Dawn of the Dead (4K Ultra-HD) [Blu-ray] [2021]

Product Information

stereo mix offers a modestly wider front soundstage, but the separation does help a bit with the dialogue clarity and music.

Dawn of the Dead originally admonished consumerism culture, with the zombies representing the mindless, advertising-afflicted horde trying to enter a mall. Dawn of the Dead’s 2004 iteration is may not be of the astute nature the original comes with, but on the other side of the field its one of the best horror action films we’ve ever had. Matt Paprocki has critiqued home media and video games for 20 years across outlets like Washington Post, Variety, Rolling Stone, Forbes, IGN, Playboy, Polygon, Ars, and others. The 4K UHD disc is nothing short of superb in the video department, handily outclassing the Blu-ray, and while it recycles the same 5. It is scary, engaging, thought provoking and demands repeat viewing – we will likely never see its like again.Romero’s Night of the Living Dead was a hugely influential film, not only in the horror genre, where it established the classic tropes of the zombie movie, but also in terms of low budget independent filmmaking. Since much of this cut is based on the Theatrical restoration, much the same can be said here, rich colouring, well detailed and defiant blacks. I just watched the theatrical cut all the way through and caught glimpses of the others while I listened to their commentaries. Snyder does a great job of making the movie a veritable blood bath, with blood, guts, gore and entrails hanging from every corner.

All of this material is housed within a sturdy, rigid box with the original US theatrical artwork on the cover. Finally, there is a softcover novelization of the film written by Romero and Susanna Sparrow with an introduction by actor Simon Pegg. Dynamics: I’m not sure as there were no notes in the press release or on the packaging, but I think the audio here is the same that was available on the Blu-ray release. He’s got a lot of praise for Zack Snyder and a good group of people, with many “play”-like sequences.The 4K disc just handles the grain better (a cleaner and more nuanced look to the structure) and the fine details are superb.

Easily the worst of the restorations presented, though worst is relative here; this cut too has never looked so good.We’re now saddled with a group of folks who range from awful to annoying, which is why it’s difficult for many (myself included) to enjoy this film fully. The mono track is clean and bright, and as faithful as you can get to the original cinematic experience. In Europe, Second Sight Films raises the dead on 4K Ultra HD as an awesome seven-disc limited edition box set with brand-new 4K presentations for all three versions of Romero's cult classic, making them the definitive watch at home. Missing from Anchor Bay’s legendary 4-Disc Ultimate Edition DVD release is a Monroeville Mall commercial and tour video, the 1989 version of Document of the Dead, several still galleries, additional radio spots, a 28-page mini-comic book (which was included in the set as swag), and five Easter eggs: a short interview with Tom Savini about a practical joke he once pulled; a short interview with Gaylen Ross; a testimonial from a Buddist Monk; an interview with Christine Forrest about how she met George; an interview with Greg Nicotero on how Tom Savini created the helicopter zombie; and an interview with John Harrison, the screwdriver zombie.