I normally wouldn't too many high quality horror movies, but I just felt while we were on the topic of great horror movies, I couldn't let things slide without a review of DAWN OF THE DEAD, part of George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD trilogy. Now, everyone has seen the first one. Then, take that film, multiply its budget by ten, add about forty minutes, and you have its sequel, which takes place the very morning of the night of the first one (although it was made years later).

The film begins with a great segment which shows a television station in the midst of chaos, as commentators and guests try to analyze what exactly is going on with all these walking dead. Cut to a group of SWAT-team members raiding an aprtment building which is half-walking dead/half-human. In this amazing opening sequence,we are exposed to much of what is to follow: over-the-top gruesome effects and non-stop action. When the SWAT-team members reach the basement and find the mess down there, you're not going to believe you're own eyes.

Before long, two members of the SWAT unit join forces with a couple workers at the television station and escape the city in a helicopter. After searching around, they settle on the perfect place to move in: a shopping mall. What a great comment on modern society. Here, they clean out the place of walking dead, seal it, and proceed to try living a semi-normal life. Of course, they fail. But not before they fight off hordes of dead, plus opposing human gangs trying to take over the mall.

All of this is directed with such skill and bruvara that the film is never boring even throughout its unheard-of two and a half hour length. There are even some very poignant moments in which a couple tries to happily celebrate their aniversary even though they know life on earth is forever altered. So much of the film ends up being a very effective commentary on society, particularly when the two human gangs are fighting each other. The action is almost non-stop and keeps on coming. Talk about a film that gives you your money's worth!