Survival of the Dead

Plot

The prologue follows National Guard Sergeant "Nicotine" Crockett, who deserts with Kenny, Francisco, and Tomboy after robbing the protagonists of the previous film. Off the coast of Delaware lies Plum Island, home to two feuding Irish families: the O'Flynns, led by Patrick O'Flynn, and the Muldoons. O'Flynn rounds up a posse to kill the undead on the island, learning that the Muldoons keep their undead loved ones safe until a cure is found. Tensions escalate when O'Flynn's posse arrives at the Muldoon house to dispatch their undead children, resulting in a brief gunfight that leaves a woman dead.

Unable to kill the children himself, Patrick surrenders when the Muldoon posse arrives; Seamus Muldoon considers killing him, but Patrick's daughter Janet suggests exile instead. Boy joins the Guardsmen and tells them of Plum Island. They watch a video made by Patrick and follow its instructions to a dock, where O'Flynn and his men attempt to rob them, sparking a shootout. Francisco steals a ferry and bites off a zombie's finger.

All O'Flynns but Patrick are killed by zombies, and he boards the ferry. On the island, the group finds the Muldoons have chained their zombies in imitations of their former lives.

Patrick sees his daughter Janet as a zombie. Two Muldoons attack, killing Crockett and Kenny. Francisco, realizing he infected himself, asks Tomboy to shoot him; she does and is captured.

Production

The film was inspired by the 1958 William Wyler Western film The Big Country. Romero used its concept on his sixth zombie film as a message on war and conflict, stating that the idea was to make a film about conflicts that people cannot resolve, such as those in Ireland, the Middle East, or the Senate. He decided an island was a logical setting, recalling an idea he had played with in earlier films.

After the story came together around a protagonist visiting an island caught in a war between two old men, Romero remembered The Big Country and made the crew watch it, aiming for a widescreen, color-saturated look reminiscent of Wyler. The film was independently produced and distributed by Artfire Pictures on a budget of $4 million. Romero shot in Port Dover, Ontario, and Toronto, Ontario, with an entirely Canadian cast and crew, citing tax incentives for shooting in Toronto.

Release

In September 2009, Survival of the Dead screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival (where it competed for the Golden Lion), Trinity of Terrors, Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, and Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal, introduced by Romero. It was released on DVD in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2010.

In the U.S., it was released on VOD on April 30, 2010, aired on HDNET Movies on May 26, 2010, and opened in 20 theaters on May 28, 2010, with an opening weekend gross of $43,757. The film headlined Texas Frightmare Weekend from April 28 to May 1, 2010, and screened at Madison Square Park during a zombie walk on May 16, 2010, with Romero attending. Blu-ray and DVD release followed on August 24, 2010.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, 29% of 91 surveyed critics gave a positive review, with an average rating of 4.85/10; the site's consensus notes glimmers of Romero's savage wit but uninspired directing and a lack of new ideas. Metacritic rated it 43/100 based on 22 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews. Lesli Felperin of Variety called it steeped in gore but thin on ideas and directorial flair. Ray Bennett of The Hollywood Reporter described it as a polished, fast-moving, entertaining picture.

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times wrote that it is placidly photographed and lacking in urgency. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times rated it 2/4 stars, noting little new except the deaths. Brad Miska of Bloody Disgusting rated it 1.5/5 stars, citing a lack of clear protagonist, antagonist, and theme. On July 30, 2017, film critic Scout Tafoya of RogerEbert.com included the film in his video series "The Unloved," arguing its savage reception may have prevented further films before Romero's death, calling it a deeply weird but Romero-esque Western.