Another Unsubstantial Remake

Rating: 3/10 (22 March 2004)

There is no conceivable reasoning for this being a remake of the original, other than it has zombies and a mall. Any social commentary made by the original has been lost here. Unlike the original, there is absolutely no cause for using the mall as setting. A coffee shop would have sufficed, as that's where they hang out all day anyway. All focus has been placed upon the action, which is barely adequate. The camera is glued to the actors, so it becomes difficult to locate yourself in these moments of excitement. The effect is a lot of people running around, explosions, and gunshots. The claustrophobic camera destroys any tension. It would have been better to put the actors in long shots to create a vulnerability to them. Needless to say, you can not be scared of what might be around the corner when you never get to see the corner. With such focus on the actors, one might expect some good characterization. Forget about that. These are cardboard cutouts; each allotted about 10 seconds of personal dialogue.
You have the tough cop, the gangster, the medic, the innocent girl, the cynicist, etc. It was a relief in one scene as the survivors talk over dinner. What could have been an excellent characterization device, is interrupted a few moments later by a power failure. Strangely, one of the more interesting characters is Andy; another survivor who hangs out on the roof of his shop across the street. Even the mall survivors seem more interested in him than each other, watching him through binoculars.
All things considered, this is not "Dawn of the Dead". It shares more in common with the gore-inspired Italian Horror genre than the original. Perhaps it could have been called "28 Days Later: Another City". "Dawn of the Dead" (2004) makes for a basic gore film with a few exciting moments of action. It is good for a mindless viewing, but don't expect a revolution. If you want zombies in a mall, I suggest the Hong Kong film, "Bio-Zombie." The zombies are a little goofy, but the great characters and inspired camera-work make this an undeniable classic.