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Quint thinks SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD is a huge improvement over DIARY OF THE DEAD!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here to give you my thoughts on George A. Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD.



I want to state up front that my expectations going into this movie were pretty low. I hated DIARY OF THE DEAD. And that’s not a word I use lightly. I felt it was a horrible film that made me embarrassed for Romero as a fan of his work. It’s possible that I walked away from his new movie impressed simply because he made a real movie again, but I don’t think so. I think he really stepped up to the plate this time out and delivered a fun movie.

But that’s kind of Romero’s M.O. The dude’s career is a rollercoaster. I’m a big fan of some of his non-Dead work like THE CRAZIES and MARTIN, but he’s had some horrible misfires in his heyday as well.

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD moves back to straightforward filmmaking from that failed experiment POV documentary gimmick of DIARY. Don’t get me wrong, that style can work. CLOVERFIELD is flawed, but makes good use of it, REC is awesome, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is pretty damn good. I don’t hate the idea of Romero making a movie like that, but coupled with the most uninteresting annoying and horribly acted characters in any Romero film since SEASON OF THE WITCH it made me want to claw my eyes out.

Romero shot this new film on a budget as well, but what a difference a good director of photography and some good old fashioned filmmaking can make.

The social commentary this time out is war. Romero boils it down, simplifies it, making it about two men on an Island that have a family feud going back centuries. I wouldn’t be surprised if Romero intended the O’Flynns and the Muldoons to have been at war all the way back to their roots in Ireland.

While that’s where the political message lies, the actual plot follows the national guard guys who rob the film school assclowns in DIARY led by Alan Van Sprang. As you’d expect with Romero we get a diverse group, multicultural and multisexual. Athena Karkanis plays a hot woman soldier nicknamed Tomboy who is unfortunately trapped with a squad of men. It wouldn’t be so bad except she’s a lesbian in a world where only men seem to be surviving. We also have the joker of the group, a charming Latin dude and, eventually, a civilian teenager who is good with a gun.

There was surprisingly little shown of this group looting, but I’m fine with that. The story’s on the island, not on how many people this traveling band of soldiers rob. In fact, it helps make the team a lot more likable than I was expecting.

The top O’Flynn is banished from his island and leaves his him and family behind. So he puts a video on the internet, which apparently can survive the zombie apocalypse, advertising this great island refuge that is safe. Of course, when people show up he’s like a profiteer during WW2 who steals all the money and gold from the Jews in exchange for safe harbor.

And it’s not even safe harbor. He sells them boats to go to this island for the double purpose of getting rich and pissing off his arch rival who believes the island only belongs to the Muldoons’.

Naturally he gets more than he bargained for when the national guard guys show up in their armored Brinks truck. But that turns out to be a blessing in disguise as he recruits the team to help him retake the island.

There’s been lots of talk about how Romero employs a sort of Western filmmaking style this time out and that’s partly true. The scenes between O’Flynn (Kenneth Welsh) and Muldoon (Richard Fitzpatrick) definitely play out that way. Long homestead establishing shots, Mexican stand-offs, etc, but the rest of the movie plays out in a fairly standard army vs. zombies way.

As expected the gore is very well done. Even in Diary there’s gore moments to like courtesy of Romero knocking his head together with the brilliant dudes at KNB. The gore in this movie is pretty small until the shit really hits the fan at the end, but we do get a Romero trademarked complete disembowelment and some other surprises I won’t spoil.

All that said, it’s not a flawless movie. Some of the acting is limited, especially with the lead bad guy, but there’s nothing in this movie as laughably bad as the overly dramatic teacher from the last movie. The ending is a bit muddled and over complicated, but it has a solid foundation that supports the shenanigans at the end.

And some people might have a problem with a couple of the more Looney Tunes moments (there’s literally a scene with a giant bundle of dynamite that might as well have ACME stamped on it), but then again this is the man who ended his masterpiece with a damn pie fight.



Above all else it felt to me like Romero had a solid vision that was extremely well executed. According to the director’s pre-screening Q&A they shot the movie on the Red Camera and it looked very sharp, sharper than a lot of Red work I’ve seen courtesy of Adam Swica. Much better than his work on Diary, but he was hobbled from the get go by the premise of that movie.

I wouldn’t call it a return to form, but this is definitely Romero on an upswing. It’s not his best movie, but it’s very far away from his worst.

-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Reader Talkback

Same old same old
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
03:10:07 PM
first?
by fanboy71
Sep 27th, 2009
03:13:59 PM
missed it by THAT much!
by fanboy71
Sep 27th, 2009
03:14:45 PM
Cool.
by sonnyfern
Sep 27th, 2009
03:16:38 PM
The social commentary this time out is...
by Iowa Snot Client
Sep 27th, 2009
03:20:46 PM
I rewatched Land of the Dead the other day and....
by ghost_matt
Sep 27th, 2009
03:22:28 PM
Diary > Land
by kolchak
Sep 27th, 2009
03:28:44 PM
I seem to be the only person who loved Land
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
03:35:29 PM
Another fav completely missing the mark.
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
03:38:28 PM
I liked Land, too
by the dolphins are in the jacuzzi
Sep 27th, 2009
03:39:41 PM
One more fav missing the mark
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
03:43:18 PM
Zombi 2
by TakingScorpiosCalls
Sep 27th, 2009
03:43:44 PM
unofficial i mean
by TakingScorpiosCalls
Sep 27th, 2009
03:44:11 PM
Roman Polanski arrested in Switzerland...
by BrokenHeath
Sep 27th, 2009
03:45:05 PM
I'm suprised - the buzz on this is it's easily worse...
by JuanSanchez
Sep 27th, 2009
04:00:41 PM
Season?
by SanityKaos
Sep 27th, 2009
04:05:51 PM
Zombie movies
by lochkray
Sep 27th, 2009
04:07:35 PM
how about hopefully he goes to prison
by s0nicdeathmonkey
Sep 27th, 2009
04:07:56 PM
SEASON OF THE WITCH has other titles
by palimpsest
Sep 27th, 2009
04:09:41 PM
Polanski does not exist in this dojo
by Cobra--Kai
Sep 27th, 2009
04:11:47 PM
Hopefully Victor Salva's next
by palimpsest
Sep 27th, 2009
04:15:01 PM
Pandorum, Daybreakers and Surrogates
by REVENGE_of_FETT
Sep 27th, 2009
04:20:32 PM
yeah i saw this one at TIFF
by The3rdMan
Sep 27th, 2009
04:25:04 PM
Dawn '78' will always remain champion.
by cheyne_stoking_DMS
Sep 27th, 2009
04:25:07 PM
Douche
by midgarddragon
Sep 27th, 2009
04:26:03 PM
Daybreakers
by The3rdMan
Sep 27th, 2009
04:30:13 PM
Diary messed up Romero's momentum
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
04:35:47 PM
Your lips to God's ear...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 27th, 2009
04:45:43 PM
REVENGE_of_FETT
by MacReady452
Sep 27th, 2009
04:49:44 PM
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET remake teaser trailer debuts tonight!!!
by Mike_D
Sep 27th, 2009
04:55:05 PM
so are we going to get a Polanski Arrest talkback
by Getiton
Sep 27th, 2009
04:56:39 PM
Diary sucked as bad as land of the dead
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
05:39:08 PM
so, was Surrogates any good?
by jackknifed_juggernaut
Sep 27th, 2009
05:40:00 PM
PowerRing....
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 27th, 2009
05:45:29 PM
And...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 27th, 2009
05:47:58 PM
"My zombie movies aren't about horror, they're symbols"
by thegreatwhatzit
Sep 27th, 2009
05:51:16 PM
And...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 27th, 2009
05:52:03 PM
Red Ned Lynch
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
05:53:30 PM
Damn, you people like ugly chicks
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
05:57:41 PM
PowerRing....
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 27th, 2009
06:00:31 PM
what huh Polanski arrested while making Survival of the Dead?
by TakingScorpiosCalls
Sep 27th, 2009
06:07:14 PM
@Red Ned Lynch
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
06:24:39 PM
I hated Diary of the Dead as well
by Autodidact
Sep 27th, 2009
06:29:47 PM
A Polanski talkback would be so entertaining
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
06:37:45 PM
Revenge_of_fett
by Eyegore
Sep 27th, 2009
06:38:04 PM
wow
by Kabukiman
Sep 27th, 2009
06:52:52 PM
"But officer, I only put two fingers in teenager. Two." - Polans
by Stuntcock Mike
Sep 27th, 2009
07:20:56 PM
Roman Polanski, your time is up.
by Stuntcock Mike
Sep 27th, 2009
07:21:39 PM
LESBEINGS!
by frank cotton
Sep 27th, 2009
07:27:05 PM
Disqualification mentioning Cloverfield!
by quantize
Sep 27th, 2009
07:28:40 PM
ROMAN POLANSKI TO DIRECT PRISON PLAYS
by HaterofCrap
Sep 27th, 2009
07:33:34 PM
I heard Polanski tanked a couple cops...
by cheyne_stoking_DMS
Sep 27th, 2009
07:41:03 PM
LIVE FREE OR DIE ZOMBIE!!
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
07:41:44 PM
LIVE FREE OR DIE ZOMBIE!!
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
07:49:17 PM
BREAKING NEWS!!!
by _Jonathan_
Sep 27th, 2009
07:51:58 PM
Cobra Kai, just for you.
by Stuntcock Mike
Sep 27th, 2009
07:54:57 PM
Quint, how stoned were you?
by TheDark0Knight
Sep 27th, 2009
08:14:32 PM
Commentary has gotten more hamhanded with each film
by MrD
Sep 27th, 2009
08:28:53 PM
Expected way too much from Land
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
08:32:22 PM
I liked what I read of the original script
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
08:36:00 PM
Diary wasn't very good...
by DonRivella
Sep 27th, 2009
08:42:20 PM
its not a spoiler if it is in the commercial
by MacReady452
Sep 27th, 2009
08:42:46 PM
ouch
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
08:43:30 PM
You could argue
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
08:57:30 PM
Which would make a good argument
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
08:58:45 PM
but I still dont like it
by Turingtestee
Sep 27th, 2009
09:01:45 PM
SO happy to hear it's good...
by yesiamaplant
Sep 27th, 2009
09:10:37 PM
Raiders of the Lost Zombie
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
09:17:01 PM
Kingdom of the crystal zombie
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
09:19:20 PM
Kramer Vs Zombie
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
09:20:07 PM
Only positive review I've seen
by solanine
Sep 27th, 2009
09:25:19 PM
Other Things That Are An Improvement on DIARY OF THE DEAD
by Autodidact
Sep 27th, 2009
09:37:27 PM
Other Things That Are An Improvement on DIARY OF THE DEAD
by Autodidact
Sep 27th, 2009
09:38:59 PM
Other Things That Are An Improvement on DIARY OF THE DEAD
by Autodidact
Sep 27th, 2009
09:40:31 PM
Iron Man 3 Iron Zombie
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 27th, 2009
10:10:44 PM
There'd be a Polanski talkback
by ackack
Sep 27th, 2009
10:19:31 PM
Zombieformers 3: Revenge of the fallen
by PowerRing
Sep 27th, 2009
10:50:32 PM
You lost me at "so he puts a video on the internet"
by WickedJacob
Sep 27th, 2009
10:50:45 PM
Slow staggering zombies couldn't possibly
by Castlemonster
Sep 27th, 2009
10:57:26 PM
And I know zombies don't really exist...
by Castlemonster
Sep 27th, 2009
11:07:55 PM
Cool
by Darthkrusty
Sep 27th, 2009
11:13:07 PM
people please dont get your hopes up
by TheDark0Knight
Sep 27th, 2009
11:38:50 PM
another thing.
by TheDark0Knight
Sep 27th, 2009
11:42:48 PM
I love Romero...
by Anti-fanboy
Sep 27th, 2009
11:54:54 PM
EYEGORE, IT'S IN THE FUCKING TRAILER!
by REVENGE_of_FETT
Sep 28th, 2009
12:12:39 AM
Polanski tb
by redshirt
Sep 28th, 2009
12:20:52 AM
Quantum of Zombies
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 28th, 2009
12:55:03 AM
I really can't think of anohter director like Romero
by CHRISTIAN_BALE_TRASHED_MY_LIGH TS
Sep 28th, 2009
01:02:42 AM
Weird lockesbrokenleg
by CHRISTIAN_BALE_TRASHED_MY_LIGH TS
Sep 28th, 2009
01:04:15 AM
REVENGE_of_FETT
by CHRISTIAN_BALE_TRASHED_MY_LIGH TS
Sep 28th, 2009
01:12:01 AM
Polanski
by Toonol
Sep 28th, 2009
01:13:53 AM
one trick pony
by Motoko Kusanagi
Sep 28th, 2009
01:33:18 AM
The Zombies probably ate my post
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 28th, 2009
01:49:52 AM
Watched the Elm Street teaser and....
by CHRISTIAN_BALE_TRASHED_MY_LIGH TS
Sep 28th, 2009
03:04:54 AM
Diary better than REC!? wtf! Romero = Uwe Boll
by bongo123
Sep 28th, 2009
03:15:57 AM
Earnest Scared Stupid...of the Dead
by pokadoo
Sep 28th, 2009
04:14:12 AM
To clarify
by Quint
Sep 28th, 2009
04:22:30 AM
Quint, do you not think he’s harming himself and the genre in ge
by bongo123
Sep 28th, 2009
05:40:57 AM
Romero is like a has-been quarterback
by PowerRing
Sep 28th, 2009
07:16:41 AM
Professor Lightweight
by Mr_P
Sep 28th, 2009
07:36:18 AM
Slow Painful Death of the Dead
by Iowa Snot Client
Sep 28th, 2009
07:58:58 AM
Make a list...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 28th, 2009
08:21:16 AM
Did any of you guys watch "Bronson" Last night?
by pubgrundy
Sep 28th, 2009
08:41:49 AM
Kenneth Welsh in a Dead movie? I am so there.
by Royston Lodge
Sep 28th, 2009
09:13:21 AM
Is it technically a spoiler when
by PowerRing
Sep 28th, 2009
11:29:19 AM
Hospital scene opening of Diary was great
by Knobules
Sep 28th, 2009
03:00:17 PM
ROMERO "WHAT? I CAN DO OTHER FILM SUBJECTS?"
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 28th, 2009
03:14:55 PM
Brokenleg...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 28th, 2009
04:22:42 PM
Patricia Tallman is not that hot
by lockesbrokenleg
Sep 28th, 2009
04:37:45 PM
Just messing with you...
by Red Ned Lynch
Sep 28th, 2009
04:40:05 PM
NIPPLE SLIPS OF THE DEAD
by LimpdickSherlock
Sep 29th, 2009
11:39:36 AM

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