Am I the only one who actually prefers the......

[Doc]

The original ending to Dawn?

Don't get me wrong I like the way the film is now but, I feel for some reason the original ending would have made so much more of an impact.



For those who don't know, the original ending went like this...


Everything plays out exactly the same up until Peter tells Fran to go on without him... Fran goes up to the roof, and Peter goes in the small room. Instead of changing his mind, Peter goes through with shooting himself in the head. Up on the roof, instead of getting in the chopper and flying away, Fran kills herself by putting her head up into the spinning helicopter blades. After killing herself, the helicopter stops telling us even if Peter and Fran had left, they either wouldn't have had the gas to get anywhere or they would have crashed and died anyway.


To me, that's a great downer ending, and maybe would have given the downer ending in NIGHT a run for its money. I think it could have been more emotinal impactful too......meh.

[axlish]

I don't prefer the original ending because I think it would have been too close to the ending of Night of the Living Dead.

[capncnut]

I don't prefer the original ending because I think it would have been too close to the ending of Night of the Living Dead.
While I do agree that the upbeat ending was nice, I think the bad ending should've been explored a bit further. I kinda like the idea of Peter shooting himself and Franny flying off, tears in her eyes, while some moody DeWolfe library music plays over the credits. But yeah, it is a bit too close to NOTLD.

[Bub666]

I like the upbeat ending.But I wouldn't of mind seeing the original ending.

[bassman]

As said before, I would like to see the original ending. But I would more so like to see the credit idea of having the sound of the chopper through the credits until it putters and shuts down at the end. That would I have been great, imo. Then it could mean whatever the viewer wants it to mean.

Anyway, in the end I think the ending that it has fits very well into the "comicbook-ish", popcorn fun style of the film.

[sandrock74]

I like the ending with Peter and Fran living. Its a subtle way to give some hope for a "happy ending". Although, even that is left up to the viewer. Just how low on gas were they? They did stock some supplies on it: food, water and ammo.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

[Yojimbo]

Although I enjoy the upbeat ending, I do like the darkness of the original scripted ending, with everyone (including the dog) dead and the helicopter running out of fuel.

On the subject of the dog, though I understand why from a logistical standpoint the dog was removed from the final shooting script, I would have liked to have the dog in the final version, with out without the upbeat ending. I think the scene where the dog hears Stephen coming up the stairs and then runs out into the stairwell, and you hear him yelping off camera and then Stephen comes into the room holding the dead and bloody dog should have been in the script.

[Mike70]

i prefer the more upbeat ending. it lets a little ray of light into an otherwise bleak picture. it also serves as a kind of offset to the ending of NOTLD.

[capncnut]

i prefer the more upbeat ending. it lets a little ray of light into an otherwise bleak picture. it also serves as a kind of offset to the ending of NOTLD.
What I like about it is the old 'Hollywood'-style music as the chopper flies off into the sunset, real pretty colours like the ending to Gone With The Wind. And then you get the offbeat guitar plucking, hinting that the horror still exists and that these two characters might not survive. It's a standout moment.

[Legion2213]

I think the ending we see on our DVD's is the best, mainly because it is open to speculation, did they crash, have to land in a sea of zombies an hour later or find somewhere safe(ish) for the time being?

[VannOfTheDead]

I like the ending on the theatrical cut...not as depressing lol

[DubiousComforts]

The original ending to Dawn?
Probably. :D

If all the main characters had died in DAWN, it still wouldn't have had the same shock effect as NIGHT but would have seemed somewhat contrived. The characters that did die contributed to their own demise, just like Jason in DIARY. The only thing you could say about Peter and Fran is that they probably overstayed their mall visit and were lucky to get out alive.

Besides, the ending is depressing enough as it is without a double suicide. It ain't exactly The Sound of Music simply because two characters survive.

[MaximusIncredulous]

The downer ending would've made me ask myself, what was the point? Why did we need to see the group fight for what they had secured? Why bother having Fran bug Steve to teach her how to fly the chopper if all she will do when things go bad is stick her head in the blades? As stated, such resignation, after showing so much gusto for life earlier in the film, would have felt very contrived. The filmed, open ending also provides some fodder for the imagination.

[SRP76]

The downer ending would've made me ask myself, what was the point?

Exactly what I was thinking. The only reason to have them die would be to say "hey, look! More death!". There would be no reason for them to croak like that.

[AnxietyDilemma]

I think it would've become too formulaic to expect such endings from Romero.

He's stated that he doesn't see the point in restoring order at the end of his horror movies, but he really didn't do that with this. It's a bit of an ambiguous ending where it leaves one to wonder. They escape the mall low on gas with very little idea of where to go.

[EvilNed]

Exactly what I was thinking. The only reason to have them die would be to say "hey, look! More death!". There would be no reason for them to croak like that.

Yes there would be.

You make a statement about the human condition. Or you simply make a really downer ending.

And yes, I would have preferred the original ending. Why?

Because Zombiefilms are the only films that are always expected, and should, in my opinion, take the bad ending route. We don't need no sissy, happy ending. Zombies overrunning the world, consuming everything in it's path and more or less killing everyone alive in a few weeks is not happy.

A happy ending in a zombiefilm is like smearing jam on a banana. The two don't go together.

[Neil]

While I do agree that the upbeat ending was nice.

I don't really see it as that 'upbeat':-
1) Pregant lady
2) Low on fuel
3) Few supplies
4) Country in ruins and overrun by zombies

...not really that upbeat :)

[EvilNed]

Yeah, I hate pregnant ladies. They're so downbeat.

[Neil]

Yeah, I hate pregnant ladies. They're so downbeat.

It's not the fast she's pregnant that's the problem, it's what this imminantly means:-
1) She'll soon be immobilie for at least half a day
2) A baby to care for and feed
3) She will not be in the mood for sex

[AcesandEights]

Meh. I like that the ending is changed up. Now, I know a lot of nihilistic sorts don't like that the movie has a 'happy' ending (give me a break, half of the protagonists dead/zombified and the other half taking off not knowing where they might go for shelter in a world being over run by an undead plague), but I think the fate of the protagonists and the overarching view of the world we see in the movies offer a nice thematic progression across the four films.

It really all comes down to personal taste. When I watch a good zombie movie I want to be able to root for people, not knowing who will live and who will die, enjoying any triumph or tragedy that occurs, not just be pissed that everyone didn't die, because that's part of some sort of supposed zombie move formula.

Tragic endings, fine. Endings where everyone dies for a reason, sure. Even a happy ending, if there is some--damned good--reason for one, would be okay once in a while.

Dull, rote, formulaic endings... 'because it's part of the genre'...not so much.

[VannOfTheDead]

Kinda off topic but the ending to the Mist in a way reminded me of the original ending..except the zombies didnt disappear after they all died lol

[capncnut]

I don't really see it as that 'upbeat':-
1) Pregant lady
2) Low on fuel
3) Few supplies
4) Country in ruins and overrun by zombies

...not really that upbeat :)
Well, I would say it's considerably more upbeat than Peter blowing his brains out and Franny thrusting her head into the chopper propellers. :)

Romero himself actually refers to it as the 'happy' ending.

[Neil]

Well, I would say it's considerably more upbeat than Peter blowing his brains out and Franny thrusting her head into the chopper propellers. :)

Romero himself actually refers to it as the 'happy' ending.

OK... I'll give you that :)

[EvilNed]

I simply don't like Dawn's ending when contrasted with Nights. Dawn's ending is nothing special at all. It's ambigious, sure, but not in any interesting way at all. And the music they slapped on the theatrical print is just horrendous. I've never watched that ending with any of my friends and NOT have them crack up at that music when Peter decides to roll!

[MikePizzoff]

I wish they had at least filmed the original ending and it were available as an extra on any of the releases. I'm perfectly fine with the way the movie ends now, seeing as I think it's a flawless film, but I am a bit curious to see if I would've liked it better with the original ending... which I suspect I might, considering I love completely bleak endings to movies.

[sandrock74]

I've never watched that ending with any of my friends and NOT have them crack up at that music when Peter decides to roll!

Me and my buddies call that song "The Rambo Song"! It always brings down the house! Sometimes, someone will even jump up and strike a heroic pose when the music comes on. Great, great song! LOL


It's not the fast she's pregnant that's the problem, it's what this imminantly means:-
1) She'll soon be immobilie for at least half a day
2) A baby to care for and feed
3) She will not be in the mood for sex

Not to mention that babies are well known (and deservedly so) for NEVER keeping quiet!

[dracenstein]

And with Fran putting her head in the rotor blades, her unborn baby would die and become a zombie!

I like the ending as it is.

Perhaps, maybe, have Peter's macho moment rescored with the Superman theme!

[capncnut]

Perhaps, maybe, have Peter's macho moment rescored with the Superman theme!
I've always felt the theme to Raiders Of The Lost Ark would work well with that scene. :D

[Mike70]

I simply don't like Dawn's ending when contrasted with Nights. Dawn's ending is nothing special at all. It's ambigious, sure, but not in any interesting way at all. And the music they slapped on the theatrical print is just horrendous. I've never watched that ending with any of my friends and NOT have them crack up at that music when Peter decides to roll!

night has one of the most classic endings ever. it'd be damn hard for any movie (other than rosemary's baby) to match up.

oh by the way - great quote in your sig from ishtar, taken from the epic of gilgamesh.

[EvilNed]

night has one of the most classic endings ever. it'd be damn hard for any movie (other than rosemary's baby) to match up.

oh by the way - great quote in your sig from ishtar, taken from the epic of gilgamesh.

True. Nights ending is the best. I like downer endings, and Dawns theatrical ending is VERY silly with the music and all. A huge anticlimax.

And yes, it is Gilgamesh. That line always scared me...

[Yojimbo]

I don't know, but I sorta like that fanfare library track when Peter runs for the helicopter in the end. Yeah, it is silly, I agree, but maybe that was what Romero meant to convey. Like the comic book feel of the film, here we have Peter, like a comic book hero, knocking over zombies like a quarterback to a hero's theme that I am sure I had heard on Monday Night Football back in the day.

You know what would have been even more dark, and probably a lot more sucky now that I think about it? If Peter had ran to the roof only to arrive too late to see the helicopter headed for the horizon, Fran piloting away not noticing Peter. And then, she runs out of fuel and Peter watches as the helicopter crashes.

[Bub666]

I don't know, but I sorta like that fanfare library track when Peter runs for the helicopter in the end. Yeah, it is silly, I agree, but maybe that was what Romero meant to convey. Like the comic book feel of the film, here we have Peter, like a comic book hero, knocking over zombies like a quarterback to a hero's theme that I am sure I had heard on Monday Night Football back in the day.

You know what would have been even more dark, and probably a lot more sucky now that I think about it? If Peter had ran to the roof only to arrive too late to see the helicopter headed for the horizon, Fran piloting away not noticing Peter. And then, she runs out of fuel and Peter watches as the helicopter crashes.


That would've been a good ending.

[sandrock74]

You know what would have made an even better ending?

The zombies not all of a sudden knowing how to wait in line and climb the ladders one at a time up to the exit so they could access the roof! Am I the only one who thinks that is the corny part??

[Neil]

You know what would have made an even better ending?

The zombies not all of a sudden knowing how to wait in line and climb the ladders one at a time up to the exit so they could access the roof! Am I the only one who thinks that is the corny part??

It was handled a little clunkerly...

[EvilNed]

I don't know, but I sorta like that fanfare library track when Peter runs for the helicopter in the end. Yeah, it is silly, I agree, but maybe that was what Romero meant to convey.

What Romero wanted to convey is not always what is best, you know. When the movie unintentionally causes laughter, I doubt that's a good thing.

[DubiousComforts]

You know what would have made an even better ending?

The zombies not all of a sudden knowing how to wait in line and climb the ladders one at a time up to the exit so they could access the roof! Am I the only one who thinks that is the corny part??
While I don't think it's "corny," I've always felt it to be awkward how quickly the roof fills up with living dead. I suppose it was a necessary evil, but it's inconsistent since the zombies are intentionally portrayed as buffoons throughout the film.

[Trin]

I like the ending as-is.

Had Peter killed himself he would've defied the character they'd spent the entire movie establishing. He was the hero and the level-headed one. Would he leave pregnant Fran alone on the roof? No. Not his style. That would've ruined his character for me.

Also, if the chopper was so low on fuel that it couldn't have even lifted off then we would be forced to ask some serious questions about their preparedness. We saw them stocking the chopper with supplies. We know they were planning to leave the mall anyway. Stephen would've known they were too low on fuel to get anywhere. That revelation at the end of the movie would've damaged the intelligence of the movie.

I agree with others who say it would be too formulaic after Night.

I also think the ending left us with equal amounts of hope and depression. Although we don't see their ultimate ending, by the movie ending without telling their story one could almost infer that their story was at an end.

[Yojimbo]

What Romero wanted to convey is not always what is best, you know. When the movie unintentionally causes laughter, I doubt that's a good thing.
True, EvilNed, unintentional laughter is never a good thing for a film.

But I do think that the laughter-response was intended by Romero at that point, however misplaced it might be.

[Legion2213]

And the music they slapped on the theatrical print is just horrendous. I've never watched that ending with any of my friends and NOT have them crack up at that music when Peter decides to roll!

The "hero choon" for Peter's escape is insane, and hilarious, what in Gods name moved them to include that?

[EvilNed]

True, EvilNed, unintentional laughter is never a good thing for a film.

But I do think that the laughter-response was intended by Romero at that point, however misplaced it might be.

Considering it's library music, and the difference in the Goblin music that replaced it, I very much doubt Romero intended it to be humorous... Why would he want that? If he did, then it was a failed experiment, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that.