Universal Pictures, 2004. A Strike Entertainment/New Amsterdam Entertainment Production. Based on a screenplay by George A. Romero. Screenplay by James Gunn. Directed by Zach Snyder. Starring Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer and Blu as "Chips the Dog."

     By Stephen Pytak 

     I expected nothing from this, but the thing
slowly won me over, especially when the
chainsaw mayhem turned the screen red.
     On a first-day screening, I sat in the 
middle of a crowd that, by the third act, was
talking to the screen.
     This "Dawn" is a stand alone flick. It 
doesn't feel like a sequel to anything, except 
maybe perhaps "28 Days Later (2003)."
     There were exciting escape and chase 
sequences. I liked the one that involved the 
gun shop best.
     Then there was the bit with the 
chainsaw. I'll just say it was worth the 
admission price.
     The original "Dawn" will no doubt
be remembered for Tom Savini's blood
drenched make-up effects. When I think
of it, the exploding head in the apartment
complex raid comes to mind in a snap.
     Besides the chainsaw thing, I'll remember
this "Dawn" for some of the actors and 
intriguing twists.
     I liked the back and forth marker
board communication between "Kenneth 
(Ving Rhames)" and the guy who owned
a gun shop down the block, "Andy (Bruce
Bohne)."
     It starts off light. They even play a very
cool game of I Spy. But then desperation
leads to trouble, a hell of a lot of it. There's
a rescue attempt, and a pay off.
     If you go, stay for the credits. The film
continues intermittently.
     I'm sure this film will be analyzed and 
over analyzed by fans for years and they'll
make comparisons to the original up and 
down.
     The music in this one can't compare to 
the score by Goblin, which was so powerful
it was like a character in the original.
     The score is by Tyler Bates. It's hardly 
noticable. However, there's a song by 
Johnny Cash that'll stick in your head.
     The make up effects and CGI 
zombie effects are interesting and stand
on their own. 
     There were lots of shot gun blasts and
chunks of zombie flying here and there.
And I loved it when they showed scenes
of mass destruction. 
     There was no attempt to copy
or pay homage to anything Savini did
back in the day. At least I didn't think so.
     However, there were some incredible 
homages, and this little post-modern gem 
even admits to the audience where it got
some of its influence from by featuring 
cameos by stars of the original  "Dawn." 
And on top of that, it shows the 
heroes from this film watching Savini, 
Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger on TV sets.
     After Savini's 1990 "Night of the Living 
Dead" remake, I wasn't sure if any more
remakes of Romero's "Dead" films would be 
attempted. That film only received a 
luke-warm reception. 
     This one, on the other hand, is receiving
lots o' praise. And with that in mind, it 
makes me wonder if some director out there 
will take a shot at a new version of "Day."
     You never know what's just over the 
horizon.