One thing that this movie does is deliver the gross out factor that many zombie movies of late have been missing. This movie is a bloody riot all the way through. The movie may be technically lacking, but it is never boring. The characters are propelled from set piece to set piece. Limbs fly, heads roll and explode, and blood splashes with reckless abandon.

If you’re a new convert to the horror world, this movie is a perfect Saturday night party movie to kick back and watch with your buddies. It actually reminds me of when I was a young teenager discovering genre movies for the first time. I must have sat through untold gore fests that lacked anything even remotely redeeming other than the fact that they were packed with wall to wall gore. Sometimes you can get off your high horse and just appreciate a movie for the mindless entertainment that it is. This is one such movie.

Honestly, this movie is just plain bad. The scenario, as generic as it is, still has potential. A zombie outbreak can always be an exciting event to watch if it is filmed properly with flair, verve and gusto. Unfortunately this movie is typical of most direct to DVD or even independent movies. Horrible dialogue uttered by actors who have absolutely no business even trying to say the lines they’ve been given, a weak story propelled by the lamest of implausible set pieces, and just a cheap look and feel to the entire production. The simple fact that director Steve Miner is a veteran in the horror genre and the cast is populated by such established actors such as Ving Rhames make this cinematic failure all the more shocking.

This incarnation of Day of the Dead has no such aspirations, wearing its cash in status on its sleeve for all to see. I would be remiss if I didn’t make it a point to mention actor Nick Cannon. A walking, talking stereotype Cannon brings an already shaky production down even further. The sassy, black “Aw shit, son!” attitude that African-American actors display in horror movies lately pretty much turns into self parody in this movie. I was completely turned off to not only the character, but every scene he was in. The movie became a chore to sit through whenever his “in your face” Urban attitude was jammed down my throat. One thing I can not stand whenever a young, hip cast plays members of any type of military unit is how unprofessional, laid back and undisciplined they come across. It completely takes me out of the believability of the movie.

And when you are watching a movie about the dead attacking the living, it’s pretty sad when something like the character’s performance is the thing that you can’t suspend your disbelief to. This movie had a lot going against it. Not only is it a remake of a beloved George Romero classic, but it is a direct to DVD lower budget zombie movie. Did this completely fail? That depends on how you look at it. To turn a quick buck: it’s probably going to be a success, even if people buy or rent this just to see how bad t could possibly be. As a movie that will be remembered for the ages: it fails on almost every level. To be honest, it’s not the abomination that a lot of so-called fans or “purists” are making it out to be. It’s a dumb movie that will deliver some expected jump scares and gore to keep you enthralled if you’re in an even passably forgiving mood. It will add to the list of horrible remakes that a lot of self important horror websites cry and fuss about.

The argument can be made that the movie would be treated differently if it didn’t carry the title Day of the Dead. Maybe so, but that says more of the prejudice of horror fans than the talent of the cast and crew. For a genre that has so many self-professed supporters, no other is so quickly turned on and critiqued by the very same people who claim to champion it.

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