"Land of the Dead" George Romero's Latest Zombie Film

George Romero’s latest effort is destined to be yet another cult classic. His work has come a long way since the black and white, "Night of the Living Dead" introduced us to flesh eating zombies. This latest film even dishes up a message along side some very gory and well done special effects. The message is the class struggle between the haves, the have-nots, and the really creepy zombie have-nots.

The story opens with background information referencing the previous movies: Night of; Dawn of; and Day of the Dead. Zombies are now somewhat under control and kept at bay from civilization. A city is enclosed by a barbed wire electric fence on one side and a river as a natural barrier on three sides to keep the zombies out. Everyone knows zombies can’t swim. Within the city is an ivory tower highrise known as "Fiddler’s Green" where the elite have barricaded themselves and live lives of luxury. Dennis Hopper villainously portrays, Kaufman, the leader of the elite and master of the huddled masses below. The huddled masses below are people, the middle class, who have not yet been killed and infected by the zombie virus; but also couldn‘t manage to get inside Fiddler‘s Green. We know from earlier films that the zombie virus was spread by a meteorite shower. And in Romero’s zombie films, when you are bitten by a zombie you die within an hour or so, but then come back to life as a zombie and in turn start eating people. A vicious cycle to say the least. The middle class people live a raucous and barbaric life huddled in tent cities at the foot of the ivory tower. They spend their time getting drunk and gambling on cage gladiator matches between captured zombies, using live bait as prizes - cats, dogs, even humans. Asia Argento plays a prostitute that crossed Kaufman and so was put inside the zombie cage match as bait. Rescued in the nick of time.

As the story unfolds we discover that the debauchery going on is being manipulated by none other than the ruler in the ivory tower, Dennis Hopper. Hopper betrays his own foot soldier, Cholo, played by John Luguizano, and in return plans for revenge are laid that would level Fiddler’s Green, the protected city, and all the rest of the living all at once. Riley Denbow, played by Simon Baker sets out to head off the attack and prevent Cholo from annihilating the city. Meanwhile, outside the protected city, the zombies are getting restless. And they are gaining intelligence; zombie intelligence personified by Eugene Clark‘s portrayal. The zombies, referred to throughout as "stenches", plod toward the protected city, rising up against their oppressors. Which group survives? The elite in Fiddler’s Green, the huddled masses down below, or the zombies?

I can’t tell you the ending, don’t want to spoil it. But I will tell you, that the zombie ripping off the face of his victim is an amazing special effect. And some of the zombies are familiar faces from previous zombie movies. This is a must see, if you like horror at all (and don‘t mind the gore). A monster movie, with a message. Enjoy.