Movie remakes are always risky business. On the one hand, filmmakers risk falling short of fans’ expectations of the original. Conversely, remakes allow filmmakers to take some of their own creative liberties and extrapolate from the source material in a way that makes sense and deserves praise. While we’ve seen countless iterations of zombie plagues over the years, one remake in particular is worth juxtaposing with the original movie that inspired it. That film is Zack Synder’s 2004 remake of George A Romero’s Dawn of the dead, which originally came out in 1978.
Though it is difficult to compare these two as they both stand alone in a sense. Zack Snyder obviously took a page from Romero’s script into his own Dawn of the dead redo, but there are big differences that we need to talk about, for better or for worse. But at the end of the day, both movies end up telling similar stories with different outcomes. However, the vehicle that powers both stories remains the same.
Fast zombies vs slow zombies
One of the most notable differences between both iterations of Dawn of the dead is the speed at which the zombies travel. Romero’s 1978 movie shows off traditional zombies, which pose a formidable threat but don’t have the advantage of speed. In other words, if a horde of zombies is chasing you and your loved ones, you can probably escape if you have a clear path and a good stretch of your calf muscles.
However, Snyder’s movie brings us zombies who are all track and field stars, which begs the question: Did their human counterparts train for ultramarathons, or does their inherent speed come from the infection? It’s one thing to run from hordes of zombies slower than molasses on a cold day, but if they’re sprinting towards you at full throttle, you’ll probably only stop in your tracks out of fear, but they’re sure to overtake you too , even after your adrenaline kicks in and you start running. In other words, if you ever have a real life encounter with the fast zombiesis it in your best interest to eat more carbs and take pre-workout supplements.
Similar story Arc – Mall
Both Dawn of the dead movies are set in a mall. And when you think about it, what better place to take refuge from hundreds, if not thousands, of flesh-eating zombies? Both films make the most of their setting, from the parking garage to the food court. The mall setting adds a level of convenience that is comforting to both the characters and the audience. It establishes a base of operations that allows our protagonists to be well fed and well dressed, and have access to first aid and even hunting gear.
Use of practical effects
While Romero’s 1978 film leaves a lot to be desired in terms of practical effects, the makeup is pretty good. It almost seems unfair to compare the OG’s zombie makeup Dawn of the dead to the remake, but we’re not comparing them in a competitive way. Although Romero’s light green zombies pale compared to Synder’s computer-controlled undead, they are not without charm. To a 1978 audience, they are absolutely terrifying, and the makeup was so well done back then, they still look good in the eyes of a modern audience today.
Similarly, Snyder’s remake doesn’t budge when it comes to using explosions and firearms. From the exit wounds that shoot out the back of a zombie’s head to the propane tanks that fill the dock with our undead adversaries, everything ranks at 11, and it’s what a 2004 audience would expect in that era of filmmaking.
Although Snyder’s Dawn of the dead has stunning visuals that some would consider superior to the source material, it’s worth noting that both movies were a product of their time and did their best with their budget and the filmmaking techniques available to them. In other words, if Dawn of the dead was remade almost twenty years after Snyder’s remake, we could make similar comparisons.
More characters to worry about in the remake
Snyder’s movie adds another layer of complexity in the form of more characters to keep an eye on. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does complicate the film. Romeros Dawn of the dead has four protagonists: Steve, Peter, Roger and a pregnant Fran. This small crew makes it easy to focus on the drama and suspense that unfolds throughout the film, and in a way, less is more.
The Snyder remake begins with a small group of people (Ana, Kenneth, Michael, Andre, and Andre’s pregnant girlfriend Luda), but the group quickly expands. Throughout the film, we are introduced to mall security guards (Terry, CJ, and Bart), who come across as enemies at first, but prove to be quite helpful as the film progresses. From this point on we are introduced to too many survivors to count, but despite the large number of characters we have to follow, the plot never gets complicated.
Original is more hopeful while the remake is open-ended
Perhaps the most obvious difference between the two versions of Dawn of the dead is their respective endings. In Romero’s film, Fran and Peter escape in a helicopter and fly into an uncertain future. This ending is left open to the public, but it allows viewers to remain hopeful.
Snyder’s film has the opposite effect. The 2004 remake sees Ana, Kenneth, Nicole, Terry and Chips flee to an island on Steve’s yacht. With their supplies running low, they arrive at an island, but much to their horror, the island is occupied by dozens of zombies. The camcorder they used to film their experience falls to the floor and the credits roll, leaving us to wonder what happens next.
While both iterations of Dawn of the dead are excellent films in their own right, they are almost beyond comparison. Both films represent their era of filmmaking in terms of acting, makeup and special effects. While Snyder’s film took quite a bit of creative liberties to retell Romero’s story, both films stand as horror films worthy in their own right.