Review: Dance of the Dead

Dance of the Dead
Written By: Joe Ballarini
Directed By: Gregg Bishop
Starring: Jared Kusnitz, Greyson Chadwick, Chandler Darby, Carissa Capobianco, Michael V. Mammoliti, Randy McDowell, and Mark Oliver











Well we're back after a week away and I really am glad to be back with this review. The Zombie genre has been revitalized in recent years. In some cases great (Shaun of the Dead) and in others horrible (Day of the Dead: Contagion).

With Dance of the Dead, we have a case of the former: Great. Absolutely great.

It's a simple plot. Kids looking forward to prom only to have it ruined by a Zombie apocalypse. The thing is that the movie is perfect. It's brilliantly written, flawlessly directed, and charmingly acted. Quite simply put, it's my favorite movie of 2008. Oh yeah, I said it. It's certainly not a better film than The Dark Knight, but I found myself enjoying it more. I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. I laughed, I jumped, I cringed. Everything a great zombie movie needs is here in spades.

It's the best zombie flick I've seen since Shaun of the Dead and as the reviews have said it's got cult classic written all over it.


I think part of the charm of Dance of the Dead is its cast. They're all relative unknowns and thankfully none of them come across that way. Jared Kusnitz and Chandler Darby are both scene stealers but to be honest, most of the cast steals scenes from everyone else. It's really a perfect cast, who are great together and all deliver admirably. I'd be surprised if they all don't go on to great careers.

A good zombie movie is nothing without its gore and Dance of the Dead delivers admirably. The great thing is that the effects are all, I'm blanking on the term, but there are no computer generated effects here (at least none that I noticed, not counting the green screen at the end). Everything is done the old fashioned way and it is extremely refreshing.

I really can't say anything bad about the movie. I'll say it again, I absolutely loved this movie. Beginning to end loved it. The script is smart and takes a potentially disastrous idea and turns it into an utterly original gem of a movie. The direction is crisp and slick.

Everything adds up to one helluva perfect movie.


Despite being the latest in a long line (and still growing) of zombie flicks, Dance of the Dead never loses its originality. You'll love every second of it. Zombie fans, comedy fans, horror fans, gore fans, everyone gets something to love with this movie.

Dance of the Dead is available on DVD now as part of the Ghost House Underground line. You can get it on its own or as part of the 8 movie box set.

We'll have reviews from a few more of the Ghost House Underground films coming up soon. In the meantime, grab Dance of the Dead and see for yourself why this is my favorite movie of the year.