Land of the Dead (2005)
Directed by: George A. Romero
Premise: The fourth zombie film in Romero’s Living Dead series. Zombies have overrun the earth and a group of human beings have started a small community in the remains of a metropolitan shopping center.
What Works: Nobody does zombies better than Romero and this film is far better than many of the recent films in the genre. What has always elevated Romero’s Living Dead series above other films in the genre is a strong element of social satire. This film pulls together many elements from Romero’s three previous films, including race and social class conflicts, consumerism, and the blurred line between us and the invading other. Rather than just rehashing these elements, Land of the Dead uses them interactively in its story to complicate the conflicts.
What Doesn’t: The film does not reach the intensity of the original Night of the Living Dead nor does it contain the level of social satire that was achieved in Dawn of the Dead.
Bottom Line: While not the masterpiece that the original was, Land of the Dead is a worthy horror film that has some substance under its surface. This is a can’t-miss for horror enthusiasts but also worth a look for those who like satirical films.
Episode: #57 (June 26, 2005)