May 3, 2023 • 37 mins
The Steves discuss the 2004 remake Dawn of the Dead, along with what's making them happy in pop culture today!
What's making us happy?
- Ally McBeal (Hulu)
- Doctor Who
Movie Discussion
- George Romero's zombie universe
- Why reboot Dawn of the Dead?
- Names and numbers behind the scene
- What are our odds in the zombie apocalypse?
- Where would you want to spend the end of the world?
- Would we put the zombie-other out of their misery?
- And lots of other apocalyptical hypothetical questions to talk with your friends and family about!
Ending- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Steve (00:03):
Hello, returning Happy's and new listeners.
This is Steve Bennett Martin.
Stephen (00:06):
And this is Steven Martin Bennett, and welcome to a
lifetime of happiness.
Steve (00:11):
The podcaster, we take you on our journey through some
of the movies, shows, and otherbits of pop culture that are
helping to keep us happy, whilehopefully bring a smile to your
face along the
Stephen (00:19):
way.
And today we're going face toface with the zombie apocalypse
by hunkering down in a mall.
As we watch the 2004 remake,Dawn of the Dead,
Steve (00:29):
yes.
But before we hunker down mylove, what's been keeping you
happy today?
Doctors.
Stephen (00:35):
Doctors?
Yeah.
Which doctors you might ask.
And I say, Dr.
Who I
Steve (00:43):
have never watched Dr.
Who, but I know that it's athing that is a pop culture
phenomenon that people lovedearly.
Stephen (00:49):
Yeah.
And I had never watched iteither.
And as I mentioned on the showbefore, I always find a show to
watch that you don't.
Or probably won't watch whileyou're in your meetings every
night.
Yeah, so I had been throughstuff and I'd made it to the end
of Avatar, the last Airbender,and it was time for a new show
(01:14):
and I was like, you know what?
Jinx being in the new season ofDr.
Who has me thinking I might aswell check it out.
It seems to be popular.
I like shows like sliders, welove Buffy, like it seems right
up our alley.
So I decided to check it out andit's amazing.
Steve (01:36):
Awesome.
So you're in the first season orfirst few episodes, right?
Correct.
So, so far so good though.
For the first impressions.
Yes.
Stephen (01:44):
So far so good.
First impressions, first seasonand it also has our girl from.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
So it appears like
Steve (01:55):
Billy Porter, Piper.
Piper.
Stephen (01:58):
And so there's always a doctor mm-hmm.
And a companion.
And so Rose is his firstcompanion.
Gotcha.
In this version because therewas Dr.
Who from like 1963 to 1987 orsomething.
And you're not gonna watch allthat?
I am not watching that.
No.
There you go.
What's been making you happy,darling?
(02:19):
I
Steve (02:19):
am also watching something older.
I am watching Ally McBeal forthe first time with you,
Stephen (02:25):
one of my favorite shows of
Steve (02:26):
all time.
Yes, and I'm on season one andalmost at the Christmas episode,
and I'm enjoying it so far.
And so again, first impressions,very good.
I can see lots relating to popculture and like the references
that it's had on the impact.
And yeah, I see a little bit ofRebecca
Stephen (02:45):
Bloom and her too.
Yeah.
And it has aged pretty well fora show at the end of the
nineties.
Yeah.
And it's still funny and like alot of the stars in there
Steve (02:57):
went on to big things,
Stephen (02:59):
big, big things.
I mean, you, she was a starbeforehand.
Courtney Thorn Smith is one ofthe stars on it.
She went from Melrose.
To this, to a CBS sitcom whereshe was the wife that ran for
like eight seasons, then she wason two and a half men for
several seasons.
(03:19):
Like, so she never has to work
Steve (03:20):
again.
No,
Stephen (03:21):
she's just gone.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
But like Jane Krakowski, theWorld got Jane Krakowski, thanks
to this
Steve (03:28):
show.
Excellent.
Yes.
Well, I'm enjoying seeing whereit all began.
And I haven't gotten to thedancing baby yet.
No, but I know that that's a
Stephen (03:34):
thing.
It is a thing.
So tell us a little bit aboutsome dead history.
Well,
Steve (03:40):
it started with George Romero's Night of the Living
Dead in 1968, which started itsown series with Don of the Dead
being its sequel in 1978.
And I had a third one in 1985with Day of the Dad.
Now since this remake, theseries has expanded with the
original entries with between2005 and 2009 and a new movie,
(04:03):
Twilight of the Dead is indevelopment to help Grant one of
George Romero's last wishesbefore his death in 2017, a
better end to the series thanthe crap he made in Survival of
the Dead in 2009.
Stephen (04:15):
So I loved Land of the Dead that for a while was one of
my go-to horror movies like.
I just, I don't think I know it.
Oh, so it's got John Leg Zamo.
Mm-hmm.
And it's a great examination ofthe haves and the havenots and
how they would fare during thezombie apocalypse.
(04:37):
And like, there's this shoppingmall slash condo tower.
That all of the wealthy peoplelive in and the other people
live inside a wall, but on thestreets and things.
And the zombies have won at thispoint.
(04:57):
And so they're just trying toexist and your goal is to kind
of get into the tower.
And John Leg was almost doingwhat he can to get in there and
he.
It's really good.
I also enjoyed Diary of theDead, which came after, and that
was an excellent look at the wayAmericans must document
(05:19):
everything that they do and makethemselves the stars of it.
He's really good at grabbingthings almost before their,
like, cultural things.
It's like he sees it coming.
And creates a zombie movie basedon that.
(05:40):
Now I have not seen Survival ofthe Dead, or at least I don't
think so.
Steve (05:45):
There we go.
And while in all of thesemovies, Romero was huge about
having the origin and reasoningbehind the zombies, unclear.
His son felt otherwise.
NG Cameron Romero wrote aprequel comic series called The
Rise over the past few years,and
Stephen (06:01):
we are not addressing that.
Steve (06:02):
No, I don't know it.
I don't either.
Now why reboot Dawn of the Deadthough?
Stephen (06:07):
So rebooting the first they did a Night of the Living
Dead in 1990.
Kind of worked Uhhuh.
It was pinned by Romero,directed by special effects
artist Tom Sk.
It wasn't as successful as theyhad hoped.
It had a budget of 4.2 millionand a box office of 58 million.
Heard 5.8 million, 5.8 million.
(06:28):
My apologies,
Steve (06:29):
barely broke even.
Stephen (06:30):
Yeah.
And but, but the good thingabout that movie Yeah.
Is that the lead actor is TonyTodd, the scariest voice in
horror
Steve (06:38):
movies.
There you go.
Yes.
And audiences though love zombiemovies still recent successes
include 28 days later andResident Evil.
And this is a few years beforeWalking Dead, but why remake the
second one rather than create anew story?
Stephen (06:55):
So I looked, so Zach Snyder is the director of this.
Mm-hmm.
It's his directorial debut and Ilooked and all of his early
movies.
Our adaptations of other work,like 300 in Watchmen mm-hmm.
Are from graphic novels.
So it kind of makes sense thathis first ever feature direction
(07:16):
was an adaptation of somethingelse, this being someone else's
film.
So maybe he went to the studioand said, let's do this.
And got James Gunn to do thescript.
Who knows?
But it's kind of funny that thedirector is, was known for early
(07:37):
adaptations and now in the laterpart of his career.
Also doing adaptations.
Steve (07:42):
Yes, correct.
While this was his directorialdebut.
Since then, we've seen him leadthe also controversial DC
universe.
Yes.
And the screenplay, as youmentioned, is written by James
Gunn, who's also behindGuardians to the Galaxy Slither
and Suicide Squad.
Slither
Stephen (07:58):
is a fantastic horror movie.
Mm-hmm.
That.
Is also gross at the same time.
Have you seen
Steve (08:05):
it?
I think so sometime.
But it didn't,
Stephen (08:08):
the, the slugs that like get inside people and
mm-hmm.
Like they get Oh yeah.
I, it was, we'll have to watchit again.
Yeah.
Steve (08:17):
And while filming this movie, he felt in a
chronological order and onlylike at the end.
They were like, why did you dothat?
And he was like, isn't that howevery movie shot?
And they're like, no, dude.
That's how plays are done.
That's how plays are done.
You can do it out of order if itmakes more sense or saves money.
Saves money with logistics of itall.
So yeah, I thought that that was
Stephen (08:38):
interesting.
Yeah.
You, you go ahead and do all theinterior mall shots all at the
same time.
Yeah.
You do the roof shots all at thesame time.
Same time, yeah.
Yeah.
No one.
So a budget of 26 million.
I wonder how much of that wasunnecessary.
Yeah.
Steve (08:54):
Oh, and a producer, Eric Newman and Mark Abraham
developed the film rather thana.
Like being a remake.
It was a re-envisioning theoriginal going for more action
than the original survival,horror, scary kind of feel.
And
Stephen (09:09):
it definitely was more action.
So at Stars, Sarah Polly, whoactually Ju or Sarah Polly, who
actually just won an Oscar thisyear.
Oh, good for her.
In writing, I believe Ving Rams,Jake Weber from Medium Mackay
Pfeiffer and Scott Reneg.
Tom Sni and Ken Forry were allin the original and came back
(09:31):
for a Kavanaugh cameo.
So Tom Sni, the director of theremake, mm-hmm.
Was an actor in the originaldawn of the dad.
Yep.
Fun.
Steve (09:42):
Yes.
And while it had a budget of 26million, it was released on
March 19th, 2004 and had a boxoffice of 102.3 million, making
it much more successful than thelast reboot.
Stephen (09:54):
Yeah.
And I definitely remember goingto see this in the theater.
Steve (09:57):
Yes.
And I want to know why.
Th it went so well with thepractical effects.
Stephen (10:03):
Oh, because Heather Lanin camp, our lovely Nancy
from the original Nightmare onElm Street series was a member
of the production crew.
And as we've said before, sheand her husband have a company
that all they do is practical
Steve (10:16):
effects.
Yes.
So let's get into the movie.
How does it
Stephen (10:19):
all start?
Well, what had happened was Annaplayed by Sarah Polly, a nurse
finishes a long shift at herMilwaukee County Hospital.
People had been experiencingsimple bites.
But they were needing stays inthe ICU instead of just being re
released after she returns toher peaceful suburban home.
Sheena awaiting husband Lewismake love in the shower, missing
(10:42):
warnings, beginning to tricklethrough the local media
concerning a mysterious andrapidly spreading contagion,
which turns its infected hostsinto reanimated.
Flesh eating ghouls.
Steve (10:54):
Yes.
Now, in reality, if there wasnews and Twitter things going on
about a rapidly spreadingcontagion, would you take it
seriously?
100%.
Stephen (11:03):
Cuz I remember when Twitter was extremely active the
day.
Osama Bin Laden was killed andpeople in their crowdsourced
information and they were ableto figure out that Osama Bin
Laden was dead before it wasannounced on the news.
So yeah, I totally would trustTwitter for something like
Steve (11:20):
that.
And do you think that it wouldbe something where like this
just seems like it happened tothe whole world overnight, that
it would just be the whole worldovernight?
Or do you think there'd be likemurmurs of like, This thing is
going down in India.
Oh wait, now it's in Australia.
Oh, wait.
And like had it spread likecovid did
Stephen (11:35):
I, I think it would absolutely be like that as long
as it wasn't a, you're bitten,like one of the characters we
get to later, her bite takesdays for it to happen.
Yeah.
So if you get a small bite, Andthis is in the beginning, you
get on a flight, you have nowspread the contagion worldwide.
(11:56):
Yeah.
So that's all it would take.
And, but I do think we'd starthearing like, you know, folks in
a Milwaukee hospital beingreported for simple bites are
dying in the icu, is this a newstaph infection?
And then you hear.
People in Paris, France havebeen dying on the scene and
Steve (12:18):
you know, yeah.
Okay.
Well I'm glad that one of uswatches the news cause I'd have
no idea if this was coming.
I
Stephen (12:23):
don't watch the news.
I read the news.
I don't have time to watch.
Steve (12:26):
Now, the next morning, they're welcome by their
zombified neighbor.
A young girl who just learnedhow to backwards roller skate
the night before, now decides tobreak into their house and take
a bite out of Lewis's.
Throat a huge bite.
Yes.
Anna locks the zombie out of theroom, but despite her frantic
efforts, Louis dies.
Yeah.
Stephen (12:43):
His like, she got every vein in his neck.
Yes.
Steve (12:48):
9 1 1 is down and Louis immediately awakens as a
reanimated zombie chasing Annainto the bathroom.
She keeps at the window, herneighbor pulls a gun on her
while she's headed to her car,which isn't very neighborly.
No.
Just because it's the end of theworld doesn't mean we have to
lose our manners.
People.
No.
Stephen (13:04):
There is a thing called class.
Make sure you keep it.
Steve (13:07):
Yes.
He gets what's coming when hegets hit by a car and he goes
flying.
Yes.
She she flees from herneighborhood that's turning into
a little war field before afailed hijacking attempt sends
her crashing into a tree.
The opening credit's roleshowing the worldwide collapse
of human civilization.
(13:28):
Oh my.
Now would you be the Anna whosurvives, or the Lewis who can't
make it a day in thepost-apocalyptic world, I
Stephen (13:35):
would hope that I would be the Anna and not just die
right away.
Steve (13:39):
I would be the Lewis.
Stephen (13:42):
Oh.
That's
Steve (13:44):
sad.
I know.
Now, if I was the Lewis and Iwas zombie fighter in our house
and you were trying to escape,would you kill me or would you
let me loosen to ourneighborhood?
Stephen (13:55):
See, there's two different things though.
If it was like Anna and theyaren't aware of zombie things, I
wouldn't think to kill you, toput your outta outta your
misery.
My only thing would be escape.
But if I have the knowledge thatI have now of.
40 years of zombie things, Iwould put you down.
(14:16):
Oh, well thank
Steve (14:16):
you.
You're welcome.
Now, some of the video clips inthe opening credits were actual
stock news footage, such as thescene of the truck driving into
a crowd of people.
That's because the world iscrazy.
Yes, and we are living in theapocalypse.
Yeah.
Happy times.
Stephen (14:31):
Woohoo.
Anna meets Kenneth, a grimpolice sergeant traveling to
Fort Pastor.
It's a nearby US army base.
With the route to the base,blocked by zombies, they and
three others, jack of alltrades, Michael Petty criminal.
Andre and his pregnant Russianwife Luda break into the nearby
(14:51):
crossroad shopping mall.
Inside a scuffle with aZombified mall.
Security guard results in Ludagetting a minor bite wound and
Kenneth getting a cuddle in hisarm.
Now,
Steve (15:03):
as far as places to go to hunker down for during an
apocalypse, I would say a mallseems pretty
Stephen (15:09):
resourceful.
Yeah.
A mall does seem like a goodidea, especially as long as it
still has power because you haveall that food in the freezers of
the food court, beds in thefurniture stores, tons of clean
clothes, entertainment galore.
Starbucks.
Yes.
But I would expect it to be ahighly coveted area.
(15:30):
And you may be fighting forsupremacy if people don't want
to share.
My thought has always beendefined.
An island that is onlyaccessible by boat, that already
has housing, then you could fishfor food.
Driftwood would wash up forfire.
Zombies can't swim.
And there actually is an islandlike this down near Englewood.
(15:51):
You have to take a ferry to getto it.
I've always thought if there's azombie apocalypse, we're getting
Steve (15:56):
down there.
You have to take care of me,babe.
I don't wanna wind up likeLouis.
Deal.
Now, we're so used to bites andscratches leading to infections
from media.
If this happened in real life,would you kill someone who was
bitten by default or would youwait to see what happened just
in case it doesn't work like
Stephen (16:17):
that?
I think I would isolate them sothey couldn't harm others and
use a wait and see approach.
If they don't die and turn, thenwe know that it's not a simple
bite or
Steve (16:26):
scratch.
Yes.
And there are a couple zombiesthat we see throughout the movie
with missing limbs.
One of them, while they weretrying to break into the mall
they both were played by actualamputees, and the same thing was
done for one of the firstzombies scene in the original
dawn of the dead.
That's really neat.
Yeah, I think, I guess it's mucheasier cgi, like, you know, just
adding some gr gross stuff tosomeone's practical effects.
(16:47):
Stumped then
Stephen (16:47):
Yeah.
To, yeah.
We, we can, we can go ahead andgive Heather Lanham credit for
those zombies.
Yes.
Steve (16:54):
Fleeing more zombies.
They confront three livingsecurity guards, cj, Bart, and
Terry, and they give up theirweapons in exchange for refuge
on the second floor.
Watching the news coverage,they're encouraged to seek
refuge at Fort Pastor, whichmeans that everything's gonna go
great and smoothly.
And the final destination'salways where everything goes
perfectly in these Absolutely.
(17:16):
Mm-hmm.
After the group secures themall, they head up to the mall's
roof to dispose of the bodiesand paint.
S o s signs.
There they meet anothersurvivor, Andy, who stranded
alone in his gun store acrossthe mall, zombie infested
parking lot.
Ugh.
And there's a scene here whereAnna Stitches, Kenneth Swoons,
and the director hired a realnurse for the closeups, but she
misunderstood the director's.
(17:36):
Directions to go deeper andinadvertently punctured Vin
Ram's skin and stitch theprosthesis to his arm.
He didn't say anything untilafter the scene was done filming
and the director thought theblood was a really good effect.
Oh my
Stephen (17:49):
gosh.
Now, if you had a good locationlike the security guards did on
the second floor, would you letothers join you or would you
keep them out and why?
Steve (18:01):
I would let them in unless they had bites or
scratches.
Stephen (18:04):
That's really nice of
Steve (18:05):
you.
Yes.
Or if they were ugly.
No, I'm kidding.
That was just be being random.
No, I would, I would let them,cuz it's a big mall, but they
also have to give up theirweapons and Yeah.
They have to be able tocontribute.
Stephen (18:21):
I think that's a good reason I would let them in as
well.
But what
Steve (18:25):
if, but what if they were like, what if an elevator opened
up and it was a whole bunch oflike, Old white guys and MAGA
hats like fresh off the theTrump rally or the insurrection?
Stephen (18:36):
Well, they're already zombies, so I think you just put
'em down.
Steve (18:39):
Okay.
Stephen (18:40):
Just checking.
Now we do see a militaryhelicopter go by that ignores
them.
Now, would you be expectinghelp, like if you were one of
the people on the roof, or wouldyou imagine that there's bigger
things going on than a smallgroup of people stranded on a
roof?
Steve (18:56):
Except expecting is a strong word.
I would hope that they would belooking out for me because it is
ultimately all about me at theend of the day.
Now we've got most of our casttogether.
Yep.
Wait, no, not yet.
Just
Stephen (19:11):
kidding.
Just kidding.
Because the next day a deliverytruck is circling around the
mall are heroes.
Not the security guards.
They're no one's.
Heroes.
Yep.
Help them get into the mall.
The truck carrying the driver,Norma.
Jerkish Steve, who is Ty Barrellfrom modern Family Working Man
Tucker, elderly Glenn Trampy,Monica Bitten Frank and his teen
(19:36):
daughter Nicole, and ananonymous larger woman there
creating a round on a hu RealBarrow who is obviously not long
for the world.
These newcomers report that Fortpastor has been overrun by
zombies and no help is coming.
Steve (19:52):
Yes.
So now most of our gueststogether, who are you rooting
for most?
I mean, Anna, obviously,
Stephen (20:01):
Anna, Kenneth and Michael.
Like you wanted to root forAndre, but I saw the bite on
Luna's arm, so that's, You knowI'm not feeling good about two
of the three security guards.
Yeah.
I'm not a fan of Jerkish.
Steve, Glenn, Tucker and Monicaseem like zombie food to me.
(20:23):
Norma seems like the only one ofthe new characters that has
potential.
Steve (20:29):
I would have to agree.
And shortly after, yes, theobese woman dies Reanimate
chases and is killed by Anna,who thrusts the metal fireplace
poker into her eye.
The group now realize that bitesare how zombies multiply their
numbers.
After Anna and Michael arguedabout what to do with the
rapidly deteriorating Frank, theman is isolated in a store with
(20:50):
guard Kenneth, allowing himevery single second before
expiring.
Michael and Anna achieve anawkward reconciliation, which
isn't interrupted by Ken'sshotgun blast as he destroys
Frank's reanimated body.
Andre has not told anyone thatLuda was bitten and that her arm
is getting worse, and we knowit's a matter of time before we
get zombie babies.
Yep.
(21:11):
His concern is for his unbornchild as he feels his purpose in
life is to be a good father anddo better for his child than his
father did.
For him.
He failed.
Yeah.
Now, if you were this guy at theend, would you want every.
Single second and let yourselvesdie and turn into the zombie.
So
Stephen (21:29):
probably not at the end, depending on how you're
turning.
It doesn't seem painless orpeaceful.
So I would want to stick arounduntil my mind starts to go or
I'm a detriment to others.
Like if we're trying to.
Actively escape zombies or likewe're out on the road or
(21:51):
something and I'm slowing peopledown.
Just go ahead and get rid of meat that point.
What about
Steve (21:56):
you?
I would say that not, I wouldn'twant to turn just in case I
would end up hurting someone,but I would wanna do it until
like near the very end.
I wouldn't want every singlelast second.
But like, put me out like fiveminutes beforehand.
Stephen (22:09):
Now these zombies are faster.
How do you feel about fastzombies instead of the
traditional shuffling walkers?
I like
Steve (22:17):
it.
I saw we were a couple yearsbefore this.
They had the 28 days later andthey were where they run, where
they run.
So I mean, it, it makes sensefor it and I definitely think
there's something more scaryabout it.
It certainly does make it, ithelps with the action more so
than the survival horror.
Right.
But at the same time, there'sstill something scary about a
(22:38):
zombie running after you.
There's something scary aboutanyone or anything running after
me.
Right?
Stephen (22:42):
And like I remember from the original night of the
Living Dead that they were justcoming and they kept coming and
it was slowly, but they werecoming and no matter where you
ran, they would still catch upat some point.
And so there's something to likeTV
Steve (22:59):
movie, it follows.
Stephen (23:02):
There's something to be said for both types.
Steve (23:05):
Yes.
Now the mall provides manymaterial distractions and the
survivors begin banging Annawith Michael getting romantic
but not banging.
Terry and Nicole, Steve andMonica, while Kenneth gets close
with Andy over the sign boardsacross the parking lot as they
shoot.
Celebrity lookalikes like RosieO'Donnell's and Jay Leno.
Yeah.
Stephen (23:23):
And they play chess.
Steve (23:25):
Yes.
Now they begin to create a sortof family.
Do you think it's natural forsurvivors to bond like this?
Stephen (23:30):
Absolutely.
It's just like making friends atwork with people you wouldn't
really have made friends with.
In the outside world, you'retogether for that many hours a
day.
It's part of the human conditionto bond with those around you,
and it makes the time better.
Like there's a reason that theycall them
Steve (23:45):
work friend.
Yes.
Now meanwhile, the undeadsurround the refugee in ever
increasing numbers.
Finally, the moss power goes outand Michael CJ Barton.
Kenneth entered the undergroundparking garage, turn on the
emergency generator.
They meet a friendly dog, playedby blue who appears unharmed or
and uninfected.
Yay.
(24:06):
They question what that's allabout.
When a dog suddenly bites Bart,which attracts more zombies,
that force the group to fleewhile trying to avoid the hoard,
Michael and Kenneth reached thegenerator compartment and CJ
joins them.
When Bart is overwhelmed andkilled by zombies, they
eventually work together todouse the zombies with gasoline
and set them a blaze.
Now the
Stephen (24:26):
zombie that attacks Bard is on top of a light
hanging from the ceiling.
He does not have legs.
How did he get there?
It's like the woman with noarms, no legs, lying on the
beach.
Okay, there you go.
I mean, seriously, it's a, it'sa light on the ceiling.
How did the zombie with no legsget up there?
(24:48):
I
Steve (24:48):
don't know.
It is funny.
Yeah.
He currently crawled really bigupper body, strict.
He's been living for thismoment.
Stephen (24:58):
He's been training to be a zombie on a light.
Steve (25:02):
See what happened was before the apocalypse, he
actually knew that this wascoming and had his friend bring
him, put him up there to hide
Stephen (25:10):
his legs were torn off.
Steve (25:12):
Well, he was, he crawled up there successfully and then
they crawled, tore off his legs.
Okay, I don't know.
Now Andre faced with the factthat Lud will soon die, sings
totally into denial, and has hisheavily pregnant and infected
wife tied to the bed in themall's children's store.
Oh, as she gives birth, shedies.
And then Reanimate.
(25:33):
Norma checks on the couple,discovering the zombie Luda and
the demented.
Andre clutching a small bundleof blankets that's not holding
anything sweet.
It's a girl.
No, it's not.
Norma Shoots Luda causing Andreto snap completely.
They have a shootout and bothare killed and her arrives on
the scene, opens the mu to rereveal a zombie baby.
(25:53):
Baby.
She pulls her revolver at asingle shot, rings through the
mall.
Who, and we knew this was comingthe moment that we saw that
there was a pregnant woman in azombie movie.
Right.
You were like, there's going tobe a zombie baby.
Yes.
Was it worth it?
Stephen (26:05):
Yes, definitely.
Watching him lose his sanity wasa good story.
Steve (26:09):
See, I feel like it could have been more of a slow
Stephen (26:10):
burn.
I, I think this was a slow burnthough.
Yeah.
Like, as all of that washappening with Luda, he just
kept going on as if it was gonnabe a normal birth.
And then when the baby came out,he held it as if it were fine
and we saw the baby and we knowthat it wasn't, he was
completely detached fromreality.
(26:31):
He was so determined.
To be that father he wanted tobe like.
Reality didn't exist for himanymore.
It's, I think that was justfascinating in and of
Steve (26:41):
itself.
Yeah.
Now they are about to decide notto die in the mall.
Would you stay in the mallhunkering down, or would you
search out help?
Stephen (26:51):
I would probably stay in the mall as longs as
possible, honestly.
Hoping.
That the government and militarywould have a response soon if
you can just wait long enough.
But I will also be preparing forwhat's next, knowing that food
would eventually run out and weneed to seek shelter elsewhere.
Steve (27:08):
Yes, we also see Norma doesn't turn because she was in
bitten in some zombie Uuniverses.
Everyone's infected, so nomatter how you die, you turn the
bite just makes it happenfaster.
And this one, you aren'tinfected unless you're bitten or
scratched.
This way, you're safer in agroup because someone dying.
In their sleep isn't a possibledeath sentence for the whole
group.
Stephen (27:27):
I know it's kind of interesting that way.
Mm-hmm.
That you like in the walkingdead, you die.
You turn.
Yes.
And in this one you have to havebeen scratched or bit.
Yeah.
So that definitely makes itsafer for people.
Like if they're gonna belong-term together and
somebody's just old and theydie, you don't have to worry
(27:50):
about them dying in their sleep.
Yeah,
Steve (27:51):
exactly.
Now there's an impromptumemorial.
Ken says that there are thingsworse than death, like sitting
around waiting to die.
The remaining mall dwellers thusplot to fight their way through
the local marina, and fromthere, travel out on Steve's
small yacht to an island in LakeMichigan.
Where everything will be better.
They reinforce two small shuttlebuses from the parking garage,
(28:14):
removing the seats, welding on asnowplow, attaching metal bars
and flood lights, stringingbarbed wire, boarding up the
windows and cunning slits forthe deployment of weapons,
chainsaws, propane tanks andother supplies are also loaded
on board.
Meanwhile, Andy across theparking lot is starving and will
not have the strength to jointhe escape.
And give them as much neededguns in an admission.
(28:35):
Admission ammunition.
Yep.
So the mall survivors strap apack of food onto chips the dog
from the basement and lower himinto the parking lot in a sling
because the zombies don't noticeor react to chips, which is so
Stephen (28:49):
weird.
Steve (28:50):
Unfortunately, while chips makes it safely into the
gun shop, a zombie sees the dogand gets in as well and bites.
Andy.
Nicole distraught over chips,takes the delivery truck and
barges her way into the gunstore where a now Zombified
ambi, Andy traps her in thecloset.
Now, would you run across thestreet to save chips?
If he was in danger?
(29:11):
If it was Remy,
Stephen (29:12):
now I would run to save Remy like Nicole did.
Absolutely.
Would I save Nicole?
No.
No.
And if the guns weren't overthere, I would not run to save
Nicole as she's an adult.
And she made the decision to dothat, but as they need all the
ammo in the store, might as wellsave her while we're
Steve (29:30):
there.
Yes, sounds good.
And this is the game.
I wouldn't want that to be leftas a pending side quest, so I'd
probably do it
Stephen (29:38):
now.
Kenneth, Michael, CJ, Terry andTucker gather their meager
weapon supply and go into thesewers while Steve Jerkish.
Steve is assigned guard duty ontheir exit door.
That his job when they bang onit, is to let them back in.
That's his only job.
Yeah.
One job.
One job.
They reach the gun store wherethey kill Andy, rescue Nicole
(30:00):
and stock upon weapons inammunition.
A detonated propane tank is usedto clear a path back to the
sewers, but the zombies pursuethem.
And along the way, Tucker breakshis legs as he falls down the
manhole cover.
Despite CJ's desperate attemptto pull slash drag him to
safety.
Te Tucker is attacked by thepursuing zombies, forcing CJ to
(30:23):
shoot him dead out of mercy.
Steve (30:26):
Now, would you shoot someone dead out of mercy or
would you let them live a littlebit longer, even if a more
painful death, so that gives youmore time to escape there?
It
Stephen (30:35):
depends.
So do I like them?
I would probably put them outtatheir misery, put misery.
Are they asking me to shootthem?
I'd put them out of theirmisery.
Are they telling me to run?
They can fend for themselves.
You know what,
Steve (30:49):
what I think I'd want you to let my, my shell of a body
devourer, whoever it wants.
Okay.
I don't think you need to put meoutta my misery as long as I
won't hurt you.
Okay.
You can leave me out on theneighborhood.
A little walk of terror.
Can
Stephen (31:06):
I have you pick which neighbors?
Yeah.
So
Steve (31:09):
you could just send me, was it north?
Yeah.
Now thanks to Steve'snegligence, the zombies force
opened the exit door and swarmthe mall.
As we said, he had one job.
Yep.
The survivors pile onto thebuses and smash out into the
parking lot, where anotherpropane bomb is used to clear a
path through the waiting H.
When Glen moves to take out alast hitchhiking zombie with a
(31:31):
chainsaw, a aside, and swervesends the weapon slashing into
Monica's shoulder and into herbody chest.
Yep.
The results.
Of blood splatter across thewindshield caused driver Kenneth
to lose control and crash.
Glenn Monica killed while Steveflees the toppled bus and is
attacked by the hitchhikingzombie.
Oh, now would you wanna be onthe first bus or the second bus
(31:53):
in that line?
Stephen (31:53):
The first bus, because then you can't get left behind.
I want
Steve (31:57):
the, the second bus, cuz it sounds like the first bus is
gonna get into more trouble.
Stephen (32:01):
Yeah.
But like, If Steve, I mean, thisis the next question.
If Steve didn't have the boatkeys, would you stop for the bus
once it flipped?
No.
So you're on the second bus, youjust said that you would now get
left behind.
Steve (32:16):
No, but like if I, I would, if I had before getting
on the bus, had to picked, youwanna be on the first or the
second?
I would've picked the second.
Stephen (32:23):
But you're okay with everyone leaving the other bus
behind once you crash
Steve (32:28):
it?
Well, if I'm not in the one thatcrashes, I would wanna escape.
You're,
Stephen (32:33):
but you're on the second bus, so you're in the one
that crashes.
Steve (32:36):
Well, I don't wanna be in the one that crashes.
Then you're wanna be on thefirst bus.
Fine, whatever.
Yeah, the other.
Now, if Steve didn't have theboat keys, would you go back to
save the other bus, Mr.
Number one, I
Stephen (32:49):
would stop to see if I could save the others.
Like if it like ignited inflam.
No, there's no hoping, but therewas enough space between them
and the herd at that point totake it second to check for
Steve (33:01):
survivors.
Yep.
Now the others scramble for thesecond bus meeting.
Zombie Steve on route.
Anna shoots him dead just likeshe promised earlier, and she
must grab the keys off of him.
While more zombies catch up,Anna flees back to the bus where
Michael helps her in.
And we all know that somethinghappens there, but we don't talk
about it yet.
(33:22):
Nope.
After a short struggle, theypull away and speed to the
marina duck where they crash thebus and dash for the boat.
Cornered in the bus by theirpursuers, CJ Detonates, a final
propane tank blowing up thevehicle, the zombies and
himself.
The remainder of the group getson the boat, except for Michael.
He was bitten and during thattime when I just said, we're not
talking about it.
(33:43):
And a futile pleads with him tocome, even though you know it's
hopeless.
And the boat sets sail withTerry Anna.
Kenneth Nicole, and Chips.
Anna watches unflinchingly asMichael draws his pi pistol
places him Aish Chin, and afinal gunshot rings out over
Stephen (33:57):
the water.
Now I do think we need to makemention of CJ's character Arc in
this movie, from assholesecurity guard at the beginning
to somebody that really stuckhis neck out for others and then
in the end sacrificed himself tosave everyone else.
(34:18):
That's a really good asshole tohero.
Excellent character story arc.
Yeah.
Steve (34:24):
And for our all along hero, did you think that Michael
would survive or did you catchthat he was scratched during
that scuffle
Stephen (34:32):
When they were trying to save, and I honestly thought
more of them would get hurt.
So while it hurts to see himdie, I wish he had made it, but
it totally makes sense seeingwhat happened.
Like there were too many zombiesthere and they weren't wearing
long sleeved shirts like, Comeon people.
Steve (34:51):
Yeah.
You're in the mall.
You know better.
Yeah.
Now, the NCRs role interspersedwith video footage taken by
Terry using a camera from theboat, following a grim voyage
where water, fuel, and foodsupplies all run low.
The remaining survivors succeedin reaching an island only to be
immediately attacked by a newswarm of zombies.
As the survivors attempt toretreat to the boat, the camera
(35:13):
falls to the ground and blacksout leaving their ultimate fate
unknown.
Now, what's your thoughts on
Stephen (35:19):
the ending?
So until the post credit scene,while sad about Michael, there
was hope.
The post credits took care ofthat hope.
I'm not usually one for movieswhere all the characters die,
hence why I think the wrongturn.
Prequel movies are fun, but theydon't have as much effect as the
original.
(35:39):
One definite exception to myfeelings on the no survivors is
probably cabin in the woods,but, On the whole horror movies
where none of your heroes makeit are not my
Steve (35:50):
favorite thing.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
So you don't think any of themsurvived?
I
Stephen (35:54):
don't.
I all, I think they all died.
There were too many zombiescoming for them after they got
on to the dock.
They had nowhere to go.
They all died.
Do you think they all died?
Steve (36:05):
I think that chips lived a long and happy and healthy
life as a dog living in thewoods.
Oh.
Stephen (36:10):
So yes, I take that back.
I think Chips lived on thatisland running around for many,
many
Steve (36:17):
years.
Yes.
And that's what counts.
You know, I think all the humansare dead.
That's fine, as long as the dogssurvived.
John.
Yeah, I would love to hear ifour listeners agree with that
sentiment.
You can do that by giving us anemail, but at the the at Happy
Life pod@gmail.com.
Stephen (36:36):
Or you can get in touch with us on all the socials,
whether that is Facebook,Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok at
Happy Life
Steve (36:43):
Pod.
And until next time, everybody.
Stay happy.
Stay happy and
Stephen (36:47):
alive.
Hello, returning Happy's and new listeners.
This is Steve Bennett Martin.
Stephen (00:06):
And this is Steven Martin Bennett, and welcome to a
lifetime of happiness.
Steve (00:11):
The podcaster, we take you on our journey through some
of the movies, shows, and otherbits of pop culture that are
helping to keep us happy, whilehopefully bring a smile to your
face along the
Stephen (00:19):
way.
And today we're going face toface with the zombie apocalypse
by hunkering down in a mall.
As we watch the 2004 remake,Dawn of the Dead,
Steve (00:29):
yes.
But before we hunker down mylove, what's been keeping you
happy today?
Doctors.
Stephen (00:35):
Doctors?
Yeah.
Which doctors you might ask.
And I say, Dr.
Who I
Steve (00:43):
have never watched Dr.
Who, but I know that it's athing that is a pop culture
phenomenon that people lovedearly.
Stephen (00:49):
Yeah.
And I had never watched iteither.
And as I mentioned on the showbefore, I always find a show to
watch that you don't.
Or probably won't watch whileyou're in your meetings every
night.
Yeah, so I had been throughstuff and I'd made it to the end
of Avatar, the last Airbender,and it was time for a new show
(01:14):
and I was like, you know what?
Jinx being in the new season ofDr.
Who has me thinking I might aswell check it out.
It seems to be popular.
I like shows like sliders, welove Buffy, like it seems right
up our alley.
So I decided to check it out andit's amazing.
Steve (01:36):
Awesome.
So you're in the first season orfirst few episodes, right?
Correct.
So, so far so good though.
For the first impressions.
Yes.
Stephen (01:44):
So far so good.
First impressions, first seasonand it also has our girl from.
Secret Diary of a Call Girl.
So it appears like
Steve (01:55):
Billy Porter, Piper.
Piper.
Stephen (01:58):
And so there's always a doctor mm-hmm.
And a companion.
And so Rose is his firstcompanion.
Gotcha.
In this version because therewas Dr.
Who from like 1963 to 1987 orsomething.
And you're not gonna watch allthat?
I am not watching that.
No.
There you go.
What's been making you happy,darling?
(02:19):
I
Steve (02:19):
am also watching something older.
I am watching Ally McBeal forthe first time with you,
Stephen (02:25):
one of my favorite shows of
Steve (02:26):
all time.
Yes, and I'm on season one andalmost at the Christmas episode,
and I'm enjoying it so far.
And so again, first impressions,very good.
I can see lots relating to popculture and like the references
that it's had on the impact.
And yeah, I see a little bit ofRebecca
Stephen (02:45):
Bloom and her too.
Yeah.
And it has aged pretty well fora show at the end of the
nineties.
Yeah.
And it's still funny and like alot of the stars in there
Steve (02:57):
went on to big things,
Stephen (02:59):
big, big things.
I mean, you, she was a starbeforehand.
Courtney Thorn Smith is one ofthe stars on it.
She went from Melrose.
To this, to a CBS sitcom whereshe was the wife that ran for
like eight seasons, then she wason two and a half men for
several seasons.
(03:19):
Like, so she never has to work
Steve (03:20):
again.
No,
Stephen (03:21):
she's just gone.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
But like Jane Krakowski, theWorld got Jane Krakowski, thanks
to this
Steve (03:28):
show.
Excellent.
Yes.
Well, I'm enjoying seeing whereit all began.
And I haven't gotten to thedancing baby yet.
No, but I know that that's a
Stephen (03:34):
thing.
It is a thing.
So tell us a little bit aboutsome dead history.
Well,
Steve (03:40):
it started with George Romero's Night of the Living
Dead in 1968, which started itsown series with Don of the Dead
being its sequel in 1978.
And I had a third one in 1985with Day of the Dad.
Now since this remake, theseries has expanded with the
original entries with between2005 and 2009 and a new movie,
(04:03):
Twilight of the Dead is indevelopment to help Grant one of
George Romero's last wishesbefore his death in 2017, a
better end to the series thanthe crap he made in Survival of
the Dead in 2009.
Stephen (04:15):
So I loved Land of the Dead that for a while was one of
my go-to horror movies like.
I just, I don't think I know it.
Oh, so it's got John Leg Zamo.
Mm-hmm.
And it's a great examination ofthe haves and the havenots and
how they would fare during thezombie apocalypse.
(04:37):
And like, there's this shoppingmall slash condo tower.
That all of the wealthy peoplelive in and the other people
live inside a wall, but on thestreets and things.
And the zombies have won at thispoint.
(04:57):
And so they're just trying toexist and your goal is to kind
of get into the tower.
And John Leg was almost doingwhat he can to get in there and
he.
It's really good.
I also enjoyed Diary of theDead, which came after, and that
was an excellent look at the wayAmericans must document
(05:19):
everything that they do and makethemselves the stars of it.
He's really good at grabbingthings almost before their,
like, cultural things.
It's like he sees it coming.
And creates a zombie movie basedon that.
(05:40):
Now I have not seen Survival ofthe Dead, or at least I don't
think so.
Steve (05:45):
There we go.
And while in all of thesemovies, Romero was huge about
having the origin and reasoningbehind the zombies, unclear.
His son felt otherwise.
NG Cameron Romero wrote aprequel comic series called The
Rise over the past few years,and
Stephen (06:01):
we are not addressing that.
Steve (06:02):
No, I don't know it.
I don't either.
Now why reboot Dawn of the Deadthough?
Stephen (06:07):
So rebooting the first they did a Night of the Living
Dead in 1990.
Kind of worked Uhhuh.
It was pinned by Romero,directed by special effects
artist Tom Sk.
It wasn't as successful as theyhad hoped.
It had a budget of 4.2 millionand a box office of 58 million.
Heard 5.8 million, 5.8 million.
(06:28):
My apologies,
Steve (06:29):
barely broke even.
Stephen (06:30):
Yeah.
And but, but the good thingabout that movie Yeah.
Is that the lead actor is TonyTodd, the scariest voice in
horror
Steve (06:38):
movies.
There you go.
Yes.
And audiences though love zombiemovies still recent successes
include 28 days later andResident Evil.
And this is a few years beforeWalking Dead, but why remake the
second one rather than create anew story?
Stephen (06:55):
So I looked, so Zach Snyder is the director of this.
Mm-hmm.
It's his directorial debut and Ilooked and all of his early
movies.
Our adaptations of other work,like 300 in Watchmen mm-hmm.
Are from graphic novels.
So it kind of makes sense thathis first ever feature direction
(07:16):
was an adaptation of somethingelse, this being someone else's
film.
So maybe he went to the studioand said, let's do this.
And got James Gunn to do thescript.
Who knows?
But it's kind of funny that thedirector is, was known for early
(07:37):
adaptations and now in the laterpart of his career.
Also doing adaptations.
Steve (07:42):
Yes, correct.
While this was his directorialdebut.
Since then, we've seen him leadthe also controversial DC
universe.
Yes.
And the screenplay, as youmentioned, is written by James
Gunn, who's also behindGuardians to the Galaxy Slither
and Suicide Squad.
Slither
Stephen (07:58):
is a fantastic horror movie.
Mm-hmm.
That.
Is also gross at the same time.
Have you seen
Steve (08:05):
it?
I think so sometime.
But it didn't,
Stephen (08:08):
the, the slugs that like get inside people and
mm-hmm.
Like they get Oh yeah.
I, it was, we'll have to watchit again.
Yeah.
Steve (08:17):
And while filming this movie, he felt in a
chronological order and onlylike at the end.
They were like, why did you dothat?
And he was like, isn't that howevery movie shot?
And they're like, no, dude.
That's how plays are done.
That's how plays are done.
You can do it out of order if itmakes more sense or saves money.
Saves money with logistics of itall.
So yeah, I thought that that was
Stephen (08:38):
interesting.
Yeah.
You, you go ahead and do all theinterior mall shots all at the
same time.
Yeah.
You do the roof shots all at thesame time.
Same time, yeah.
Yeah.
No one.
So a budget of 26 million.
I wonder how much of that wasunnecessary.
Yeah.
Steve (08:54):
Oh, and a producer, Eric Newman and Mark Abraham
developed the film rather thana.
Like being a remake.
It was a re-envisioning theoriginal going for more action
than the original survival,horror, scary kind of feel.
And
Stephen (09:09):
it definitely was more action.
So at Stars, Sarah Polly, whoactually Ju or Sarah Polly, who
actually just won an Oscar thisyear.
Oh, good for her.
In writing, I believe Ving Rams,Jake Weber from Medium Mackay
Pfeiffer and Scott Reneg.
Tom Sni and Ken Forry were allin the original and came back
(09:31):
for a Kavanaugh cameo.
So Tom Sni, the director of theremake, mm-hmm.
Was an actor in the originaldawn of the dad.
Yep.
Fun.
Steve (09:42):
Yes.
And while it had a budget of 26million, it was released on
March 19th, 2004 and had a boxoffice of 102.3 million, making
it much more successful than thelast reboot.
Stephen (09:54):
Yeah.
And I definitely remember goingto see this in the theater.
Steve (09:57):
Yes.
And I want to know why.
Th it went so well with thepractical effects.
Stephen (10:03):
Oh, because Heather Lanin camp, our lovely Nancy
from the original Nightmare onElm Street series was a member
of the production crew.
And as we've said before, sheand her husband have a company
that all they do is practical
Steve (10:16):
effects.
Yes.
So let's get into the movie.
How does it
Stephen (10:19):
all start?
Well, what had happened was Annaplayed by Sarah Polly, a nurse
finishes a long shift at herMilwaukee County Hospital.
People had been experiencingsimple bites.
But they were needing stays inthe ICU instead of just being re
released after she returns toher peaceful suburban home.
Sheena awaiting husband Lewismake love in the shower, missing
(10:42):
warnings, beginning to tricklethrough the local media
concerning a mysterious andrapidly spreading contagion,
which turns its infected hostsinto reanimated.
Flesh eating ghouls.
Steve (10:54):
Yes.
Now, in reality, if there wasnews and Twitter things going on
about a rapidly spreadingcontagion, would you take it
seriously?
100%.
Stephen (11:03):
Cuz I remember when Twitter was extremely active the
day.
Osama Bin Laden was killed andpeople in their crowdsourced
information and they were ableto figure out that Osama Bin
Laden was dead before it wasannounced on the news.
So yeah, I totally would trustTwitter for something like
Steve (11:20):
that.
And do you think that it wouldbe something where like this
just seems like it happened tothe whole world overnight, that
it would just be the whole worldovernight?
Or do you think there'd be likemurmurs of like, This thing is
going down in India.
Oh wait, now it's in Australia.
Oh, wait.
And like had it spread likecovid did
Stephen (11:35):
I, I think it would absolutely be like that as long
as it wasn't a, you're bitten,like one of the characters we
get to later, her bite takesdays for it to happen.
Yeah.
So if you get a small bite, Andthis is in the beginning, you
get on a flight, you have nowspread the contagion worldwide.
(11:56):
Yeah.
So that's all it would take.
And, but I do think we'd starthearing like, you know, folks in
a Milwaukee hospital beingreported for simple bites are
dying in the icu, is this a newstaph infection?
And then you hear.
People in Paris, France havebeen dying on the scene and
Steve (12:18):
you know, yeah.
Okay.
Well I'm glad that one of uswatches the news cause I'd have
no idea if this was coming.
I
Stephen (12:23):
don't watch the news.
I read the news.
I don't have time to watch.
Steve (12:26):
Now, the next morning, they're welcome by their
zombified neighbor.
A young girl who just learnedhow to backwards roller skate
the night before, now decides tobreak into their house and take
a bite out of Lewis's.
Throat a huge bite.
Yes.
Anna locks the zombie out of theroom, but despite her frantic
efforts, Louis dies.
Yeah.
Stephen (12:43):
His like, she got every vein in his neck.
Yes.
Steve (12:48):
9 1 1 is down and Louis immediately awakens as a
reanimated zombie chasing Annainto the bathroom.
She keeps at the window, herneighbor pulls a gun on her
while she's headed to her car,which isn't very neighborly.
No.
Just because it's the end of theworld doesn't mean we have to
lose our manners.
People.
No.
Stephen (13:04):
There is a thing called class.
Make sure you keep it.
Steve (13:07):
Yes.
He gets what's coming when hegets hit by a car and he goes
flying.
Yes.
She she flees from herneighborhood that's turning into
a little war field before afailed hijacking attempt sends
her crashing into a tree.
The opening credit's roleshowing the worldwide collapse
of human civilization.
(13:28):
Oh my.
Now would you be the Anna whosurvives, or the Lewis who can't
make it a day in thepost-apocalyptic world, I
Stephen (13:35):
would hope that I would be the Anna and not just die
right away.
Steve (13:39):
I would be the Lewis.
Stephen (13:42):
Oh.
That's
Steve (13:44):
sad.
I know.
Now, if I was the Lewis and Iwas zombie fighter in our house
and you were trying to escape,would you kill me or would you
let me loosen to ourneighborhood?
Stephen (13:55):
See, there's two different things though.
If it was like Anna and theyaren't aware of zombie things, I
wouldn't think to kill you, toput your outta outta your
misery.
My only thing would be escape.
But if I have the knowledge thatI have now of.
40 years of zombie things, Iwould put you down.
(14:16):
Oh, well thank
Steve (14:16):
you.
You're welcome.
Now, some of the video clips inthe opening credits were actual
stock news footage, such as thescene of the truck driving into
a crowd of people.
That's because the world iscrazy.
Yes, and we are living in theapocalypse.
Yeah.
Happy times.
Stephen (14:31):
Woohoo.
Anna meets Kenneth, a grimpolice sergeant traveling to
Fort Pastor.
It's a nearby US army base.
With the route to the base,blocked by zombies, they and
three others, jack of alltrades, Michael Petty criminal.
Andre and his pregnant Russianwife Luda break into the nearby
(14:51):
crossroad shopping mall.
Inside a scuffle with aZombified mall.
Security guard results in Ludagetting a minor bite wound and
Kenneth getting a cuddle in hisarm.
Now,
Steve (15:03):
as far as places to go to hunker down for during an
apocalypse, I would say a mallseems pretty
Stephen (15:09):
resourceful.
Yeah.
A mall does seem like a goodidea, especially as long as it
still has power because you haveall that food in the freezers of
the food court, beds in thefurniture stores, tons of clean
clothes, entertainment galore.
Starbucks.
Yes.
But I would expect it to be ahighly coveted area.
(15:30):
And you may be fighting forsupremacy if people don't want
to share.
My thought has always beendefined.
An island that is onlyaccessible by boat, that already
has housing, then you could fishfor food.
Driftwood would wash up forfire.
Zombies can't swim.
And there actually is an islandlike this down near Englewood.
(15:51):
You have to take a ferry to getto it.
I've always thought if there's azombie apocalypse, we're getting
Steve (15:56):
down there.
You have to take care of me,babe.
I don't wanna wind up likeLouis.
Deal.
Now, we're so used to bites andscratches leading to infections
from media.
If this happened in real life,would you kill someone who was
bitten by default or would youwait to see what happened just
in case it doesn't work like
Stephen (16:17):
that?
I think I would isolate them sothey couldn't harm others and
use a wait and see approach.
If they don't die and turn, thenwe know that it's not a simple
bite or
Steve (16:26):
scratch.
Yes.
And there are a couple zombiesthat we see throughout the movie
with missing limbs.
One of them, while they weretrying to break into the mall
they both were played by actualamputees, and the same thing was
done for one of the firstzombies scene in the original
dawn of the dead.
That's really neat.
Yeah, I think, I guess it's mucheasier cgi, like, you know, just
adding some gr gross stuff tosomeone's practical effects.
(16:47):
Stumped then
Stephen (16:47):
Yeah.
To, yeah.
We, we can, we can go ahead andgive Heather Lanham credit for
those zombies.
Yes.
Steve (16:54):
Fleeing more zombies.
They confront three livingsecurity guards, cj, Bart, and
Terry, and they give up theirweapons in exchange for refuge
on the second floor.
Watching the news coverage,they're encouraged to seek
refuge at Fort Pastor, whichmeans that everything's gonna go
great and smoothly.
And the final destination'salways where everything goes
perfectly in these Absolutely.
(17:16):
Mm-hmm.
After the group secures themall, they head up to the mall's
roof to dispose of the bodiesand paint.
S o s signs.
There they meet anothersurvivor, Andy, who stranded
alone in his gun store acrossthe mall, zombie infested
parking lot.
Ugh.
And there's a scene here whereAnna Stitches, Kenneth Swoons,
and the director hired a realnurse for the closeups, but she
misunderstood the director's.
(17:36):
Directions to go deeper andinadvertently punctured Vin
Ram's skin and stitch theprosthesis to his arm.
He didn't say anything untilafter the scene was done filming
and the director thought theblood was a really good effect.
Oh my
Stephen (17:49):
gosh.
Now, if you had a good locationlike the security guards did on
the second floor, would you letothers join you or would you
keep them out and why?
Steve (18:01):
I would let them in unless they had bites or
scratches.
Stephen (18:04):
That's really nice of
Steve (18:05):
you.
Yes.
Or if they were ugly.
No, I'm kidding.
That was just be being random.
No, I would, I would let them,cuz it's a big mall, but they
also have to give up theirweapons and Yeah.
They have to be able tocontribute.
Stephen (18:21):
I think that's a good reason I would let them in as
well.
But what
Steve (18:25):
if, but what if they were like, what if an elevator opened
up and it was a whole bunch oflike, Old white guys and MAGA
hats like fresh off the theTrump rally or the insurrection?
Stephen (18:36):
Well, they're already zombies, so I think you just put
'em down.
Steve (18:39):
Okay.
Stephen (18:40):
Just checking.
Now we do see a militaryhelicopter go by that ignores
them.
Now, would you be expectinghelp, like if you were one of
the people on the roof, or wouldyou imagine that there's bigger
things going on than a smallgroup of people stranded on a
roof?
Steve (18:56):
Except expecting is a strong word.
I would hope that they would belooking out for me because it is
ultimately all about me at theend of the day.
Now we've got most of our casttogether.
Yep.
Wait, no, not yet.
Just
Stephen (19:11):
kidding.
Just kidding.
Because the next day a deliverytruck is circling around the
mall are heroes.
Not the security guards.
They're no one's.
Heroes.
Yep.
Help them get into the mall.
The truck carrying the driver,Norma.
Jerkish Steve, who is Ty Barrellfrom modern Family Working Man
Tucker, elderly Glenn Trampy,Monica Bitten Frank and his teen
(19:36):
daughter Nicole, and ananonymous larger woman there
creating a round on a hu RealBarrow who is obviously not long
for the world.
These newcomers report that Fortpastor has been overrun by
zombies and no help is coming.
Steve (19:52):
Yes.
So now most of our gueststogether, who are you rooting
for most?
I mean, Anna, obviously,
Stephen (20:01):
Anna, Kenneth and Michael.
Like you wanted to root forAndre, but I saw the bite on
Luna's arm, so that's, You knowI'm not feeling good about two
of the three security guards.
Yeah.
I'm not a fan of Jerkish.
Steve, Glenn, Tucker and Monicaseem like zombie food to me.
(20:23):
Norma seems like the only one ofthe new characters that has
potential.
Steve (20:29):
I would have to agree.
And shortly after, yes, theobese woman dies Reanimate
chases and is killed by Anna,who thrusts the metal fireplace
poker into her eye.
The group now realize that bitesare how zombies multiply their
numbers.
After Anna and Michael arguedabout what to do with the
rapidly deteriorating Frank, theman is isolated in a store with
(20:50):
guard Kenneth, allowing himevery single second before
expiring.
Michael and Anna achieve anawkward reconciliation, which
isn't interrupted by Ken'sshotgun blast as he destroys
Frank's reanimated body.
Andre has not told anyone thatLuda was bitten and that her arm
is getting worse, and we knowit's a matter of time before we
get zombie babies.
Yep.
(21:11):
His concern is for his unbornchild as he feels his purpose in
life is to be a good father anddo better for his child than his
father did.
For him.
He failed.
Yeah.
Now, if you were this guy at theend, would you want every.
Single second and let yourselvesdie and turn into the zombie.
So
Stephen (21:29):
probably not at the end, depending on how you're
turning.
It doesn't seem painless orpeaceful.
So I would want to stick arounduntil my mind starts to go or
I'm a detriment to others.
Like if we're trying to.
Actively escape zombies or likewe're out on the road or
(21:51):
something and I'm slowing peopledown.
Just go ahead and get rid of meat that point.
What about
Steve (21:56):
you?
I would say that not, I wouldn'twant to turn just in case I
would end up hurting someone,but I would wanna do it until
like near the very end.
I wouldn't want every singlelast second.
But like, put me out like fiveminutes beforehand.
Stephen (22:09):
Now these zombies are faster.
How do you feel about fastzombies instead of the
traditional shuffling walkers?
I like
Steve (22:17):
it.
I saw we were a couple yearsbefore this.
They had the 28 days later andthey were where they run, where
they run.
So I mean, it, it makes sensefor it and I definitely think
there's something more scaryabout it.
It certainly does make it, ithelps with the action more so
than the survival horror.
Right.
But at the same time, there'sstill something scary about a
(22:38):
zombie running after you.
There's something scary aboutanyone or anything running after
me.
Right?
Stephen (22:42):
And like I remember from the original night of the
Living Dead that they were justcoming and they kept coming and
it was slowly, but they werecoming and no matter where you
ran, they would still catch upat some point.
And so there's something to likeTV
Steve (22:59):
movie, it follows.
Stephen (23:02):
There's something to be said for both types.
Steve (23:05):
Yes.
Now the mall provides manymaterial distractions and the
survivors begin banging Annawith Michael getting romantic
but not banging.
Terry and Nicole, Steve andMonica, while Kenneth gets close
with Andy over the sign boardsacross the parking lot as they
shoot.
Celebrity lookalikes like RosieO'Donnell's and Jay Leno.
Yeah.
Stephen (23:23):
And they play chess.
Steve (23:25):
Yes.
Now they begin to create a sortof family.
Do you think it's natural forsurvivors to bond like this?
Stephen (23:30):
Absolutely.
It's just like making friends atwork with people you wouldn't
really have made friends with.
In the outside world, you'retogether for that many hours a
day.
It's part of the human conditionto bond with those around you,
and it makes the time better.
Like there's a reason that theycall them
Steve (23:45):
work friend.
Yes.
Now meanwhile, the undeadsurround the refugee in ever
increasing numbers.
Finally, the moss power goes outand Michael CJ Barton.
Kenneth entered the undergroundparking garage, turn on the
emergency generator.
They meet a friendly dog, playedby blue who appears unharmed or
and uninfected.
Yay.
(24:06):
They question what that's allabout.
When a dog suddenly bites Bart,which attracts more zombies,
that force the group to fleewhile trying to avoid the hoard,
Michael and Kenneth reached thegenerator compartment and CJ
joins them.
When Bart is overwhelmed andkilled by zombies, they
eventually work together todouse the zombies with gasoline
and set them a blaze.
Now the
Stephen (24:26):
zombie that attacks Bard is on top of a light
hanging from the ceiling.
He does not have legs.
How did he get there?
It's like the woman with noarms, no legs, lying on the
beach.
Okay, there you go.
I mean, seriously, it's a, it'sa light on the ceiling.
How did the zombie with no legsget up there?
(24:48):
I
Steve (24:48):
don't know.
It is funny.
Yeah.
He currently crawled really bigupper body, strict.
He's been living for thismoment.
Stephen (24:58):
He's been training to be a zombie on a light.
Steve (25:02):
See what happened was before the apocalypse, he
actually knew that this wascoming and had his friend bring
him, put him up there to hide
Stephen (25:10):
his legs were torn off.
Steve (25:12):
Well, he was, he crawled up there successfully and then
they crawled, tore off his legs.
Okay, I don't know.
Now Andre faced with the factthat Lud will soon die, sings
totally into denial, and has hisheavily pregnant and infected
wife tied to the bed in themall's children's store.
Oh, as she gives birth, shedies.
And then Reanimate.
(25:33):
Norma checks on the couple,discovering the zombie Luda and
the demented.
Andre clutching a small bundleof blankets that's not holding
anything sweet.
It's a girl.
No, it's not.
Norma Shoots Luda causing Andreto snap completely.
They have a shootout and bothare killed and her arrives on
the scene, opens the mu to rereveal a zombie baby.
(25:53):
Baby.
She pulls her revolver at asingle shot, rings through the
mall.
Who, and we knew this was comingthe moment that we saw that
there was a pregnant woman in azombie movie.
Right.
You were like, there's going tobe a zombie baby.
Yes.
Was it worth it?
Stephen (26:05):
Yes, definitely.
Watching him lose his sanity wasa good story.
Steve (26:09):
See, I feel like it could have been more of a slow
Stephen (26:10):
burn.
I, I think this was a slow burnthough.
Yeah.
Like, as all of that washappening with Luda, he just
kept going on as if it was gonnabe a normal birth.
And then when the baby came out,he held it as if it were fine
and we saw the baby and we knowthat it wasn't, he was
completely detached fromreality.
(26:31):
He was so determined.
To be that father he wanted tobe like.
Reality didn't exist for himanymore.
It's, I think that was justfascinating in and of
Steve (26:41):
itself.
Yeah.
Now they are about to decide notto die in the mall.
Would you stay in the mallhunkering down, or would you
search out help?
Stephen (26:51):
I would probably stay in the mall as longs as
possible, honestly.
Hoping.
That the government and militarywould have a response soon if
you can just wait long enough.
But I will also be preparing forwhat's next, knowing that food
would eventually run out and weneed to seek shelter elsewhere.
Steve (27:08):
Yes, we also see Norma doesn't turn because she was in
bitten in some zombie Uuniverses.
Everyone's infected, so nomatter how you die, you turn the
bite just makes it happenfaster.
And this one, you aren'tinfected unless you're bitten or
scratched.
This way, you're safer in agroup because someone dying.
In their sleep isn't a possibledeath sentence for the whole
group.
Stephen (27:27):
I know it's kind of interesting that way.
Mm-hmm.
That you like in the walkingdead, you die.
You turn.
Yes.
And in this one you have to havebeen scratched or bit.
Yeah.
So that definitely makes itsafer for people.
Like if they're gonna belong-term together and
somebody's just old and theydie, you don't have to worry
(27:50):
about them dying in their sleep.
Yeah,
Steve (27:51):
exactly.
Now there's an impromptumemorial.
Ken says that there are thingsworse than death, like sitting
around waiting to die.
The remaining mall dwellers thusplot to fight their way through
the local marina, and fromthere, travel out on Steve's
small yacht to an island in LakeMichigan.
Where everything will be better.
They reinforce two small shuttlebuses from the parking garage,
(28:14):
removing the seats, welding on asnowplow, attaching metal bars
and flood lights, stringingbarbed wire, boarding up the
windows and cunning slits forthe deployment of weapons,
chainsaws, propane tanks andother supplies are also loaded
on board.
Meanwhile, Andy across theparking lot is starving and will
not have the strength to jointhe escape.
And give them as much neededguns in an admission.
(28:35):
Admission ammunition.
Yep.
So the mall survivors strap apack of food onto chips the dog
from the basement and lower himinto the parking lot in a sling
because the zombies don't noticeor react to chips, which is so
Stephen (28:49):
weird.
Steve (28:50):
Unfortunately, while chips makes it safely into the
gun shop, a zombie sees the dogand gets in as well and bites.
Andy.
Nicole distraught over chips,takes the delivery truck and
barges her way into the gunstore where a now Zombified
ambi, Andy traps her in thecloset.
Now, would you run across thestreet to save chips?
If he was in danger?
(29:11):
If it was Remy,
Stephen (29:12):
now I would run to save Remy like Nicole did.
Absolutely.
Would I save Nicole?
No.
No.
And if the guns weren't overthere, I would not run to save
Nicole as she's an adult.
And she made the decision to dothat, but as they need all the
ammo in the store, might as wellsave her while we're
Steve (29:30):
there.
Yes, sounds good.
And this is the game.
I wouldn't want that to be leftas a pending side quest, so I'd
probably do it
Stephen (29:38):
now.
Kenneth, Michael, CJ, Terry andTucker gather their meager
weapon supply and go into thesewers while Steve Jerkish.
Steve is assigned guard duty ontheir exit door.
That his job when they bang onit, is to let them back in.
That's his only job.
Yeah.
One job.
One job.
They reach the gun store wherethey kill Andy, rescue Nicole
(30:00):
and stock upon weapons inammunition.
A detonated propane tank is usedto clear a path back to the
sewers, but the zombies pursuethem.
And along the way, Tucker breakshis legs as he falls down the
manhole cover.
Despite CJ's desperate attemptto pull slash drag him to
safety.
Te Tucker is attacked by thepursuing zombies, forcing CJ to
(30:23):
shoot him dead out of mercy.
Steve (30:26):
Now, would you shoot someone dead out of mercy or
would you let them live a littlebit longer, even if a more
painful death, so that gives youmore time to escape there?
It
Stephen (30:35):
depends.
So do I like them?
I would probably put them outtatheir misery, put misery.
Are they asking me to shootthem?
I'd put them out of theirmisery.
Are they telling me to run?
They can fend for themselves.
You know what,
Steve (30:49):
what I think I'd want you to let my, my shell of a body
devourer, whoever it wants.
Okay.
I don't think you need to put meoutta my misery as long as I
won't hurt you.
Okay.
You can leave me out on theneighborhood.
A little walk of terror.
Can
Stephen (31:06):
I have you pick which neighbors?
Yeah.
So
Steve (31:09):
you could just send me, was it north?
Yeah.
Now thanks to Steve'snegligence, the zombies force
opened the exit door and swarmthe mall.
As we said, he had one job.
Yep.
The survivors pile onto thebuses and smash out into the
parking lot, where anotherpropane bomb is used to clear a
path through the waiting H.
When Glen moves to take out alast hitchhiking zombie with a
(31:31):
chainsaw, a aside, and swervesends the weapon slashing into
Monica's shoulder and into herbody chest.
Yep.
The results.
Of blood splatter across thewindshield caused driver Kenneth
to lose control and crash.
Glenn Monica killed while Steveflees the toppled bus and is
attacked by the hitchhikingzombie.
Oh, now would you wanna be onthe first bus or the second bus
(31:53):
in that line?
Stephen (31:53):
The first bus, because then you can't get left behind.
I want
Steve (31:57):
the, the second bus, cuz it sounds like the first bus is
gonna get into more trouble.
Stephen (32:01):
Yeah.
But like, If Steve, I mean, thisis the next question.
If Steve didn't have the boatkeys, would you stop for the bus
once it flipped?
No.
So you're on the second bus, youjust said that you would now get
left behind.
Steve (32:16):
No, but like if I, I would, if I had before getting
on the bus, had to picked, youwanna be on the first or the
second?
I would've picked the second.
Stephen (32:23):
But you're okay with everyone leaving the other bus
behind once you crash
Steve (32:28):
it?
Well, if I'm not in the one thatcrashes, I would wanna escape.
You're,
Stephen (32:33):
but you're on the second bus, so you're in the one
that crashes.
Steve (32:36):
Well, I don't wanna be in the one that crashes.
Then you're wanna be on thefirst bus.
Fine, whatever.
Yeah, the other.
Now, if Steve didn't have theboat keys, would you go back to
save the other bus, Mr.
Number one, I
Stephen (32:49):
would stop to see if I could save the others.
Like if it like ignited inflam.
No, there's no hoping, but therewas enough space between them
and the herd at that point totake it second to check for
Steve (33:01):
survivors.
Yep.
Now the others scramble for thesecond bus meeting.
Zombie Steve on route.
Anna shoots him dead just likeshe promised earlier, and she
must grab the keys off of him.
While more zombies catch up,Anna flees back to the bus where
Michael helps her in.
And we all know that somethinghappens there, but we don't talk
about it yet.
(33:22):
Nope.
After a short struggle, theypull away and speed to the
marina duck where they crash thebus and dash for the boat.
Cornered in the bus by theirpursuers, CJ Detonates, a final
propane tank blowing up thevehicle, the zombies and
himself.
The remainder of the group getson the boat, except for Michael.
He was bitten and during thattime when I just said, we're not
talking about it.
(33:43):
And a futile pleads with him tocome, even though you know it's
hopeless.
And the boat sets sail withTerry Anna.
Kenneth Nicole, and Chips.
Anna watches unflinchingly asMichael draws his pi pistol
places him Aish Chin, and afinal gunshot rings out over
Stephen (33:57):
the water.
Now I do think we need to makemention of CJ's character Arc in
this movie, from assholesecurity guard at the beginning
to somebody that really stuckhis neck out for others and then
in the end sacrificed himself tosave everyone else.
(34:18):
That's a really good asshole tohero.
Excellent character story arc.
Yeah.
Steve (34:24):
And for our all along hero, did you think that Michael
would survive or did you catchthat he was scratched during
that scuffle
Stephen (34:32):
When they were trying to save, and I honestly thought
more of them would get hurt.
So while it hurts to see himdie, I wish he had made it, but
it totally makes sense seeingwhat happened.
Like there were too many zombiesthere and they weren't wearing
long sleeved shirts like, Comeon people.
Steve (34:51):
Yeah.
You're in the mall.
You know better.
Yeah.
Now, the NCRs role interspersedwith video footage taken by
Terry using a camera from theboat, following a grim voyage
where water, fuel, and foodsupplies all run low.
The remaining survivors succeedin reaching an island only to be
immediately attacked by a newswarm of zombies.
As the survivors attempt toretreat to the boat, the camera
(35:13):
falls to the ground and blacksout leaving their ultimate fate
unknown.
Now, what's your thoughts on
Stephen (35:19):
the ending?
So until the post credit scene,while sad about Michael, there
was hope.
The post credits took care ofthat hope.
I'm not usually one for movieswhere all the characters die,
hence why I think the wrongturn.
Prequel movies are fun, but theydon't have as much effect as the
original.
(35:39):
One definite exception to myfeelings on the no survivors is
probably cabin in the woods,but, On the whole horror movies
where none of your heroes makeit are not my
Steve (35:50):
favorite thing.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
So you don't think any of themsurvived?
I
Stephen (35:54):
don't.
I all, I think they all died.
There were too many zombiescoming for them after they got
on to the dock.
They had nowhere to go.
They all died.
Do you think they all died?
Steve (36:05):
I think that chips lived a long and happy and healthy
life as a dog living in thewoods.
Oh.
Stephen (36:10):
So yes, I take that back.
I think Chips lived on thatisland running around for many,
many
Steve (36:17):
years.
Yes.
And that's what counts.
You know, I think all the humansare dead.
That's fine, as long as the dogssurvived.
John.
Yeah, I would love to hear ifour listeners agree with that
sentiment.
You can do that by giving us anemail, but at the the at Happy
Life pod@gmail.com.
Stephen (36:36):
Or you can get in touch with us on all the socials,
whether that is Facebook,Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok at
Happy Life
Steve (36:43):
Pod.
And until next time, everybody.
Stay happy.
Stay happy and
Stephen (36:47):
alive.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.