Summary

Regrettably, Diary of the Dead comes across as a diluted revival of Romero's iconic franchise, tailored for a teenage audience, complete with the usual array of clichu00e9d and unintelligent characters often seen in direct-to-video slasher films. The social commentary lacks subtlety and is too overt, as Romero seemingly lectures the viewers directly. While I generally align with Romero's views, I still prefer his older, more nuanced works. This attempt feels overly generic and lacks the essence of his previous creations, giving the impression that he drew inspiration from soulless imitations of his own genius. Among Romero's filmography, this ranks as one of his weakest efforts, yet it manages to surpass many of the subpar horror movies cluttering the genre. Hopefully, any future releases from Romero will recapture the uncompromising and potent qualities of his earlier masterpieces, though securing funding has been a challenge for him. While a watered-down and mainstream Romero is still better than no Romero at all, it's hard to wholeheartedly recommend this particular film. However, it could serve as a suitable introduction to his material for younger audiences.