Dawn of the Dead to Go 3 Dimensional

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 19, 2008

Dawn of the Dead in 3D

In a bit of news that, even for a horror fan, doesn’t make all that much sense, George Romero’s 1978 Dawn of the Dead will get the 3D treatment from the wizards at In-Three. The procedure involves taking the existing film and creating a second image of it, which when projected from a specific type of machine, creates a stereophonic image that appears in three dimensions to the viewer wearing the appropriate glasses. Selected objects appear to move forward or backward, creating a deeper sense of depth and allowing some objects to appear as though they have exited the screen and coming hurtling towards the viewer. This same technology was used as a preview of things to come with Star Wars at ShoWest in 2005 and was utilized for Walt Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D. Nightmare has been released twice in 3D, grossing nearly $9 million in ticket receipts.

The costly procedure can rack up $50,000 to $100,000 per minute of film treatment. Romero’s Dawn clocks in at over 126 minutes depending on the version shown, which would lead to a conservative estimate of $6.3 million for the transfer. There are currently about 1,300 screens capable of projecting the 3D movies, a number that is expected to expand in the coming years. In-Three’s Neil Feldman believes that there is sufficient interest to move forward with this, and other, 3D projects.

While I would agree that there is an audience for 3D films and I personally really enjoy them (having seen Nightmare and Night of the Living Dead 3D and Beowulf) I’m not entirely certain that Dawn of the Dead, with its long, slow pace, is the best choice. It definitely won’t have the same draw as a current film or Tim Burton’s Nightmare and I predict it will face an uphill battle in earning its money back. However, I will probably see it in theaters, because thats the kind of guy I am. As to the rest of America, who knows.

Sound Off: Would you go see Dawn of the Dead in 3D?


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  • Mike D
    I might see the original Dawn of The Dead in 3-D. Probably not the remake. I just didn't get into it as much as the first one.
  • 790
    Ahh shit here comes the frellin 3D. Aaahhahhhhhahhhhhh!
  • I'm still waiting for Gremlins 3-D.
  • Chris
    While *some* of the stuff in Dawn would be cool in 3D (the zombies coming to attack Flyboy in the elevator for example. And the pie fight!), what's the point for the rest of the scenes? Do we really wanna sit through a 3D scene of the group sitting down to dinner, and arguing over wether or not to keep on the TV? Are we prepared to handle the thrills of Gaylen Ross ice skating... IN 3D!!!! And can we handle the wonderfulness of Ken Foree serving dinner in the shocking third dimension!?!

    Yeah, some of this may be fun to see this way. But in the long run, is it really worth sitting through tons of exposition just to get to a few interesting shots?
  • I guess it depends on if you like watching the movie on its own in the first place. If not much changes about an already great movie except the action sequences are that much more visceral, it's still the case that it will be a different experience.

    So the real question isn't if it's worth it to sit through exposition, but whether it's worth it to enjoy a great movie to get to a few interesting new shots. Or to at least see the old shots in a new way.
  • Wes
    Hmmm... I would have to go, just because I went to see the original on the big screen numerous times. I'd probably bring my son along just to watch his reaction.
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