DOTD (2004) Second Image Analysis

 

This screenshot shows Ana attacking the vicious looking female zombie. It clearly shows the amount of body horror included in the film. Since the original Dawn of the Dead (1979) was filmed, audiences have become more desensitised to blood and gore so they expect more of it in a gory horror film nowadays than what would be expected in the 70’s. Also, censorship is more relaxed now. To prove this, a lot of films in the 70’s/80’s that were banned or cut are now out on DVD. For example, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1973) and Evil Dead (1981).

Compared to the original, there are many more deaths in this 2004 version however they are shorter, sharper shocks as the modern day audience’s attention spans are much shorter. This is done through cleverly edited sound effects and restricted narration. The zombies in this are much more real looking and they are a lot quicker than the original slow moving zombies in the original. They are more realistic and are harder to escape but this is more suited to the action-horror style. There are more zombies than the original and they are constantly attacking, making it a faster paced film. We are completely unsympathetic towards these zombies whereas in the 1979 version, Romero reversed the character stereotypes so that we did feel sympathy for the zombies. This film had a higher budget than the original and we see this impact through the effects, the speed of the editing and the sheer amount of zombies surrounding the mall.