Horror fans have grown accustomed to the definitive genre categories that have been shaping it for generations. While this includes things like slashers, supernatural horror, body horror, zombie horror, and all kinds of other conceptual distinctions, it also includes repetitive rip-offs, sequels, and remakes. Cinema is full of remakes, and the genre has never mattered, but when it comes to horror, it feels like there are a lot more remakes than usual, and this can make for interesting discussions about horror remakes in general. While a number of them don’t work, there have been a few that stand out as films that either live up to the original or even surpass it. Usually, the best horror remakes include the right director and cast at the center. However, there are a lot of moving parts that can bring the best out of remakes, and that was definitely the case with Dawn of the Dead.
Fans everywhere appreciate a handful of key voices in the horror genre. Whether talking about John Carpenter, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, or even James Wan, each big name has had an impact on the genre. One of the most iconic horror names is still George A. Romero, who redefined horror with his zombie thrillers of the ’60s and ’70s. A master of horror, Romero’s work has always had an effect on audiences, and naturally, studios have been trying to capitalize on the popularity of his films ever since. Probably the most iconic Romero film is Dawn of the Dead, which is still considered to be arguably the greatest zombie masterpiece of all time. Even this film has seen its remakes, and while many fans wouldn’t want to see it remade at all, there’s no denying that the 2004 Dawn of the Dead is actually one of the most entertaining zombie movies in recent memory.
2004’s Dawn of the Dead is the Greatest Horror Remake of All Time
Zombie hordes attack the survivors trying to escape the mall in Dawn of the Dead.Image via Universal Pictures
There’s something evocative about the way Zack Snyder makes movies. This ability to craft immensely imaginative worlds is not something that everyone can do, and Snyder has proven to be pretty good at it. With that in mind, Snyder doesn’t always get the best out of a project and has botched more than a few in his career. What does seem to be a talent of his is adapting material from a previously existing source and re-interpreting it in a fun way. This fun way that he does it involves actually trying to mimic the source material almost perfectly. In fact, when Snyder doesn’t do this, he ends up making ineffective films, and while it still might not grab people, this skill definitely worked for a simple movie remake. Dawn of the Dead was Snyder’s feature debut, and there was a lot of pressure on him to get it right. His strategy was simple but also very effective, as it involved mirroring the original as closely as possible while changing elements of tone, violence, and aesthetics to be more modern. This actually ended up working really well, especially since the adaptation came through in the writing. Dawn of the Dead is a thrilling, thematically resonant, and structurally sound horror film.
Even to this day, Dawn of the Dead is considered to be a solid zombie film and one of the best of the 21st century. However, it transcends this century as it actually might be the best horror remake ever. What’s memorable about Dawn of the Dead is its gritty, grounded, and utterly terrifying approach to zombie horror, which embodies the barest elements of Romero’s work and re-interprets them for a modern audience. This made the zombie spectacle more compelling than some fans expected, and all Zack Snyder really had to do was provide a pleasing aesthetic and atmosphere that worked for the film. What’s essentially an updated version of Romero’s original turned into something more visceral, especially with some truly terrifying sequences, strong character arcs, and an overwhelming theme of survival. There is an energy and pace to the film that can probably be attributed in part to Snyder, especially with his grasp of strong visuals in movies. However, just because Snyder is good at mirroring the source material, that doesn’t mean he’s always the one responsible for it.
Dawn of the Dead Is Actually One of James Gunn’s Best Movies
What really stands out about Dawn of the Dead is the film’s writing, and even though Zack Snyder has proven to have a knack for adaptations, he doesn’t get any of the credit on the 2004 zombie extravaganza. Most fans forget this DC Comics connection as well as Dawn of the Dead’s overall connection to some of the best modern box office hits. Snyder is known for being a key voice in DC’s comic book adaptations over the last decade plus. Meanwhile, James Gunn has also been making a ton of superhero films over the years and even took over DC Studios more recently.
Gunn has made several great films, including Guardians of the Galaxy and 2025’s Superman. Gunn has been finding a groove and has even proven to be an even more effective filmmaker than Snyder in the last few years. Some fans might forget, but Dawn of the Dead was actually James Gunn’s hit more than it was Snyder’s. Snyder might have directed the film, but James Gunn wrote it and crafted a very intricate and riveting zombie epic in 2004. Gunn’s also no stranger to horror, as he made one of the best cult horror films of the 21st century when he made Slither in 2006. The greatest horror remake ever was conceived mainly by Gunn and then later brought to life by Snyder.
This duo ended up being perfect at the time, and fans still cite Dawn of the Dead’s engaging pace, structure, and overall progression. The way tension builds, and each sequence tops the next, is a big part of why Dawn of the Dead works so well. The climactic ending always stands out because it was Gunn bringing everything to the biggest close possible. In 2004, this is exactly what fans would have expected from a zombie thriller, and it even manages to top aspects of Romero’s original at times. The biggest change that Gunn made was to the zombies themselves, which are more aggressive and vicious with their fast movement and terrifying strength.
This was inspired by a shift in zombie horror during that time and certainly added a different element to the film. Following mainly a nurse, a police officer, and a random group of survivors, Dawn of the Dead provides the most character depth to Ana (the nurse) and focuses heavily on the concept of being stuck in one single location for most of the story. This provided interesting tension and a slow psychological deterioration for the characters, which was certainly interesting. The film might not provide a ton of thematic depth, but it does comment on humanity’s reaction to surreal conflict. Balancing unique perspectives with an unrelenting plot, Dawn of the Dead is just proof of another brilliant work by James Gunn.
There Have Only Been a Few Zombie Movies As Good As Dawn of the Dead
Two buses drive through a crowd of zombies swarming them.
While pretty much anything George Romero has ever done is going to be recognized for its greatness, the zombie genre has maybe a handful of true masterpieces in cinema’s history. Believe it or not, one of them is the 2004 zombie remake that effectively kick-started the careers of Zack Snyder and James Gunn. With classic zombie movies effectively defining the genre in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, there have been reinterpretations of the concept with other disease-based stories. Certainly, David Cronenberg’s Rabid comes to mind, or even classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which focuses more on the alien approach. However, disease films like 28 Days Later have also redefined the genre.
In terms of the overall history of the zombie concept, Dawn of the Dead (04) might actually be one of the best ones ever made. While TV made a splash as well with The Walking Dead and movies like The Crazies always come to mind, Dawn of the Dead is always a film that gets referenced. If not overall, then at least in the 21st century alone, Dawn of the Dead is one of the best zombie movies in recent memory. Fans have also loved the comedic approach that some filmmakers have taken to the genre. Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland are endlessly fun as well. There’s not a long list of impactful zombie films, but even if there was, Dawn of the Dead would be closer to the top of it.
- Release Date
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March 19, 2004
- Runtime
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100 minutes
- Director
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Zack Snyder
