Day of the Dead (1985)
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A group of survivors in an underground bunker must navigate the collapse of human communication and the threat of an undead horde.
The story
Seven years after a zombie apocalypse has ravaged the world, a handful of scientists and soldiers live within a secure underground missile bunker in the Florida Everglades. The scientists aim to find a solution to the pandemic while the soldiers provide protection. During a scouting mission to Fort Myers, the team finds only a large horde of the undead and returns to the base. Tensions rise as the group faces dwindling supplies, a lack of communication with other survivors, and internal conflicts regarding the treatment of captured zombie specimens.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Seven years after a zombie apocalypse, scientists and soldiers reside in an underground bunker in the Florida Everglades. Dr. Sarah Bowman seeks a cure, while Dr. Logan, nicknamed "Frankenstein," attempts to domesticate zombies through conditioning. Tensions escalate as Captain Rhodes establishes martial law, threatening to abandon the scientists. During a roundup, a zombie escapes, biting Private Miguel Salazar. Sarah amputates and cauterizes his arm. Later, Sarah discovers Logan has been experimenting on dead soldiers and feeding their flesh to "Bub," a docile zombie. Rhodes, furious at Logan's actions, kills him and seizes the scientists. Rhodes attempts to force the pilot, John, to fly him away, but John refuses. Rhodes kills Logan's assistant and locks Sarah and Bill in the zombie corral. Bub, seeking revenge for Logan, frees himself and hunts Rhodes. Meanwhile, a suicidal Miguel opens the perimeter fence, letting in hundreds of zombies. As the undead swarm the bunker, Rhodes is torn apart by Bub. John, Sarah, and Bill escape in a helicopter to a tropical island.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George A. Romero
- Writers
- George A. Romero · writer
- Cast and characters
- Lori Cardille · Dr. Sarah Bowman; Terry Alexander · John "Flyboy"; Jarlath Conroy · Bill McDermott; Sherman Howard · "Bub"; Joseph Pilato · Captain Henry Rhodes; Gary Howard Klar · Private Walter Steel; Ralph Marrero · Private Robert Rickles; Anthony Dileo Jr. · Private Miguel Salazar
- Genres
- post-apocalyptic; zombie; horror
- Themes
- human communication; chaos; collapse; misanthropy; humanity
- Tone and mood
- tragic; chaotic; philosophical; gory
- Premise and plot tags
- post-apocalyptic; zombie; mad scientist; martial law
- Franchise connections
- Night of the Living Dead series
- Content notes
- gore
- Reception
- The film initially received mixed to poor reviews and did not match the success of its predecessors, but its reputation has improved over time, garnering a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 61% · review count: 103; Metacritic · score: 60 · scale: 100 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Award · Best Make-up · 1985 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be 'the Gone with the Wind of zombie films'.; The film was remade twice in 2008 and 2017.; Members of the rock band NRBQ cameo in the film in zombie makeup.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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