I think this is a really stupid boxed set to be honest. I don't know why you'd put two great Romero films that are connected in this way, and used them as the bread in a turd sandwich in which this awful remake is the poo. It beggars belief that anyone was behind this decision long enough to see it to fruition. I knew that the 'Day of the Dead' remake would be horrible, but I bought it anyway in order to get the other two for fairly cheap, but I am beside myself with frustration at just HOW bad a zombie film can be. It seems almost deliberate...
1. Diary of the Dead. Incredible social commentary dressed up as a zombie movie to discuss our attachment to social networking and blog culture. It's all shot to look like the characters are shooting it, the performances are solid and the production value are relatively high for a Romero film. It might not measure up to the original 'Day' in terms of realistic gore, but it's got better atmosphere, more up-to-date themes, and good old fashioned slow zombies. Underestimate them and die..!!
2. 'Day of the Dead' 'remake'. So bad - I can't even believe it was made. The zombies move like Toad from the X-men, the performances are completely wooden, and NOTHING interesting happens. I don't even know how it's a remake of 'Day' except the use of the name, and the similarly named 'Bud' who is supposed to be a vegetarian version of Bub. Appalling. Never EVER waste your time with this film.
3. Survival of the Dead. Incredible. This is my new favourite Romero movie. I'd never seen it before, and I was intrigued by the arguement surrounding how to deal with the walking dead. It's set on some crazy backwater island where the anti-heroes go to escape the hordes, but there's two large families duking it out over whether to kill or keep the zombies (in the hope of finding a cure) and they get caught in the middle. It's pretty much war, and it's harsh. It features some characters that appeared briefly in 'Diary' and I think the lead guy's performance is awesome. Social/poltical commentary told through the medium of zombie invasion.....what could possibly be better?
This boxed set is a good way of getting 'Diary' and 'Survival' cheap, but it loses a star for them being lumbered with this totally unsaleable remake of 'Day'. If you don't own ANY Romero movies, do your self a favour and buy the complete boxed set. There's Night, Dawn, Day, Land, Diary and Survival, and all for £19.99 new on Amazon at the time of posting. I don't really like 'Land' too much, but it's a lot better than this terrible remake of 'Day' that's packaged here...
Buy this if you're looking to complete your collection, and just throw out the second movie.