Day of the Dead – Episode 4 – Forest of the Damned
After a slight dip in quality with the previous episode, Day of the Dead bounces back in style. Episode 4 Firest of the Damned is, without question, the most entertaining instalment of the series so far. Now that future storylines have been established, carnage can begin and this chapter leans heavily into action, suspense and zombie mayhem, with only a handful of quieter moments to catch its breath.
One of the reasons the episode works so well is that it finally shifts its attention towards the storylines I was most invested in. The detective, on his way to becoming Bub (this isn’t a spoiler, we see him in the opening moments for the series,) takes on a much more prominent role, allowing the investigation to become a driving force of the narrative, while the wedding storyline returns after being somewhat sidelined in Episode 3. Both plots inject the episode with plenty of energy and help keep the momentum moving forward.
The wedding subplot, in particular, produces one of the episode’s funniest moments. After surviving the chaos of the care home, the groom becomes so caught up in trying to stay alive that he almost completely forgets the small matter of actually getting married. It’s a wonderfully absurd touch that perfectly captures the show’s blend of horror and comedy.
There are also some nice little human details that many zombie films overlook. One standout moment sees a character suddenly struck by a cramp while trying to survive. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s surprisingly refreshing to see ordinary physical limitations acknowledged in the middle of a life-or-death situation. It’s both believable and an effective way of creating tension without relying on another zombie suddenly appearing from nowhere.
That said, the episode isn’t without its faults. The action scenes continue to reveal the limitations of the production. Whenever characters are forced into hand-to-hand combat with the undead, the choreography feels clunky and awkward. The editing doesn’t always help either, resulting in action that feels more clumsy than fluid. It’s easier to forgive knowing the series isn’t working with a blockbuster budget, but the shortcomings are quite noticeable.
The suspense sequences also suffer from a familiar problem. The show has a tendency to stretch moments of tension well beyond the limit. The scene involving the teenager struggling with a cramp is effective at first, but it lingers for far too long before delivering its payoff. Rather than increasing the suspense, the extended running time begins to drain it away. These moments aren’t helped by a musical score that continues to labour through every second, attempting to maintain excitement where tighter editing would have achieved far more.
The zombie make-up is another area where quality fluctuates. There are shots where the undead look suitably grotesque, with convincing practical effects and plenty of blood-soaked detail. Other moments, however, expose the limitations of the budget, with some prosthetics resembling little more than rubber face masks under certain lighting. Thankfully, these weaker moments are balanced by some genuinely impressive effects elsewhere. One highlight comes during the wedding photo booth sequence, which delivers a funny visual gag alongside some excellent zombie make-up, even if the moment itself is all too brief.
What continues to impress me is how enjoyable the series remains despite its obvious flaws. It doesn’t have the polish, scale or atmosphere of the best zombie television, but it understands how to entertain. The pacing is much stronger here than in the previous episode, the humour lands more consistently, and the various storylines finally feel as though they’re moving towards something meaningful rather than simply treading water.
Four episodes in, Day of the Dead has comfortably won me over. It’s never going to replace Romero’s classic, nor should anyone expect it to. Instead, it’s carving out its own identity as a fast-paced, gore-filled horror-comedy that values fun over reverence. Episode 4 is easily the strongest chapter yet and gives me plenty of confidence that the series still has more surprises left before the outbreak reaches its conclusion.
