Land of the Dead was released in a special edition 4K by Scream Factory on October 15th.
Zombies aren’t traditionally depicted as intelligent. They’re monsters motivated by the relentless drive to feast on human flesh and brains. George A. Romero, the iconic horror filmmaker behind classics such as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, first introduced the idea of intelligent zombies in Day of the Dead. He takes that idea and ramps it up for his forth installment in the living dead series.
Land of the Dead Review
George A. Romero is significantly responsible for my love of horror. His early works, especially Monkey Shines and Martin, mesmerized me. But it was his work in the world of zombies that had truly captured my imagination and showed me the heights that horror could achieve. I had just graduated from high school when Land of the Dead hit theaters. It had been twenty-years since Romero’s last entry in the living dead series, and I could not wait to see what he had in store for us all these years later.
I was admittedly disappointed when I first watched it back in 2005. I think twenty-years of anticipation and a stacked cast that included John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper had built my expectations beyond what was reasonable. So, I was ecstatic for the chance to see it again all these years later.
Like with the previous three entries, Romero uses the zombie backdrop as a setting to critique real world issues. In a world overrun by the living dead, the wealthy still rule. Dennis Hopper’s Paul Kaufman is the wealthiest man around, owning and operating the Fiddler’s Green, a luxurious high-rise apartment building that houses the rich and powerful exclusively.
Outside of the building’s heavily guarded walls are overpopulated streets occupied by those lucky enough to survive, but not lucky enough to afford the comfort and safety of Fiddler’s Green. It’s a fairly clear and straightforward analysis of how the wealthy treat the less fortunate, even in times of desperation.
Land of the Dead breathed new life into a dying genre. Similarly to 28 Days Later, Land of the Dead proved that zombies can be more than slow-moving and bumbling creatures. Here, they aren’t just mindless killing machines, but beings capable of understanding and making purposeful decision. I may still prefer my zombies mindless, but I respect and appreciate the fresh take from a master of the genre.
While it sounds odd to characterize zombies as victims, that’s ultimately what they are. These monsters were once humans that fell victim to the same deadly circumstances as the rest of humanity. By giving them the ability to think, Romero humanizes them once more while showcasing that man remains the most dangerous monster of all.
Special Features
The 4K release comes with an audio commentary track featuring filmmaker George A. Romero, editor Michael Doherty and producer Peter Grunwald, as well as an audio commentary track featuring zombie actors Matt Blazi, Glena Chao, Michael Felsher, and Rob Mayr.
Also included are Undead Again: The Making Of Land Of The Dead, Bringing The Dead To Life, Scenes Of Carnage and a slew of other featurettes. Â
Would I recommend this purchase? Yes! While it’s certainly not the best of George A. Romero’s zombie movies, it’s a worthy entry and well worth owning.
Is it worth a blind buy? As long as you know to not expect a super serious or genuinely scary zombie movie, absolutely.
Purchase your copy of Land of the Dead 4K Collectors Edition here.
