Diary of the Dead is the fifth of Romero’s “of the Dead” movies.
That makes it a … quintology?
I like George Romero.
This perhaps even makes him my favourite director.
Hes also a genuinely lovely guy.
That said, Im not such a blind fan that I like EVERYTHING hes done.
See, I can tolerate bad films.
What I really hate is incoherence.
Lack of care and attention.
Sadly, this is precisely whats wrong withDiary of the Dead.
The bit thats meant to grab you is the way in which its (supposedly) shot.
However, it simply doesnt work here.
Its like its been added for dummies.
The film is a constant series of unecessary expositions with nothing being allowed to breathe.
Likewise, the music never feels anything but inappropriate.
Its just a mess.
There are numerous GLARING technical/logical errors too.
A scene towards the end has three characters talking in a kitchen.
Only of them holds a camera and yet it repeatedly switches between two separate hand-held angles throughout the dialogue.
Its like you get the loss of gaping plotholes but without any benefit to redress the balance.
I think the problem is that Romero does not understand the medium.
Its not even like Lonelygirl15.
If youre going to attack the medium through (essentially) satirical imitation, at least study it first.
Not to mention it again but the voiceover is a clear demonstration of this ignorance.
Vloggers generally talk directly to the camera, thus elimating the need for one.
The cast are dreadful too.
The Gulf?).
Either he was chronically miscast, badly written or maybe a bit of both.
Its everythingDiary of the Deadis not.
Grimly ironic considering the characters assertions that they want to show the truth and something real.
Even without that unfortunate comparison,Diary of the Deadis still a jumbled-up, unfocused and careless failure.
Might be time to put that retirement plan in action now, George.
Rating:
1 out of 5
