Dawn of the Dead
Strange Behavior
-
Dawn of the Dead
Directed by George Romero.
With David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger.
Italy/US, 1978, 35mm, color, 139 min.
Print source: HFA
Set during the morning after the events of Romero's Night of the Living Dead, this sequel combines horror movie thrills with a pointed critique of American consumerism. Two SWAT team members briefly escape the threat of their flesh-eating adversaries at a Philadelphia area television station. As the zombies discover their hideout, the two men flee by helicopter along with two of the station's employees to a local shopping mall where they barricade themselves inside. Amidst the film's gorier scenes are fascinating moments of down time in which Romero's characters wander the space of the mall, at first looking for supplies but eventually indulging in the rare privilege of free shopping.
-
Strange Behavior (AKA Dead Kids)
Directed by Michael Laughlin.
With Michael Murphy, Louise Fletcher, Dan Shor.
Australia/US/New Zealand, 1981, 35mm, color, 87 min.
Print source: HFA
A local police officer (Murphy) on the trail of a presumed serial killer discovers some strange goings-on at the local college where his son (Shor) has volunteered to participate in a series of bizarre science experiments. This sly, revisionist zombie film became a cult favorite in the 1980s for its satirical and frightening view of American conformity. Shot in New Zealand, the film's tongue-in-cheek script was written by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Chicago) and features an atmospheric soundtrack by Tangerine Dream.
Part of film series
Screenings from this program
Ballad of a Soldier / The Forty-First
Nightfall / Great Day in the Morning
Verboten! / Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street
I'll Never Forget What's 'is Name / The Jokers
Hearts of the World / True Heart Susie
Anna Christie / The Long Voyage Home
Suddenly Last Summer / The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Quiet Days in Clichy / Henry and June
The Freshman / The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
The Sheep Has Five Legs / The Law is the Law
Hobson's Choice / Sidewalks of London
I Know Where I'm Going / Outcast of the Islands
An Inspector Calls / The Belles of St. Trinian's
Mother Joan of the Angels / Thérèse
Dawn of the Dead / Strange Behavior
