The American Deadvolution

In 1968, death consumed the culture. While we tragically lost politicians, soldiers, and civil rights leaders, George A. Romero gave birth to a new genre of film in a secluded Pennsylvania farm house. Night of the Living Dead spawned countless spin-offs, sequels, remakes, and re-releases. A zombie film, the first of its kind, with a simple concept: When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.

By George, He's Done it Again!

Ten years after the release of the original zombie classic, Romero released a follow up: Dawn of the Dead. It was worth the wait. Widely considered one of best horror films of all time, it joins it predecessor on Empire Magazine's list of the 500 best films ever made. Not bad for a film that takes place in a mall.

In true Romero spirit, Dawn of the Dead is about more than a few survivors fighting off their dead neighbors. Set in a mall, the film serves as an allegory for American commercialism and consumption. Hence why the risen instinctively flock to the shopping mall. I guess death, like life, is better with Orange Julius.

Proof the dead don't always stay that way.

Dead And Gone And Can't Get Rid Of Them

Zombies are everywhere these days. You can't swing a chainsaw without hacking off the limb of a dead relative. Video games, movies, toys, comics, TV, you name it, they've moaned and roamed in or around it. Romero's film was more than the kick-start of a film franchise, it was the Dawn of the Great American Deadvolution.

We'll Be Back Like The Buried

Next time we'll look at differences between Zach Snyder's vision of the film and the classic sequel. The fast pace and attacking nature of the remake earns it the rare distinction of worthwhile redo. But has the message about mall-loving Americans as mindless monsters changed? Stay tuned.