial law, sending in special National Guard units to attack and destroy zombie infestation where they find it. Two members of one such unit, Peter (Ken Foree) and Roger (Scott Reiniger) have been tasked to overthrow a nest of zombies in a Pittsburgh housing project (one of the film's most explicitly gory scenes). When the job turns ugly and Peter is forced to terminate his own berserk, racist commanding officer, the pair decide to split the outfit with the help of his friend Stephen (David Emge), a traffic pilot for WGON-TV, and the station's floor manager, Stephen's girlfriend Frances (Gaylen Ross). Together they steal the station's helicopter and head for less-populated areas, but after some narrow scrapes with flesh-hungry redneck ghouls in the country outside Harrisburg, they opt for a more secure hideout. Eventually they find the perfect solution: a massive, sprawling shopping mall. After the lengthy process of purging the building of zombies is complete, the four secure themselves snugly in the miniature city, consigned to live out their lives in a dull but cushy consumer's paradise... but the arrival of a menacing gang of nomadic bikers proves that this is not to be. With their survival instincts weakened by a mallful of toys and trinkets, the crew are again forced to face grim reality as they face both living and undead foes in a final battle. Romero's excellent, multi-layered story combines high-adventure heroics, three-dimensional characters and explicit gore (by the always masterful Tom Savini, who plays a small role as a leering biker) to excellent effect. The subtext comparing the glassy-eyed behavior patterns of the ghouls to those of American consumers is clear, but not overdone: "It's some kind of instinct," Stephen comments, observing the zombies' attraction to the mall; "This was an important place in their lives." Despite the glimmer of hope offered by the film's closing scene, the outlook for humankind is grim. Perhaps it is Frannie who best expresses Dawn's outlook for humanity: "We're not gonna make it, are we?" Several versions of this film are available on video, including a faster-paced European version edited by overseas distributor Dario Argento and a "Director's Cut" with a great deal of exposition restored (though Romero is quoted as having preferred the unrated cut released initially to U.S. theaters). The shooting script also contains a more downbeat ending, which was never filmed. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

• Special Features
  • Disc 1: The dead will walk documentary
  • Audio commentary with George A. Romero, Tom Savini & Chris Romero
  • Audio commentary with Richard Rubinstein
  • Biographies and filmographies
  • Original radio spots
  • Original reviews
  • Photo gallery
  • Theatrical trailers
  • Disc 2: Audio commentary with Richard R. Rubinstein moderated by Perry Martin
  • In conversation with George A. Romero - interview at the Melbourne International Film Festival (2008)
  • Stills gallery
  • Disc 3: Audio commentary with David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Gaylen Ross
  • Document of the Dead documentary
  • Stills gallery

• Region
  All
• Languages
  • Unknown
• Display Format
  • Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Audio
  • Dolby Digital Stereo
  • Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel

• Chapters
  • Disc #1 -- Dawn of the Dead
  • 1. Breakdown / Titles [5:45]
  • 2. Ghetto Holocaust [5:22]
  • 3. Slaughter of the Living Dead [5:17]
  • 4. Getting Out [4:23]
  • 5. The Airport [5:18]
  • 6. Running on Empty [1:04]
  • 7. Refuge [4:49]
  • 8. Mall of Monsters [4:50]
  • 9. Shopping [5:34]
  • 10. Don't Open the Door [9:22]
  • 11. Home Hellish Home [3:11]
  • 12. Pure Motorised Instinct [3:45]
  • 13. Hauling Ass [10:18]
  • 14. Guns, Glory and Gore [3:41]
  • 15. No Backing Out [6:19]
  • 16. Cleaning House [6:43]
  • 17. When There's No More Room in Hell [6:11]
  • 18. Life as Usual [3:00]
  • 19. The Invaders [4:28]
  • 20. Say Goodbye, Creeps! [7:44]
  • 21. Feast of the Dead [7:06]
  • 22. Friend No More [3:52]
  • 23. Escape to Nowhere [2:09]
  • 24. End Credits [4:37]

• Menu
  • Disc #1 -- Dawn of the Dead
  • Play Movie
  • Scene Selection
  • Explore Extras
  • The Dead Will Walk Documentary
  • Photo Gallery
  • Biographies
  • Gaylen Ross (Fran)
  • David Emge (Stephen)
  • Ken Foree (Peter)
  • Scott H. Reiniger (Roger)
  • George A. Romero (Director)
  • Commentary 1 with Writer-Director George A. Romero, Special Makeup Effects Artist Tom Savini, and Assistant Director Chris Romero
  • Commentary 2 with Producer Richard P. Rubinstein
  • US Trailer
  • German Trailer
  • Original Reviews
  • Radio Spots
  • Audio Set-Up
  • Disc #2 -- Dawn of the Dead - Extended Edition
  • Play Feature
  • Audio Commentary with Producer Richard R. Rubinstein
  • In Conversation with George A. Romero
  • Stills Gallery
  • Enter Gallery
  • Disc #3 -- Dawn of the Dead - Dario Argento Cut
  • Play Feature
  • Audio Commentary with David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Gaylen Ross
  • Document of the Dead Documentary
  • Stills Gallery
  • Enter Gallery