Day Of The Dead (1985)

Why The 'Z' Word Won't Die

Romero's 'Dead' series is best known for its depiction of a special breed of reanimated corpses. And although the 'Z' word is never explicitly used to describe these monsters, audiences would forever refer to these beings as 'Romero Zombies', immortalising the director's creation into film lore and pop culture. When 'Night Of The Living Dead' started reaching world-wide audiences, it resurrected the walking dead from their mystical origins into a modern science fiction adaptation. This made zombies accessible and more realistic, allowing audiences to wonder the possibilities of a real epidemic - leading to more complex and visceral creations in the following years, often paying homage to the Godfather of the Dead.

In this 3rd instalment, survivors of an undead plague resort to living by unconventional means. In the depths of an underground bunker, an unlikely group shelter in fear from the moans above, searching for anything that gives them meaning. But desperation and exhaustion makes monsters of men, and with only one woman to steer sensibility, emotions heighten and difficult questions test them.

I think it helped immensely that I watched the original 'Dead' trilogy in chronological order. Most I've spoken with in Horror themed communities either saw 'Dawn' or 'Day' first - usually influencing their rankings. Every film was, and still is, an experience but over the years I've grown stronger feelings for the sequels. The gore is part of the allure, especially when Tom Savini's on board; and his ingenuity behind the clever kills we see on screen are absurdly beautiful to watch.

I will say this - it isn't for those with a weak stomach and it's somewhat of a guilty pleasure. Not because of it's low-budget aesthetic; but more because of Romero's workmanlike approach to film-making. He may not be the most technically advanced or visually adept, but the strong themes he embraces and incorporates into his stories are front and center - and for that I admire his work.

Whether you're a gore hound or horror aficionado, if you haven't seen this one yet there's one thing I can say for certain - you'll likely think it's cheesy, maybe even utterly ridiculous, but at some point you'll realise particular scenes are going to imprint, and stay with you for a lot longer than you could have imagined.