Land of the Dead (2005)

Darwinism in Zombie Town


Romero has never failed to deliver. His politically tinged movies are always a reflection on current affairs humorously pull at the fine string that holds society together. This fourth installment of his classic Zombie fest is a direct jab at the Bush administration and their total disregard for the poor and less privileged. At one point in the extras, Romero jokes about Dennis Hopper wanting to play his part like Donald Rumsfeld - the scene cuts to Hopper in a sharp suit mercilessly shooting one of the many under privileged. This panged of the shooting involving Dick Cheney on Harry Whittington. Pure coincidence I know but made me roar with laughter none-the-less.

Land of the Dead is not by any means a touch on Romero's other outings into Zombie town, but it is entertaining with cameo roles by our favorite loony Tom Savini and the boys from Shaun of the Dead. I think that Day of the Dead is the king amongst princes, simply because although amusing in places it holds a real feeling of helplessness throughout the film. Even at the end when they are far away from the goings ons you still feel uneasy and quite battered by the onslaught of zombies, blood and guts that you have just witnessed. 'Land's' special effects are excellent and above all fun, but they are nothing new. When 'Day' came out sometime after the BBFC's video nasties bill, us 'banned' film fanatics thought we had seen all the grotesqueness that the FX guys could muster. Day of the Dead delivered in blood. Its effects were disturbingly real, harrowing, beautifully imaginative and well executed. 'Land' fails to give us anything new but still gives us a few laughs.

Land of the dead is a much lighter film than all the other three and therefore does not have the same impact. It is still worth a watch just to see the way the Zombie nation has evolved. The informed dead.