Romero's 'Dead' Series - Part 2 (2005-2009)

Though the reception was more or less luke warm, I happen to think Land of the Dead (2005) is as good a Dead story a 21^st Century Romero could have given us. Twenty years since Day, the effects are sublime, the characters are likable and well developed. It’s actually quite hard to fault. The story is interesting enough if slightly basic, but I like nothing more than a miniature fascist state in a post apocalyptic setting being taken down by a group of do-gooding rebels. Dennis Hopper’s charismatic baddie is a real winner. Perhaps the best thing for the film for me was that it was a real sequel to the first three films, set in the same timeline. It was interesting to be shown a wider scope of the effects of outbreak, as opposed to just a mall, or a bunker. However, I’m not convinced about the whole ‘zombies can think like us now’ vibe… 7/10

Deciding that he wanted to make a change in form, and perhaps connect the series with a new generation of zombie fans, Romero decided to take on the hot 'new' filming style of the time, and do a first person camera horror, a la Blair Witch, Cloverfield etc, the result was Diary of the Dead (2007). While the change adds a certain interesting edge in terms of character development (being allowed to talk to the camera, and the viewer directly), it makes for some pretty stilted viewing, dodgy metaphors (a character asks another to put him out of his misery by pleading ‘shoot me’, while ‘shooting’ him with the camera – err, slick) and a social commentary that doesn’t really work. Despite some entertaining scenes, this reboot to the series was a disappointment and, frankly, lacked the intelligence of previous instalments. 6/10

Survival of the Dead (2009) was possibly one of the worst films its year. Even a few minutes in, I was wondering if I was watching a spoof, or maybe the camera would suddenly pan back actually show the characters from the film watching a spoof, as a nice little joke. But the camera never panned back. This is a terrible film in terms of character, plot, substance, effects… It really has nothing going for it. The deaths are gimmicky, the effects are lame, and the script is borderline retarded. A zombie riding a horse? Farmers feuding on an island? Who cares? Survival is dross that once and for all confirms Romero has lost it. Never mind George, it was a good run of genius while it lasted. 3/10

In all, the series has had some incredible highs, but there appears to be no chance of a resurgence. It’s time for the series be firmly put in the past, and... well... DIE.