Let's get something straight. I haven't personally written a theatrical review here on the site in a long, long time. I think the last theatrical review I did was for Return of the King. My backend duties aside on the site, the main reason I haven't come out to review any current theatrical releases in over a year now is because, in all honesty, nothing in recent memory has really been compelling enough to get me to the keyboard to pour my guts out. That is, of course, until now.
I was very weary about the release of yet another contemporary zombie film being unleashed into the world after such sub par attempts in recent years barely making satisfactory status. Yes, I know, Romero...he is the guy that started this whole thing. He wrote the book. He IS the master, but after so much time away from what he created, was he going go into unattached delusion like Wes Craven did with his last attempt at reconciling with the monster he created? Was he going to give too much control to the studio heads that finally had the sense to give him the cash to make the film, thus taking a back seat to the project and let his vision go down the drain like Clive Barker has recently done with the Hellraiser series? Or even worse, would Romero just give into the contemporary undermining of "the rules" (zombies DO NOT run people... nor do they jump kick, fly, or say "braaaaains...") of the zombie world and let what has become "successful" dictate the fate of his holy grail?
Overwhelmingly surprised, and completely overjoyed, Romero did not suffer any of these pitfalls. And not only has he created what potentially could be the greatest zombie film of all time, he has proven that the zombie films that have etched themselves in stone as the holy bible of the genre he created were no accident at all. This of course, is a testament to the man's genius.
Forget anything negative you've read about this film. I'm here to tell you, they're wrong. From start to finish this movie takes us into the heart of the zombie apocalypse and gives us a blood splattering take on the plight of the living souls, trying to survive in a world full of emptiness.
As all of Romero's zombie films, this movie also serves as a commentary to what's going on in the world that surrounds us. The theme of a struggle to live a life well lived remains true in this Land of the Dead. In a world filled with death knocking at everyone's door, money, power and control still seem to corrupt absolutely, and taking a step outside our own problems with foreign policy, the parallels seem to hold too true to what's real and what we see in this movie. Another reason to applaud the genius of Mr. George Romero. Bravo.
So, take away all of the importance of Romero's "message" and focus on what he presents us with onscreen. Simple. The greatest horror movie to grace the big screen in years. No cheap scares. No teenagers making dumb onscreen decisions. No weak plotlines. No shotty attempts at remaking a classic. No cheap-ass digital effects. A purely uncompromised, carefully precisioned vision of a world filled blood, guts and gore, backed by a solid cast that will give you some laughs, some shocks, some scares, and well spent bang for your buck.
Here's what I can't wait for. To see the film again as soon as I can, and of course, the unrated director's cut of the film on DVD, complete with loads of extras features. Please! Kick down my door soon with a copy and feast on my internal organs!
This is the zombie movie we've all been waiting for. Forget about any "zombie" movies since George Romero's last outing with Day of the Dead, save the ingenious Shaun of the Dead, who gets major props for sticking to "the rules." This is it people. Finally, a true zombie flick that sets the bar so high, no other movie comes close.
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