7.1
A group of survivors take refuge in a shopping mall after the world is taken over by aggressive, flesh-eating zombies.
Sarah Polley
Ana
Ving Rhames
Kenneth
Jake Weber
Michael
Mekhi Phifer
Andre
Ty Burrell
Steve
Michael Kelly
C.J.
Kevin Zegers
Terry
Michael Barry
Bart
Lindy Booth
Nicole
Jayne Eastwood
Norma
Boyd Banks
Tucker
Inna Korobkina
Luda
R.D. Reid
Glen
Kim Poirier
Monica
Matt Frewer
Frank
Louis Ferreira
Luis
Hannah Lochner
Vivian
Bruce Bohne
Andy
Ermes Blarasin
Bloated Woman
Sanjay Talwar
Doctor Rosen
Kim Roberts
Cora
Tim Post
Reviving Doctor
Matt Sadowski-Austin
EMS Technician
Philip DeWilde
EMS Technician
Colm Magner
Armed Neighbor
Luigia Zucaro
Naked Woman
David Campbel
Squished Zombie
Phillip MacKenzie
Thrashing Zombie
Taso N. Stavrakis
Car Driver (uncredited)
Rorelee Tio
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Malcolm Scott
Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Ioan Gruffudd
Soldier on Camera (uncredited)
John Migliore
Zombie (uncredited)
Cam Clarke
(voice, uncredited)
Geoff Williams
Metro Bus Driver
Mike Realba
Maintenance Man
David Campbell
Squished Zombie
Laura de Carteret
Washington Politician (as Laura DeCarteret)
Georgia Craig
Anchorwoman
Tino Monte
Istanbul Reporter
Chris Gillett
Older Anchorwoman
Derek Keurvorst
Scientist
Dan Duran
Confused Reporter
Neville Edwards
CDC Spokesperson
Sandy Jobin-Bevans
CDC Reporter
Natalie Brown
CDC Reporter
Liz West
CDC Reporter
Blu
Chips the Dog
Scott H. Reiniger
The General (as Scott Reiniger)
Tom Savini
The County Sheriff
Ken Foree
The Televangelist
Darren Marsman
Maintenance Man Zombie (uncredited)
Zack Snyder
Commando at White House (uncredited)
Director
Zack Snyder
Original Film Writer
George A. Romero
Screenplay
James Gunn
October 21, 2015
8
Come on, man. You must've heard the priest say something about life and death.
George Romero fans feared the worst, another one of his sacred original zombie trilogy films was being remade, this even though the remake of Night of the Living Dead didn't disgrace itself. As it happened, the fears were unfounded, for Zack Snyder and his team crafted one of the best horror remakes going.
The premise follows Romero's wonderful version, a mysterious epidemic is causing the populace to turn into undead zombies, the bite of which transfers the illness to another. A small group of survivors make it to the Crossroads Mall and hole up there whilst trying to keep at bay the zombie hordes, but inner fighting threatens the group whilst they know they can't stay there for ever.
Right from the off the film grabs you around the throat, it's a blistering and terrifying opening which brings heartbreak and terror in equal measure. It also announces to us that these zombies are different to Romero's, these suckers can run, and run fast. After some chaos and blood, the introductions to our survivors is set up and the pic settles into a superb group dynamic situation, where machismo and brains meet dumb and dumber, all while little devilish moments trickle away in the background.
It's the focus on the survivors that really lifts it to greater heights, how they variously react to their plight, there's good thought gone into the screenplay (James Gunn). The natural progression of this type of film calls for horror moments, and Snyder deftly slots them in when the pic needs them, which again brings about scenes of terror and genuine heartbreaking moments. Some neat cameos will be cheered by fans of Romero's work, while the cast are superb here, with Sarah Polley the standout fulfilling the believable promise of the character as written.
A remake that is its own beast yet still pays homage to what inspired it, and good at both! Now that's a rare thing in horror! 8/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$26,000,000.00
Revenue:
$102,278,712.00