Dawn of the Dead (4K Ultra-HD) [Blu-ray] [2021]

Product Information

We reviewed the Region free UK Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Dawn of the Dead on a Panasonic 65DX902B Ultra HD 4K TV with a Panasonic DP-UB450 Dolby Vision HDR10+ 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. The Extended (‘Cannes’) cut, which some prefer due to its extended scenes, but for me this is off set by the slightly slower pacing.

The Romero, Savini and Christine Forrest commentary is an enjoyable look back at the shoot with plenty of interesting facts and anecdotes. Also the over blown contrast found on the Blu-ray is handled much better, along with the color grading. Interestingly, a much more bleak ending was planned and even partly shot, but Romero changed his mind during the shoot and opted for the admittedly slightly corny (a word the director himself uses) finale we get. As an allegory for the inherent absurdity of consumerism, it remains timeless, but more than that, this film reminds us of that which we truly fear.Dawn of the Dead originally admonished consumerism culture, with the zombies representing the mindless, advertising-afflicted horde trying to enter a mall. There is also better detailing visible in the clouds or in pretty much all daylight exteriors, and metallic surfaces have a more realistic shine to them, such as the scene with Peter and Roger hauling the trucks in front of the entrances. In Europe, Second Sight Films conducted a full 4K restoration of the original 35mm camera negatives for Romero theatrical cut, along with 4K remasters of the "Cannes" Extended version from the internegative and the Argento Cut from the interpositive. Gunn’s and Snyder’s apparent intent was to portray people with the worst traits who can still manage to come together in the end.

As the director will admit, this is pretty blatant, so maybe subtext is the wrong word, but it’s handled well and gives the film an edge over more bog-standard horror fare. I just watched the theatrical cut all the way through and caught glimpses of the others while I listened to their commentaries. From what I can gather, this cut omits much of the relationship drama and comedy elements (though surprisingly keeps the infamous pie scene) and amps up the bleak tone. The action and visuals also enjoy a wider, more sumptuous array of colors, especially the animated candy-rose reds of blood giving the movie a more energetic pop.If there’s a singular line that defines the Dawn of the Dead remake, that’s it, both in terms of the post-9/11 zeitgeist and the change in tone. A Dolby Atmos option with more height would definitely put this film’s soundtrack over the top, but as is, there really isn’t really much worth complaining about. Interestingly, though, this version has only library music (The Goblins’ score was added later when the Theatrical Cut was complete). Grain is expertly managed and feels natural, so even the wide shots of blue/grey sky that highlight Dawn of the Dead's grain structure – more so than its interiors – aren't
a distraction. With John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest, Tom Dubensky, Tony Buba, Taso Stavrakis and a whole host of zombies and bikers!

Originally made as a teaching tool, the first half covers all the levels of the filmmaking process in detail, as well as offering plenty of wonderful behind-the-scenes footage from the making of Dawn of the Dead. Green army fatigues, the yellow trim on the helicopter, the purplish skin of the undead – it all looks wonderful. It’s likely the definitive presentation of the unrated version of the film, but it’s a shame that the theatrical version wasn’t included in the same quality. Surrounds get a good workout with all of the zombie munching and craziness that ensues from the escape, right down to the battle to get away from the mall at the end. Romero's Dawn of the Dead on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a seven-disc Limited Collector's Edition box set.discs with the soundtrack, the novelization and a hardcover book full of trivia and tidbits - a real treat for any Dawn fan.

A. as well is an audio commentary with Tom Savini and Taso Stavrakis, which was included on several overseas DVD releases. Bullets hit with great impact, and the shotgun that Ving Rhames carries sounds like a veritable howitzer cannon. Rubinstein’s commentary on the Cannes cut talks more about the business side of the production, so offers yet another markedly different take.The documentary might be a little technical for some in its first half, but it moves quickly enough to prevent it from feeling dry.