Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Dawn of the Dead (1978), directed by George A. Romero, is not just a zombie movie—it’s a biting social commentary wrapped in gore, dread, and brilliantly orchestrated chaos. As the second installment in Romero’s iconic Dead series (following Night of the Living Dead), this film cemented the rules of modern zombie lore and influenced virtually every undead-themed production that followed.

Detailed Summary

The Breakdown of Society

The film opens in the chaos of a Philadelphia TV station, where misinformation and panic are spreading as quickly as the zombie plague. The U.S. government has failed to contain the outbreak, and cities are collapsing. As martial law is enforced, SWAT teams raid apartment buildings, leading to one of the most shocking and violent sequences in zombie cinema at the time.

The Escape

Two station employees, Stephen (David Emge), a helicopter pilot, and his girlfriend Fran (Gaylen Ross), decide to flee the city. They are joined by two SWAT officers—Peter (Ken Foree) and Roger (Scott H. Reiniger). Together, they commandeer a helicopter and fly west, searching for refuge.

The Mall

They discover an abandoned suburban shopping mall and decide to use it as a fortress. What follows is one of the most iconic sequences in horror: the group clears the mall of zombies, barricades entrances, and begins to enjoy a surreal simulation of normal life. They have access to food, clothes, weapons, and all the consumer goods they could desire. But their safety comes at a cost.

The Cracks Begin to Show

Roger is bitten during a zombie-clearing mission and later dies, only to rise as one of the undead. Peter is forced to shoot him. This moment signals the beginning of a more philosophical arc: that no matter how safe the group appears, death is always imminent, and the illusion of control is fleeting.

Fran, now pregnant, pushes for long-term thinking while Stephen becomes increasingly possessive of their territory. As time passes, the group becomes isolated, emotionally drained, and aware that the mall, while full of material goods, has become a golden prison.

The Biker Invasion

Just as they begin to grow numb, a roving gang of bikers discovers the mall. Led by Tom Savini (who also did the film’s makeup and effects), these anarchic intruders break into the mall, wreaking havoc and allowing a flood of zombies back inside. The bikers treat the zombies like toys—taunting, dismembering, and mocking them—until, inevitably, the undead overwhelm them.

Movie Ending

The final act is chaotic and brutal. Stephen, trying to defend the mall from the bikers, is killed and turns into a zombie. He inadvertently leads the undead directly to Peter and Fran’s hideout.

Peter, devastated and injured, barricades himself in a room and considers suicide. Meanwhile, Fran readies the helicopter for takeoff. Just as the zombies break through to Peter’s room, he changes his mind and fights his way to the roof.

In a surprisingly hopeful twist, Peter joins Fran in the helicopter, and the two escape into the unknown. The final shot is ambiguous—they have little fuel, no destination, and the world remains in collapse—but they have each other, and they’ve chosen life, however uncertain it may be.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Dawn of the Dead does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends with the helicopter flying off into the horizon and the credits rolling over the sounds of eerie stock music and groaning zombies. However, George Romero did originally consider a darker ending, which we’ll discuss below.

Type of Movie

• Genre: Horror, Zombie, Satire, Thriller
• Style: Practical effects-heavy, apocalyptic, action-horror with political and cultural undertones.

Cast

• David Emge as Stephen “Flyboy” Andrews
• Ken Foree as Peter Washington
• Scott H. Reiniger as Roger DeMarco
• Gaylen Ross as Francine “Fran” Parker
• Tom Savini as Blades (biker)

Film Music and Composer

The score is primarily composed by Goblin, an Italian progressive rock band known for their eerie and experimental horror music (especially with Dario Argento). The film also uses library music—pre-recorded stock tracks—that give it a surreal, often campy edge. This contrast between gory violence and upbeat Muzak becomes a thematic tool.

Filming Locations

• Monroeville Mall, Pennsylvania – The film’s main setting. The mall becomes both sanctuary and tomb. Romero chose it because it represented the height of American consumerism in the ’70s.
• Latent Image Studio (Pittsburgh) – Used for indoor shots.
• Westinghouse Tower – TV station scenes.

The mall, now famous among horror fans, became a metaphor for capitalist excess. Zombies wandering aimlessly through department stores is Romero’s blunt commentary on mindless consumption.

Awards and Nominations

• Saturn Award Winner – Best Makeup (Tom Savini)
• Nominee – Best Horror Film
• Widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time, though it didn’t win many mainstream awards due to its graphic content.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Filming in the mall could only happen at night after closing hours (from 11 PM to 7 AM).
• The crew had to clean and reset every store before reopening.
• Tom Savini, who created the groundbreaking gore effects, performed many stunts himself.
• George Romero originally wanted a darker ending where Peter shoots himself and Fran walks into the helicopter blades, but this was scrapped during shooting.
• Goblin composed the score before the film was fully edited—a rare move at the time.

Inspirations and References

• Inspired by a real-life visit to the Monroeville Mall by Romero and a friend who worked in emergency services.
• Deeply influenced by consumerism, Vietnam War imagery, and the increasing disconnect between the media and reality.
• Romero was influenced by classic horror, but reimagined it with a modern political edge.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• Alternate Ending: As mentioned, Romero’s original ending had Peter committing suicide and Fran decapitating herself with the helicopter blades. This version was storyboarded but never filmed.
• Extended Cuts: The Dario Argento European cut has different music and pacing, with more action and less character development. The Cannes Cut runs nearly 140 minutes.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• A novelization was written by George A. Romero and Susanna Sparrow. The book adds deeper insight into the characters’ thoughts and includes the darker ending originally planned.
• The tone in the book is more introspective, and Peter’s suicidal thoughts are more elaborately explored.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The apartment building raid with SWAT and the first real horror.
• Roger losing control and being bitten during the truck blockade scene.
• Zombies breaking into the mall during the biker raid.
• Peter’s near-suicide and final fight to the roof.

Iconic Quotes

• Peter: “When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth.”
• Roger: “We got this by the ass!”
• Fran: “It’s really all over, isn’t it?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The helicopter blade decapitation scene was one of the most challenging practical effects shots.
• Tom Savini’s biker character survives a surprisingly long time for someone constantly taunting zombies.
• Some zombies are dressed like professions (nurses, baseball players), symbolizing their past lives.
• The mannequins in the mall visually mirror the zombies, blurring the line between consumer and consumed.

Trivia

• The film was released unrated to avoid an X-rating due to its violence.
• The blue-grey makeup on zombies became iconic, though it was originally meant to appear more corpse-like in color.
• It was banned in several countries on release.
• It made over $55 million worldwide on a $1.5 million budget.
• Romero made all the zombies walk slowly—establishing the classic “Romero zombie.”

Why Watch?

Because Dawn of the Dead is the zombie film that defined the genre. It’s terrifying, bloody, and unexpectedly thoughtful. Unlike most horror films of its era, it holds up incredibly well both in terms of entertainment and political relevance. Its themes of consumerism, survivalism, and human selfishness are as timely now as they were in 1978.

Director’s Other Movies

• Night of the Living Dead (1968)
• Day of the Dead (1985)
• Land of the Dead (2005)
• Creepshow (1982)
• Martin (1976)
• Survival of the Dead (2009)

Recommended Films for Fans

• 28 Days Later (2002)
• Shaun of the Dead (2004)
• Train to Busan (2016)
• Return of the Living Dead (1985)
• The Thing (1982)
• World War Z (2013)
• Zombieland (2009)