Dawn of the Dead (1978)

 

Might this be the definitive zombie apocalypse film? 

Yes. It probably is. And even if not, there's little to no denying the insane amount of influence this one has had on films in general and horrorstories in particular. It set a benchmark that isn't easily surpassed to this day. Maybe because George Romero knew he had to inject his story with more than just mindless zombies preying on hapless victims. They are there, but they are not the crux of the tale. 

No, that's reserved for subtle (and not so subtle) musings on human existence. 

Not really but sort of a continuation of 'Night of the Living Dead', here the world is slowly turning to chaos, as more and more of the undead rise and begin chomping and infecting the living. The film opens with this chaos, as in a news studio people are clamouring to get stories out and just leaving. Then we head over to a SWAT-team as they try and clear an apartment building where there are also zombies. The world is going to hell in a handbasket and two of the officers head out to the news station, as one of them knows the helicopter pilot. He and his sort-of girlfriend take the two guys with them and they head off, trying to find a safe place to land. After a fairly traumatising event at an airfield (it involves kids), they settle down atop a shopping mall. It is here they hatch the idea to hole up in the mall, try to close it off and eliminate the undead inside. The idea is brilliant in its simplicity, as this location is filled with stuff they need to survive. Also with luxury items that don't matter anymore, but people being people, it still feels fun to get your hands on things you might otherwise not be able to afford. 

Things begin to turn however after one of the officers is bitten and eventually dies. The remaining three continue and go through the motions, but boredom and lethargy is setting in. That is, until a roving band of bikers sets their sights on the mall and one of our leads feels he has to defend what isn't really his to begin with, setting in motion the depressing end.

Well, it's also the gory climax, so the depressing part is only about the humanity and the flaws inherent therein. 

The story is clear and concise and our leads manage to endear us to them. Ken Foree is clearly the rational one, his friend the overenthusiastic, the woman just wants to survive and her sort of boyfriend is a weaselly and egocentric blowhard, who is nearly always the one who makes things worse. But they work. The dialogue has a plethora of quotable lines which you've undoubtedly heard, be it as samples or as references. 

But we're here for the undead, right? And by enlisting the help of Tom Savini, the gruesome parts that felt a bit tame in 'Night of the Living Dead' are now fleshy and tangible. Bodies get ripped and torn, blood spurts, entrails are laid bare... The finale is something to behold and few films have used gore both relatively sparingly yet effectively. The undead also have characters and you'll pick apart the different ones on repeated viewings. 

The only thing that might turn people off, is the bleak and depressing tone. You know from the start that things are going to go south in the end and as a result, you're anxiously waiting to see what will get it all going downhill. But truth be told: we're already at the bottom of the hill during the opening credits and the bleak future beckons. 

Great stuff. Maybe the only zombie film you really need to see in your life, even if horror isn't your cup of tea.