DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978): Consumerism, Tom Savini, and the Mall at the End of the World
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Show Notes
After years of working in television and experimenting with smaller projects like MARTIN and SEASON OF THE WITCH, George Romero returned to the world of the undead with 1978’s DAWN OF THE DEAD—a bold, bloody, and darkly satirical follow-up to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD that would change the zombie genre forever.
This time, Romero wasn’t working alone. DAWN OF THE DEAD marked his first official feature-length collaboration with Tom Savini, who brought his Vietnam-era trauma and stage makeup training to bear with some of the most iconic gore effects in horror history.
In this episode, we dive into the story behind DAWN OF THE DEAD—from Romero’s partnership with Italian horror legend Dario Argento, to the challenges of filming in an operational shopping mall, to Savini’s pioneering work in practical effects. We also explore the film’s sharp social commentary, its various international cuts, and the legacy that continues to influence zombie media to this day.
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne & Justin Bishop, with special thanks to Todd Davis.
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