Dawn of the Dead Image Analysis 3

In this shot from the penultimate scene of DotD, Anna  is aiming a gun at the undead Steve, before shooting him. The gun is a phallic weapon, usually used to represent male power. However, because Anna is using it, it represents Steve’s lack of male power, further proved by his death and reanimation as a zombie. It also strengthens Anna’s role as the final girl, who is generally shown as more masculine than the other female characters. Her clothing is more masculine with trousers and jackets and her hair is tied back in a ponytail, which while is not short like final girls usually have it, it is more practical and masculine than long hair. This scene makes use of low key lighting to emphasize the fear in this scene, as the group are trying to escape from the zombies, and coupled with the blue filter, it also connotes sadness. Anna has to kill Steve who, while not a likeable character, was part of the group. Monica and Glen also die in this scene and later on, Michael commits suicide after revealing he has been bitten, who is Anna’s romantic interest further connoting the sadness in this scene.