Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Diary of the Dead (2008) Written and Directed by George A. Romero.

Way back in 1968 George Romero brought us a little classic called Night of the Living Dead. Since then, this movie has birthed a genre; the Zombie Movie. (Actually, they aren’t zombie, more closely resembling ghouls, since the bite is infectious…sorry, D&D geek moment, I’m better now.)

This movie is a look at what might have happened if such an outbreak had happened in today’s information age. The movie centers on a documentary tape, The Death of Death, the work of film student Jason Creed (Joshua Close). Jason is shooting a mummy movie when news of the dead rising from the grave reaches them. A couple of students take off for the Mummy’s (Phillip Riccio) nearby palatial home. The rest decide to load up in a Winnebego owned by Mary (Tatiana Dexter). First stop, the dorms for Jason’s girl friend, then upstate to various people’s homes.

Jason develops a psychosis, common to camera men, where he can’t stop filming. You see this in The Blair Witch Project, and Cloverfield. Debra (Michelle Morgan) his girlfriend does not appreciate this. But Jason has a point; they have already seen the media trying to cover up and spin the truth to prevent a widespread panic. Jason wants to create something that will preserve the actual events, as they happened.

In the beginning, there is a doubting Thomas, or in this case, Tony (Shawn Roberts). He refuses to believe their first few encounters, and does not accept what is obvious until he watches a zombie suffer several lethal attacks before being hit in the head.

Their teacher is also along for the ride, Professor Andrew Maxwell (Scott Wentworth) is something of an old sot, but when the chips are down, and the dead are closing in, he is quick, sure, survival oriented, and a crack shot. Tony is an example of those who cope with disaster by denial, Jason is an example of those who cope by retreating (behind his camera) but the Professor is one of those men who bloom in a crisis.

After driving over a few zombies to get away from a road block, Mary is stricken by such guilt that her solution is to put a bullet in her head…of course; she screws it up, and lives. So now they have to take her to the hospital. Here is a piece of advice if the dead ever start rising from the grave; Never ever go to the hospital. They will be the first place to fall. In the hospital, they put Mary’s gun to good use, killing several zombies, including Mary. And of course, someone gets bitten. They also pick up another camcorder.

Jason in the meanwhile is downloading things off the internet, and over cell phones. All of this goes into his magnum opus.

In rural Pennsylvania, the Winnebego develops problems. They stop at a farm for repairs. If you think this movie is an unremitting gore fest of despair and horror, you are wrong. Mark my words, you will be laughing when you read the sign, I am Samuel, Hello.

Eventually, they reach Debra’s house. Guess what was not a good idea? But a video phone message got through; Ridley the Mummy is safe and sound on the family estate, and they are all welcome. So, they turn around and head back for stately Wilmont Manor, and the saferoom inside it.

Romero invented the Zombie movie, and is still the master. This movie is also an exploration of modern media, and our ability to record our lives. Jason Creed’s documentary contains the footage he shot, footage from the camera they found in the hospital, things captured off the web, off security cameras, and video messages. There is a very real feel, an immediacy that helps compensate for the weak character development. Less vertigo inducing than the rough camera work of The Blair Witch Project, Diary hits a nice balance between total realism and good cinematography.

The special effects are first rate as well, and disturbing. Here is another hint for killing Zombies; don’t use a defibulator on a Zombie’s head. It won’t kill it, but it will make the eyes explode. Yerk!

The pacing can be a little slow, and the character development is minimal, but that lends to the realistic feel of the piece. The actors are all relatively unknown, but I have to say, they all did an adequate job, and Scott Wentworth and Michelle Morgan were exceptionally good in this. The special effects and the emotional impact are where this movie shines, though, and that is what you want in a good Zombie movie. Best of all, it is totally different than all that have gone before, adding depth to the genre.

George A. Romero, Father of the Zombie movie, and King of the Zombie Movie; this is a worthy addition to his legacy.

The Dead Shall Walk the Earth!

Romero: Father of Zombies.
Night of the Living Dead
Diary of the Dead
Land of the Dead

Another kind of "Zombie" Movie:
28 Days Later
28 Weeks Later

England's first true Zombie Movie:
Shaun of the Dead

Resident Evil:
Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Afterlife


Resident Evil: Degeneration



Assorted Flavors of Shamblers:

ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction!
Survival of the Dead.
Creatures from the Pink Lagoon
[REC]
The Zombie Diaries
Boy Eats Girl
Dead Meat
Day of the Dead-The Need to Feed.
Flight of the Living Dead
Dead Snow
The Crazies
Return of the Living Dead
Edges of Darkness
Zombieland
Tokyo Zombie
Dead Space: Downfall

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age