Dawn of the Dead (1979)

From the Box: "As modern society is consumed by zombie carnage, four desperate survivors barricade themselves inside a shopping mall to battle the flesh-eating hordes of the undead."

What You Get: Four survivors escape the big city in a helicopter, seek sehlter in a mall, and make the best of it... despite the fact the numbers of zombies outside grow more and more each day. And really, they make themselves at home to the bitter end. Lots of gore, lots of killing, and a healthy dose of black comedy.

Origin of Zombies: Unknown. The dead don't stay dead, and if bitten (but not killed) one could last up to 3 days before going undead.

Zombie Traits: Dead appearance (though very blue-ish in complextion), staggering, clumsiness, slow movements, hunger for flesh, killed by head shots.

Unzombie Traits: Skin color, use of tools (though primitive), fear of fire, ability to climb

The "Heroes": Two cops (one black, one white), helicopter pilot (for news channel), newswoman

Zombie Killing Weapons of Choice: Rifles, rifles, more rifles, hang guns, hammer, screwdriver (!), sword (!!), helicopter blades (purely accidental), fire

The Goals: Escape city, hold up in mall, secure mall, survive.

End Result: They escape the city (Philly, I think), they hold up in a mall, secure it (though one gets bitten in the process), and life seems peachy... until a roving biker gang finds them. The shit goes downhill right quick resulting in the mall being less secure than ever, another of their number dead, and no hope but hopping back in the copter and just fly to who knows where.

Zombie Rating: (the only bad is the skin color and weapon use, but at least it's less-then-rudimentary)

Notes: In some ways this is the most quintessensial zombie flick, almost more than Romero's own Night of the Living Dead, but it's real falling is the special effects, makeup, and blood color. If you ignore it, it's perfect. Almost makes you wish they truly remade with today's budget and effects, not reinvented it.

Love those crazy, gun-toting, zombie-hunting rednecks!

Zombie Movie Rating: 7/10 (only four people, two of which are well-trained cops!)