Stephen King is a widely popular name in horror fiction and is also known to be one of the most adapted authors in the world. While most of the adaptations of his work have been massive hits and have also contributed to his popularity, the author does not hesitate to share his criticism for some of these adaptations as well. The Shining, released in 1980, is among the most successful adaptations of his work so far. But the author did not like the film due to discrepancies between the book and the movie.
However, he is also passionate about the films he loves, one of which also includes Zack Snyder’s 2004 film, Dawn of the Dead. The 2004 film was a remake of the 1978 classic zombie horror film of the same name, also considered the best zombie apocalyptic movie.
Stephen King Calls Zack Snyder’s Work “Genius Perfected”
The 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead follows a group of survivors who take shelter in a shopping mall amid a Zombie apocalypse. The film serves as Zack Snyder’s directorial debut with a screenplay by James Gunn. The makers opted for a different marketing strategy by airing its 10-minute opening sequence on cable TV, days before its theatrical release.
The opening sequence of the 2004 film was later deemed “one of the best opening sequences of a horror film” by Stephen King. In an additional essay in his non-fiction book, Danse Macabre, the king of horror praised Zack Snyder’s work with the story and for presenting the best of his work with the remake. He said,
“Genius perfected would be Zack Snyder’s 2004 Dawn [of the Dead] remake, which begins with one of the best opening sequences of a horror film ever made.”
The film opens with Sarah Polley’s character, whose world turned upside down within a night due to the sudden zombie outbreak. The remake grossed $102 million at the box office and was highly praised by critics as well.
George A. Romero Did Not Like Dawn of the Dead Remake
George A. Romero is known for introducing a modern concept of Zombies with movies like Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead. While Stephen King is highly impressed with Snyder’s work on the 1978 film’s remake, Romero didn’t share the same enthusiasm about the 2004 film. He shared his thoughts on the remake during an interview, saying that the remake “lost its reason for being.”
“I sort of thought it lost its reason for being. I know a lot of people really like it very much, Stephen King, for example.”
He explained that in the original film, he used the “idea for satire,” but the remake did not have the elements that made the first film a hit.
The late director was also known to be critical of how the Zombie genre has evolved over the years. Romero also stated that shows like The Walking Dead have led to the genre’s downfall.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) is available on Amazon Instant Video.
Source: ScreenRant
