Peter Jackson Says There's One Zombie Horror That Blew His Mind – It's a 92%-Rated Classic
Before The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson made bloody, unbridled splatter movies, and all thanks to George A. Romero. Here is the work of the Father of the Zombie Film that influenced Jackson the most.
One of Peter Jackson's first full-length movies was Dead Alive, a splatter classic that combines elements of ironic zombie horror and grotesque black comedy.
Dead Alive won several awards at prestigious fantasy film festivals around the world and established Peter Jackson's reputation as one of the most promising directors working in the genre.
George A. Romero's 'Dawn of the Dead' Had a Massive Influence on Peter Jackson
The influence of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, a zombie horror classic, is impossible to miss in Dead Alive. This is not surprising – Jackson himself has admitted that Dawn of the Dead is one of his favorite films:
“Another movie that absolutely blew my mind was George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. That was an unbelievable film at that time, and really it did shape my sense of humor and splatter style of filmmaking that I did.”
What Is 'Dawn of the Dead' About?
After escaping the undead by helicopter, four people are forced to land on the roof of a supermarket. There, they find food, shelter, and trouble – the store is filled with walking corpses.
The survivors shoot the undead, not suspecting that one of them will soon become that very thing that they kill – a flesh-eating zombie. Soon after, a gang of thugs breaks into the store, driven only by their thirst for profit and violence.
'Dawn of the Dead' Is Still the Most Influential Zombie Horror Ever Made
Dawn of the Dead is rightfully considered one of the best horror movies of all time and a brilliant sequel. If Night of the Living Dead was a trial run, then Dawn of the Dead is a perfectly executed zombie horror from beginning to end.
It was Romero who showed that horror movies can be more than just bloody entertainment – they can also be social commentary. The story is full of subtle details, and satirical commentary on consumerism.
However, the director does not forget about horror – the graphic and sudden gore scenes influenced generations of filmmakers and are still referenced today.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Dawn of the Dead'?
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Dawn of the Dead has 92% from critics and 90% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.8/10.
Where to Watch 'Dawn of the Dead'?
Dawn of the Dead is available to stream on Shudder, Tubi and Pluto TV.
