Dawn of the Dead opening title sequence

Jun 30, 2008 Art of the Title

Dawn of the Dead

Whereas Romero's original film was in part a metaphor for American consumerism, the title sequence for the updated Dawn of the Dead touches upon the idea of Holy War as harbinger to the apocalypse, and details the consequences for the media when it decides to ask tough questions as the feeding is already upon us (they are shot).

Kyle Cooper's design dovetails what appears to be real war-torn footage with actual human blood as Johnny Cash raises the stakes in newfound context. Remaining shelters have been compromised and the machine we are trapped in is bleeding to death.

END CREDIT SEQUENCE (contains nudity)

The heady nature of a floating sarcophagus.

With the nudist joie de vivre of survivalists who have withstood the wet teeth of the dead, the end title sequence of Dawn of the Dead offers snippets of dread navigating a false salvation.

Extras

An Unrelated But Very Cool Audio Extra: "The Dead Flag Blues" by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Lee Marvin(?) narrates the apocalypse in a film that never was.

DETAILS

USA | Canada | Japan | France
2004
Color
2.35:1
English
Available on DVD or Blu-ray

CREDITS

Title Design: Kyle Cooper

Category: Film, Kyle Cooper, News, Prologue Film

Tagged: Dawn of the Dead, Kyle Cooper

http://www.artofthetitle.com Art of the Title

Apparently it was recorded by GY!BE member Efrim Menuck for a film he was working on, a project that still hasn’t been completed

Ian
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Team Art of the Title
http://www.jeffrickard.com JR

…I remember feeling a bit of a let-down when the movie finally got rolling because the titles were so effective in establishing the story; the movie never really lived up to them.

I’ve often wondered where the “Lee Marvin” narration came from in that song, and whether that was, in fact, Lee Marvin…any more information on how the narration came about and how GYBE! got a hold of it?:
http://minute44.com Dan

I personally loved this remake and thought the title sequence was on of modern cinema’s greatest, thanks in part to Johnny Cash.
Matt

Good stuff, gives it a global feel
http://www.ricardogalbis.com galbis

probably one of my favorite titles…its great. The end goes great with it as well.
http://www.bluenumber3.com james

The monologue in “Dead Flag Blues” was not narrated by Lee Marvin (who died in 1987). I don’t know if Godspeed ever formerly cleared up this discrepancy or not. Still, it doesn’t diminish the work. I get chills every time I hear it.
http://www.artofthetitle.com Art of the Title

Interesting.

Though we can’t find anything definitive on this issue, Art of the Title has decided that if this is indeed a lie, it is a lie we will happily live (see: Memento, Oldboy etc.)

Ian
-
Team Art of the Title
Tref

I prefer the title and end sequences from the original Dawn of the Dead over the remake. Perhaps not as dramatic but it effectively prepared you for what came next.
Brendon

Any one here know of literature or anything similar on how they did the blood effect here? I get the basic concept but I’m just wondering if there’s anything with the filmmakers themselves discussing the effect.

http://www.andysapp.com andy.

In an AIGA lecture, Kyle said he printed them on acetate, and then used a solvent (acetone maybe?) in a spray bottle to erode the type. I think it was sped up after it was shot. Definitely an effective process… and a great example of what wonderful effects you can get when doing things by hand.

This title sequence is my all-time favorite! Perfect in every way to me.

Adam

For some reason I always thought the monologue sounded like Ward Churchill.
C Scott

This is possibly my favorite opening scene to a movie ever. I love the connections between the religion, the attacks, and the gore in the opening and its context in the film. In some ways, it is a letdown because the opening involves the climax of the attack whereas the entire film encompasses the aftermath and the apocalypse.
http://twitter.com/rebeccamedia becky :)

I have been looking at different film opening sequence as part of my a level media studies, and came across ‘Dawn of the Dead’. The opening two minutes of the film was effective in establishing the story, this is because a montage of different shots have been used.

Dawn of the Dead

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