I recently had the misfortune of watching George a. Romero's 'Survival of the Dead' and what a painful experience it was. The films, put simply, was terrible with a shocking script, awful acting, lazy direction and well below par special effects (CG, incidentally, has no place in Zombie films). However, as shocking as the film was it wasn't what I was watching that upset me. It was simply that the legend that was George a. Romero, THE creator of the Dead series of films and the Zombie horror as a genuine film genre has clearly lost sight of what once made his films so challenging, thought provoking and original.
History will no doubt show that he should have ended the series after Land of the Dead which, although enjoyable, was beginning a fall from which the Dead films would not rise. Expanding on Day of the Dead's concept of having 'zombies that can learn through repetition' was always going to be difficult to swallow, but then having them actually communicate with each other was simply a step too far. However, all would have been forgiven had that been the only chink in the armour.
Bring forth Dairy of the Dead to not only remove the armour but inflict some serious flesh wounds to boot. Dairy was clearly a film made quickly in order to cash in on the success of Zack 'Watchmen, 300' Snyder's excellent Dawn of the Dead remake, which had undoubtedly brought new life into the genre. The rejuvenation was short lived as Romero released this shocking 'straight to DVD' film. Flags around the Zombie loving community drew to half mast as we crawled back into our homes and sank ourselves into The Walking Dead for respite.
Lessons clearly not learnt the once-was-and-now-isn't-a-horror-legend Romero has released this putrid sack of bile. Watching Survival was hard. It lacks everything that made the Dead films so great and it clearly doesn't have passion behind it. It was the film equivalent of a dying fire. Even the contemporary political under current was weak.
If you, like me, are a fan of the genre and Romero in particular please take my advise and steer well clear. You really don't want to go into that room and confirm the identity of this corpse. Remember Romero for the first three (four at a push) films and be happy for that.
