The Dead (2010 film)
A British zombie film set in West Africa where survival is a journey.
The Dead is a 2010 British zombie film from Indelible Productions and Latitude Films. The Ford brothers wrote and directed it, with Rob Freeman, Prince David Osei, and David Dontoh starring.
In the story, a zombie outbreak forces a final evacuation plane out of Africa to crash off the West African coast. Lieutenant Brian Murphy, a U.S. Air Force engineer, survives alone. He hides from zombies, scavenges supplies from the wreck, and finds a broken truck in a village, which he fixes. While driving, the truck gets stuck in a pothole. As zombies close in, Daniel Dembele, a local soldier who went AWOL, rescues him. The previous night, zombies killed Daniel’s wife, but a military unit heading north rescued his son. Daniel agrees to guide Brian to the nearest airport in exchange for the truck, so he can search for his son. At the airport, Brian uses the tower’s radio to call for help but gets no response. After Daniel gathers fuel, they travel together to the military base, where Brian hopes to find a plane to return to the U.S. They rest overnight in a village guarded by local soldiers and leave at dawn. While crossing the African plains, the truck hits a tree, breaking the axle. They continue on foot and build a fire at night, but a zombie horde catches them off guard. They shoot their way out, and Daniel survives unscathed. After a difficult journey through rough terrain, Brian reaches the northern military base, now a survival colony. He repairs an old radio and broadcasts his name, but only hears a radio broadcast about the outbreak and his family, revealing the epidemic has reached the United States, which is failing to hold out, and that Brian’s family is gone. Outside, zombies overwhelm the colony’s gates and kill survivors. Daniel’s son approaches Brian, seeing his father’s necklace. Brian, Daniel, and Daniel’s son drive away from the base together, their fates left unclear.
Production ran into many problems, stretching from a planned six weeks to twelve. A delay in shipping equipment to Africa added three weeks. Lead actor Rob Freeman contracted malaria and nearly died mid-filming, spending several days on an IV drip in a local hospital. Camera equipment also suffered considerable damage. Shooting took place in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Post-production happe
- Release year
- 2010
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Directors
- Ford brothers (Howard J. and Jon Ford)
- Lead actor
- Rob Freeman
- Setting
- West Africa
- Genre
- Zombie horror
Lore & Background
The Dead follows Lieutenant Brian Murphy, a United States Air Force engineer, who is the sole survivor of a plane crash off the coast of West Africa during a zombie outbreak. He is rescued by Daniel Dembele, a local African soldier gone AWOL, and together they travel to a military base. Daniel survives and is not bitten, and Brian reaches the base, where he hears a radio broadcast about the outbreak and his family. The film ends with Brian, Daniel, and Daniel's son driving away from the base.
Reader's Guide
The Dead is significant as a low-budget British zombie film that distinguishes itself through its African setting, shot in Burkina Faso and Ghana. The production faced major challenges, including a delay in equipment shipping, lead actor Rob Freeman contracting malaria and nearly dying, and camera damage, extending the shoot from six to twelve weeks. The film received a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews, with critics noting its fresh take on zombie tropes and distinctive backdrop, though some criticized its acting and writing. It premiered at Frightfest in August 2010 and was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK in September 2011 and in the US in February 2012. A sequel, The Dead 2: India, was released in 2013.
Did You Know?
- The film was written and directed by the Ford brothers.
- Lead actor Rob Freeman contracted malaria and almost died during filming.
- The production took 12 weeks instead of the planned six weeks.
- The film was shot in Burkina Faso and Ghana.
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