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Diary of the Dead

(2008, Rated R, Horror, Starring Michelle Morgan, Josh Close, Shawn Roberts)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Gory zombie movie raises questions about media.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Drunken professor/war veteran; moral debates about journalists' duties; arguments about betrayal and loyalty; rich kid is untrustworthy; zombies eat everyone.
  • Violence:

    Extreme, gory violence throughout, including gunfire (zombies take many bullets to chests and limbs, and, most effectively, to their heads), explosions, crossbow shots (arrows go through bloody zombie heads), wrestling, and kicking. Repeated hectic battle and chase scenes as victims run and/or fight back. Zombies bite/rip open necks and eat flesh. A van slams into and decimates zombies. Girl shoots herself in the head (bloody effects and tearful friends). A hospital patient's entrails fall out (very bloody). Looting and frenzy in the street. Virtuous Amish farmer splits his own head -- and a zombie -- with his scythe. Zombie killed by pouring acid on its head (gross). Lengthy climax, with characters recording images of friends being attacked.
  • Sex:

    Girls dress in close-fitting, cleavage-revealing tops; brief shot of one young woman's breast. Brief kissing by couples. An actress complains that girls in monster movies fall and their "tits fall out" -- then later in the movie she does just that.
  • Language:

    Relentless language, particularly "f--k." Other obscenities include "s--t," "hell," "ass" (also with "hole"), "damn," and "bitch" (with "son of a").
  • Consumerism:

    MySpace.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Professor is an alcoholic and drinks from a flask and other liquor sources frequently; he also behaves drunkenly. A couple of students hole up in a mansion, boast of drinking, and appear high in an Internet video. Cigarette smoking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Diary of the Dead

Parents need to know that this zombie horror movie is full of bloody violence and gory effects. Expect fights, shooting, disembowelment, gruesome wounds, and flesh-eating -- in other words, all the hallmarks of George A. Romero zombie movies. There's a brief shot of a girl's bare breast, as well as some kissing and allusions to "tits." The professor character drinks almost nonstop, including while advising and rescuing his students. Lots of strong language, particularly "f--k" and "s--t." The hectic handheld camerawork may be a problem for some viewers.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how this movie fits in with Romero's other "living dead" films (the first came out in 1968). How does this one update the earlier movies' themes or ideas by using the Internet and digital technology to record the devastation? What is the movie saying about the media's role in large-scale disasters? What is the larger message here? How does having that message set Romero's movies apart from other zombie flicks?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    see it keep kids away or they will annoy you all night with nightmares

    good movie violent scary gory evrything a good zombie flick need the reason i put bad role models is that the guy with the camera is a retard who wants to record their death good job gearge.A.Romero

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    sweet, but not for young kids

    I think it was a good movie, good action, good messages on how to kill zombies, but i really hated the comercial of the night of the living dead, it was literally like 5 minutes long. I really think this movie was gory, and that kids ages 15 and up could only see it.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    GET OVER IT!!!!!!

    man do i love this movie i think that any child no matter the age should see it i belive this because WE ALL KNOW IT FAKE

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 4.0

    awesome

    I love this movie it was kinda scare when i saw it for the first time.this movie has a lot of zombies!!!!I HATED THE COMMERCIAL FOR THE 'NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD'!!! it is like five minutes long!!! it said the night of the living dead over 20 TIMES!!!!!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

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