1st Dawn of the Dead (2004) Image Analysis

This scene is at the end of the film when the remaining survivors (Ana, Kenneth, Nicole, Terry and Chips) are leaving for the island on a yacht. This is quite forward thinking- much like the original Dawn of the Dead, and is quite an important scene as we see the new equilibrium which demonstrates Tzvetan Todorov’s narrative theory. The characters aren’t happy with recent events as Michael has just killed himself to prevent turning to a zombie in addition to other members of the group dying, but the remaining survivors have a new goal and plan to make the most out of the disastrous situation. It comes as a surprise that Michael doesn’t survive the film as he is the archetypal male hero as he is strong, brave, and courageous and seems to lead the group through most of the obstacles they face. 

The close up used in this shot shows us that Snyder wanted the audience to focus on Ana and connect with her in this moment. She doesn’t have a happy or sad expression, but she looks strong and ready to face what’s to come. We see her as the strong final girl which goes against the generic conventions of horror as the blonde women usually are killed halfway through the film. This shows the development of the film industry and how it has adapted to modern society and how women are becoming more strong and independent. This is also shown in other films by Snyder including Sucker Punch, where the main and strongest character ‘Babydoll’ is a young blonde dancer. The lighting in this scene makes Ana look angelic and represents how Ana is a ray of hope for the group and will lead them to survive. She is also shown in this shot with an American flag which is a symbol of patriotism and reminds the audience that these characters are American, enforcing the view that America are independent and strong.