Survival of the Dead is a 2009 American horror film directed by George A. Romero, and written by Romero and Matt Birman. It is the sixth installment in Romero’s Living Dead series, and follows a group of survivors in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised Romero’s return to the genre he created, while others criticized the film’s pacing and lack of scares.
This is actually a direct sequel to Diary of the Dead (a shaky cam movie) which i didn’t like at all and to be blunt i don’t like this movie much either. I’ve got a lot of respect for George Romero, he’s done some great stuff over the years. His movies of late however, just seem like poorly conceived cash in’s on his old but great Dead series.
Survival has the same military guys that were in Diary, they end up on the island because they believe it’s safe from the zombie horde… Ha, big mistake. From here we get to see some really weird family BS which really isn’t that interesting to be honest, even if it does involve zombies.
So what good can i say about survival… Well the production values are solid, the zombies look remarkably eerie and gross. The acting quality is pretty solid throughout, even if it’s nothing exceptional. The direction seems solid generally also. Things go downhill from here though… The movies pacing is awkward and well boring. There’s not enough action, scares and gore for my liking. It tries to be more drama based but it’s not really working, it’s like some weird soap opera based in the zombie apocalypse.
I can’t recommend this one, sure it has some good elements and i guess for Romero fans it is worthwhile renting this one, if for nothing less than to say ‘I’ve seen it’. Everybody else is better off watching the original Dead movies if you haven’t already. Hell Land of the Dead, which is by no means a great movie is way better than this. Best to avoid.
Overall, Survival of the Dead is a solid entry in Romero’s Living Dead series. It’s not as groundbreaking as some of his earlier work, but it’s a fun and entertaining film that fans of the series will enjoy.
Synopsis
The movie is set on an island off the coast of North America, where a group of people have been living in isolation for several years, cut off from the rest of the world. They are a community of survivalists, led by a man named Colonel Crockett (played by Kenneth Welsh).
The community is divided into two groups: those who believe that the dead should be allowed to live, and those who believe that the dead should be killed. The two groups have been at war with each other for years, and the situation is getting worse. Colonel Crockett’s daughter, Alice (played by Devon Bostick), is in love with a man from the other side, named Patrick O’Flynn (played by Nick Stahl).
Patrick is a member of the group that believes the dead should be allowed to live, and he is trying to find a way to get the two sides to peace. When the movie begins, there has been a recent outbreak of the “zombie virus” on the island, and the community is in lockdown. The survivors are fighting for their lives, and the situation is getting desperate. Colonel Crockett is forced to make a decision that will change the course of the community forever.
Movie Details
Director: George A. Romero
Writer: George A. Romero
Actors: Alan Van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, Kathleen Munroe
Release Year: 2009