Diary of the Dead
Performance & Direction: Diary of the Dead Review
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Diary of the Dead (2007) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and Diary of the Dead features a noteworthy lineup led by Michelle Morgan . Supported by the likes of Joshua Close and Shawn Roberts , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Diary of the Dead
Quick Plot Summary: Diary of the Dead is a Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. A group of young filmmakers encounter real zombies while filming a horror movie of their own. The film uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Diary of the Dead
Ending Breakdown: Diary of the Dead attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Diary of the Dead reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Diary of the Dead?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Horror films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Diary of the Dead
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $2.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $5.5M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Diary of the Dead Budget
The estimated production budget for Diary of the Dead is $2.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Diary of the Dead
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Fandango At HomeDiary of the Dead Parents Guide & Age Rating
2007 AdvisoryWondering about Diary of the Dead age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Diary of the Dead is 96 minutes (1h 36m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.6/10, and global performance metrics, Diary of the Dead is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2007 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diary of the Dead worth watching?
Diary of the Dead is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 5.6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Diary of the Dead parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Diary of the Dead identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Diary of the Dead?
The total duration of Diary of the Dead is 96 minutes, which is approximately 1h 36m long.
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Critic Reviews for Diary of the Dead
A solid and contemporary shift to Romero's template of his magnum opus. Just right for the times. ...Hoping the bizarre ways of these strange days will encourage Romero and other filmmakers of his ilk to make further installments in their franchises, and at least get SOMETHING good from all of this crap 2016 America finds itself in...
It was an ok movie. I didn't like that you could only watch it through their camera view. I also didn't like that if you died you became a zombie. Even if you weren't bitten.
"What a piece of trash!" Is what I would like to say about this movie. Because Romero has made it personal and criticized my favorite zombie franchise of all time. Of course, this is not healthy. I do not know the man, and it really is not personal. But I do have the urge to get back at him and his hardcore following that I feel can be quite pretentious when touting his work as some genius social/political commentary. To me, it has never felt like anything special in that area. But at least there was always some quality fun and entertaining characters to enjoy! But I must say that is now gone. I had the slightest hope that there may be something good here (given that it has 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. [A whole 8% better than Bullet Train?!?! Pfft!]) There are a couple characters to enjoy, but nothing you can't find in your average straight-to-SYFY channel Zombie flick. The dialogue was ROUGH. And I spent the whole movie wondering how bad it was actually intending to be. Was it a full-on parody? I don't think so, because it'd be a lot more fun. Was it dead serious? No; then it should be a lot smarter. I will say that the point about our relationship with technology has aged pretty well. People are more obsessed with it now than ever. But it still doesn't make the character's actions reasonable. It is still dumb. And it isn't a unique take. Everything feels one-dimensional and unrealistic. I must not vibe with Romero's style where it feels like he is making his point so bluntly and sacrificing everything else to do so. This is down with the worst of The Walking Dead's worst spin-offs. But possibly still in with the best of the large pool of terrible zombie movies. I mean, a couple of the effects were actually impressive compared to the rest of the film. (I'm Looking at you, Acid-Kill Zombie!) :D So...would I call it a piece of trash? There are much worse zombie movies than this. But there are SO many better ones, too. (Four of his previous works included!) Compared to its older siblings: Yes, it is a big pile of trash stinking up your bin for a week. But as just another zombie movie: It is an expired can of soup. Still trash. But you can throw it out and move on. No biggie. ;D
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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