Review of Diary of the Dead (2007) by Lindsay Elizabeth M — 30 Apr 2010

With ?Diary of the Dead? Romero explores modern culture by going back to the beginning of the zombie phenomenon. With each of his Dead films since ?Dawn of the Dead? (note: if you?re reading this and think that I?m talking about a film starring Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames please step away from the computer and kick yourself in the ass for me) the crisis has already begun, and we watch characters deal with the aftermath.

In ?Diary? we start with people who are living out their lives when suddenly reports start to roll in of the dead returning to life. Some believe the stories are a hoax, others characterize the events as isolated incidents, but the early reports quickly snowball into a global crisis.

When you go into this movie you need to be prepared for the way it unfolds. There is no crazy editing, no fancy camera work, and no massive explosions. Don?t expect to see thousands of zombies gathered in a monstrous horde.

This is a low budget film, which is shot first person. If the character holding the camera doesn?t see it ? we don?t see it. Many of the scenes are one long take from the character?s point of view. As the film moves forward, a second camera is introduced, allowing some cutting back and forth in order to experience two points of view.

Aside from that, there are just a few security cameras which are incorporated into the film footage, and some video feeds which the students downloaded from the internet. The film is also very FUNNY! There is an amazing sequence featuring a deaf/mute Amish man who provides the group with some temporary shelter and some chalkboard advice.

The acting is generally quite good, though the characters are not as memorable as the characters in previous ?Dead? films. Then again, the fact that the characters are not all that interesting adds to the reality.

They are real people who don?t have some intricate backstory ? ordinary people in an extraordinary situation. The directing of course is fantastic. Special effects are very well done, and are incorporated seamlessly into the footage to make the events appear real.