Day of the Dead Reviews

The third, and perhaps last, chapter in George Romero's "Living Dead" series is a claustrophobic character study set almost entirely in a huge underground storage facility that has been converted into a laboratory and barracks. The military has been assigned to protect and assist the group of scientists (Lori Cardille, John Amplas, and Richard Liberty) who are working to develop a solution to the zombie epidemic, experimenting on zombies who have been herded into a holding pen. One scientist, Liberty--nicknamed "Frankenstein" by the soldiers--tries to modify the zombies' behavior so that humans can train them like dogs. One zombie, whom Liberty calls "Bub," seems to be the missing link between animal instinct and civilized human behavior. The operation has taken its toll on the soldiers, however, and their commander, the near-psychotic Joseph Pilato, tries to take over the project and put an end to it. Fans of the first two films in the series may be a bit dismayed by DAY OF THE DEAD's deemphasis of gory action in favor of characterization, but the need to exploit the horror of the situation has passed and the film works by concentrating instead on its implications and possible solution. The standard 1950s sci-fi/horror film conflict between science and the military is also resurrected here, with distinct political overtones. One thing becomes clear in DAY OF THE DEAD--the zombies are here to stay, and humanity must adapt to them in order to survive. On a psychosocial level, as Robin Wood has persuasively argued, Romero's zombies seem to represent the "return of the repressed"; if so, this final chapter might be read as a plea for a reconciliation between forbidden desires and traditional social strictures. Generally underrated--even by horror-film fans--DAY OF THE DEAD ranks with Romero's best work.