Title: A Dated Gorefest
Product review: I once viewed DAWN OF THE DEAD as something of a masterpiece when I first viewed it in the mid-80s. Having viewed this film again recently with the release of the director's cut, I have to say that this one doesn't really stand up that well. In fact, it looks rather dated. Romero's intelligence shines through in the above-average script and characterizations, but it's all the then-trendy 70s/80s gore effects that badly date the film. Makeup effects artist Tom Savini did wonders on a low budget, but the makup fx are so gaudy and over the top that they look rather cheesy. Every time the story gets interesting, there's a slew of garish gore effects that had me groaning and chuckling to myself, with the result that the film overall is uninvolving. This was once terrifying, and is now a cheesy chuckle. See the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD for a genuine exercise in how to build fear on a low budget.
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