Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Last updated:
June 28, 2025

Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead (2004) is a high-octane, nerve-rattling remake of George A. Romero’s 1978 cult classic. With a screenplay by James Gunn, this version keeps the core idea—survivors trapped in a shopping mall during a zombie apocalypse—but injects it with more adrenaline, modern chaos, and moral ambiguity. Here’s an in-depth look at the film, from start to explosive finish.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Outbreak Begins

Ana (Sarah Polley), a nurse, finishes a long shift at the hospital and returns home to her husband. Everything seems normal until the next morning, when a neighbor’s child breaks into their home and viciously attacks. Her husband is bitten, dies—and immediately reanimates. This is Ana’s horrifying introduction to a world turned upside down.

As the city descends into chaos, Ana flees in her car, encountering other survivors: police officer Kenneth (Ving Rhames), electronics salesman Michael (Jake Weber), and young couple Andre and Luda (Mekhi Phifer and Inna Korobkina), who is visibly pregnant. They band together and head for safety.

Refuge in the Mall

The group reaches the Crossroads Mall, a fortress-like shopping center. Initially, they encounter resistance from a trio of hostile mall security guards. Eventually, tensions ease, and the survivors establish a fragile peace. They fortify the mall, clear out zombies, and settle into a strange domestic routine. But cracks start to form—mentally, morally, and logistically.

New survivors arrive in a delivery truck, bringing with them fresh complications: an infected woman, limited supplies, and even more internal conflict. Meanwhile, Andre hides the fact that Luda was bitten, hoping to deliver their baby before she turns.

The Infection Spreads

As time passes, the infected grow in numbers and aggression outside the mall. Inside, the group’s sanity begins to unravel. Luda dies in childbirth and turns into a zombie—Andre, unable to accept reality, gets himself killed trying to protect his undead wife and child. The zombie baby is one of the film’s most controversial and haunting moments.

Outside, they befriend Andy, a lone gun shop owner across the street. But he eventually gets bitten. A risky supply run to save him fails, and they realize they can no longer stay in the mall.

Movie Ending

With the mall no longer safe and the zombies increasing in numbers and rage, the group rigs together two armored shuttle buses—Mad Max-style—with steel plating, propane tanks, and chainsaws. Their goal: escape the mall and reach the marina, where they hope to find a boat.

The escape sequence is brutal. One of the buses crashes. CJ (Michael Kelly), the formerly antagonistic security guard, sacrifices himself in a heroic explosion to save the group. Others are picked off by the horde or by tragic accidents. Nicole’s dog saves her life, but causes a dangerous detour. In the chaos, the survivors are whittled down.

Ultimately, only a small group reaches the marina: Ana, Kenneth, Nicole, Terry, and Michael. But here comes the gut-punch.

Michael reveals he was bitten. He chooses to stay behind, ending his life as the others board the boat and head toward what they hope is safety.

Final scene: A found-footage-style sequence during the credits shows the group arriving at an island—only to be met by more zombies. Screams, attacks, and the camera falling to the ground suggest no one survived. It’s a bleak, haunting finale with no real resolution.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. The film includes mid-credits footage in the form of camcorder scenes recorded by the survivors. It starts with hopeful moments aboard the boat but quickly devolves into horror. They run out of supplies, discover the island is not safe, and encounter more zombies. These clips effectively serve as the film’s real ending, confirming that their hope for a new beginning was short-lived.

There is no post-credits scene after the final credits, just the gut-wrenching realization that escape may be impossible in this undead world.

Type of Movie

Genre: Action horror, zombie apocalypse, survival thriller
Tone: Gritty, intense, fast-paced, with bursts of dark humor

This isn’t your slow, shambling-zombie type of horror movie—Snyder’s undead sprint and tear through flesh like wild animals. The movie focuses on the collapse of society, moral dilemmas, and the fragility of human relationships under pressure.

Cast

Sarah Polley as Ana
Ving Rhames as Kenneth
Jake Weber as Michael
Mekhi Phifer as Andre
Ty Burrell as Steve
Michael Kelly as CJ
Kevin Zegers as Terry
Lindy Booth as Nicole
Matt Frewer as Frank
Kim Poirier as Monica

Film Music and Composer

Composer: Tyler Bates
The soundtrack combines eerie instrumental compositions with licensed songs like Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around”—a perfect thematic match for the film’s apocalyptic tone.
Other standout tracks include Richard Cheese’s lounge-style cover of “Down with the Sickness”, which plays ironically over a mall-montage scene.

Filming Locations

Toronto, Ontario, Canada was the primary filming location.
The mall featured in the film was Thornhill Square Mall, which has since been demolished.
The closed, outdated mall was ideal for portraying isolation and consumerism gone stale—making it not just a setting, but a commentary on modern society.

Awards and Nominations

Nominated for several Saturn Awards including Best Horror Film
Won the Golden Trailer Award for Best Horror
While it didn’t sweep major awards, the film is praised by horror fans for reinvigorating the zombie genre post-28 Days Later

Behind the Scenes Insights

Zack Snyder’s directorial debut, and it made him an instant Hollywood name.
James Gunn’s script was darker and more character-focused than typical horror fare.
The fast zombies were controversial among purists but inspired a wave of similar depictions in later films.
The zombie makeup effects were extensive, with over 3,000 extras used in large-scale scenes.
Ty Burrell (Steve) improvised many of his jerk lines, adding sleazy comic relief.

Inspirations and References

Based on George A. Romero’s 1978 classic Dawn of the Dead, though it’s not a scene-for-scene remake.
Influences from 28 Days Later (2002), which popularized fast zombies.
Social commentary—especially critiques of consumer culture—are present, though less overt than in the original.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several alternate death scenes were filmed, including a longer version of Michael’s suicide.
Extended scenes of mall life and zombie battles were cut for pacing.
A deleted scene showed Steve being bitten and hiding the wound longer, creating more tension.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film was novelized, but not based on a separate book.
Compared to Romero’s version, Snyder’s film is more action-heavy, less satirical, and focuses more on morality and survival psychology than consumerism and society.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The neighborhood massacre at dawn—the first 10 minutes are unforgettable.
The “birth” scene in the mall—horrifying and heartbreaking.
The rooftop “celebrity look-alike sniper game.”
Escape via modified mall shuttle buses—pure chaos and guts.

Iconic Quotes

Kenneth: “I shot him in the head. That’s how you stop them.”
Steve: “You wanna survive, you’re gonna need my help. And my boat.”
Michael: “There’s nothing left to do but survive.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

A store sign says “Gaylen Ross”, a nod to the original film’s lead actress.
Tom Savini, makeup artist from the original Dawn, has a cameo as a sheriff.
The mall includes a “Zack’s Sporting Goods”, a wink at the director.

Trivia

The mall set took over three months to build.
All major characters had full backstories written for them, even if not used onscreen.
The baby zombie was created using animatronics and CGI—it had to be approved by studio execs due to its disturbing nature.

Why Watch?

For horror fans: it’s visceral, relentless, and stylishly shot.
For action lovers: the pacing never drags, and the set pieces are explosive.
For genre scholars: it modernizes a horror classic while honoring the original’s spirit.
Plus, it’s the film that launched Zack Snyder’s career—before 300 or Watchmen, this is where it all began.

Director’s Other Movies

300 (2006)
Watchmen (2009)
Man of Steel (2013)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Army of the Dead (2021)

Dawn of the Dead (2004)