Discussion Groups / British English / May 2004

I've looked at the official website to read a brief outline of the story.
http://www.dawnofthedeadmovie.net/

It says:
"Whatever happened, however it started, overnight, the world has become a
living nightmare of surreal proportions, with the planet's population hit by
an inxeplicable, unfathomable and lethal plague - and the dead aren't
staying dead. Corpses yearning for their next meal are now stalking the few
reamining survivors, driven by their insatiable hunger to feed upon the
flesh of the living."

The origin of the plague "a scientifically manufactured virus, manufactured
by the army" falls into the science fiction category. However that is just a
method of creating the background to the story.

However, the real basis of the story is that dead people don't stay dead but
can walk around and attack and eat the living. This is supernatural rather
than science fiction.

However, I, personally, would not categorise it as either science fiction or
supernatural - I would call it a horror movie.

No problem, but it probably is the wrong place.

Within the uk.* hierarchy, uk.media.films and uk.people.sf-fans are
likely groups.

Thanks all!

Our (me and my discussion partner) conclusion is also that it mainly belongs
to the zombie / horror category. This has always been the right category for
this kind of movie ever since the audience was introduced to this theme.

However, the discussion was mainly about whether the movie is rather science
fiction than supernatural, or visa versa.

Opinions are devided (looking at reactions from more sources), however,
there is a tendency towards science fiction, rather than supernatural.

I think what makes a substantial difference in the discussion, is the way
the movies are presented to us THESE days, in comparsion to the old days. I
think the audience doesn't simply want to swallow the fact that "dead"
(because they are not always perse declared dead before standing up again)
people simply come to be alive again. We want an explaination for the cause,
the consequences and the behaviours in the movie.

We are not explained in detail of course, what causes everything etc. but
one has to admit that there is no "supernatural" or "supreme being"
intervention etc. brought forward as a cause for the dead to arise again.

I can't help reminding myself of Stephen King's "The Stand", where actually
a combination of two is occurring. The release of a virus wiping out nearly
the complete population being science fiction, the devine inverventions of
God and his helper mother Abigail vs. the Devil and his accomplish Randall
Flag (naturally being the supernatural aspect of the movie).

Well.. enough I guess ;)

I'd be interested in any thoughts from all of you, but we can also just end
this thread here ;)

Regards

Jeroen

not,