If an opening sequence is what sets the pace for a horror film, then this
one hits the ground running. Sarah Polley plays Ana, a medical professional
at the end of her shift in the ICU. She goes home after a patient is
admitted for a bite wound. You are introduced to her normal world, with the
kids playing next door and a loving husband waiting for her at home. She
falls asleep in this world and reawakens to all hell breaking loose.

The little girl from next door begins eating her husband, and soon they are
both out for her. She dashes outdoor to find the world in chaos with fires
roaring and cars out of control. The dead have come to walk the earth. Cue
the Johnny Cash music...Here we go.

Her car finds it way down a ravine and into a tree. She surfaces from the
car and begins her trip to the mall. On the way she meets the movies other
main characters. A police officer (Ving Rhames) bent on finding his brother
among the legions of living dead. An electronics salesmen played by Jake
Weber, and a couple expecting a baby ( Mekhi Phifer and Inna Korobkina).
They make their way into the mall and find themselves at the will of three
security guards who have some power struggle issues. They confiscate their
weapons and cage them at night. The thought of rescue begins to dim as the
horde of undead make their way towards the mall. There is some slight humor
provided by the stranded gun store owner Andy. Passing time atop the roof
while picking off celebrity look alikes and communicating with eraser board
markers and binoculars.

The movie moves swiftly between horror and peril. The zombies are given
the new treatment by running full speed. This adds to the madness outside
the mall. The makeup effects are wonderful and do great justice to the
Zombie fields of yesteryear.

The bad news is there are still some plot holes even with the additional
eleven minutes not seen in theaters. Too many characters and not enough
time to love them all. Just pick the ones you like, and know it probably
won't bode well for them in the end. The ride to their demise is half the
fun.

The DVD boast some creative special features, as well as the seemingly
standard commentary by director Zack Snyder and Eric Newman praising the
past and present movie while at the same time giving insight to budget
concerns and casting. Andy's lost tape is a good idea and is obviously made
specifically for DVD home viewing, it couldn't have worked inside the film
but makes a good extra for fans who can't get enough. There are no
trailers, and only a 21 minute documentary on the making of the movie.

Overall I was surprised at how well this remake worked. Remake has become
a bad work with movie fans, but this one shines brighter than most. It is a
horror film worth seeing, and I can only imagine a sequel will be in the
works before too long.