Land of the Dead

from Film Forum, 06/30/05

George Romero, legendary director of blood-soaked zombie movies, is back with what's being hailed as his most impressive production ever—a remake of his own Land of the Dead. Critics have often found a fair bit of social commentary in Romero's films, and this is no exception. This time around, the living dead are trying to break into a walled city, where the rich rule from the safety of their high towers, and the citizens are left to fend for themselves against both the rising zombie threat and increasing anarchy in the streets.

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) finds it both meaningful and miserable. "What distinguishes Romero's cycle from other decom-poseurs, is his clever use of allegory to tap into the current political climate. … [It's] a smor-gores-bord of stomach-churning mayhem. Let's hope this franchise—unlike its reanimated corpses—will stay dead."

Many mainstream critics are surprised and delighted by Romero's return to form.