Dawn of the Dead: parents' guide

Graphic gore throughout: zombies shot in the head with splattering blood, a head blown off by a shotgun, a screwdriver driven into an ear, people torn apart and eaten, child zombies shot, and gunfights with a biker gang that end in a feeding frenzy.

Frequent strong profanity, including f-words, s-words, 'asshole' and 'son of a bitch,' with 'Jesus Christ' as a common exclamation. A SWAT officer uses a racial slur and insults Puerto Rican residents.

One scene shows brief female toplessness. Two of the survivors are a couple who share a bed in the mall, but no sex scenes are shown. One of the survivors is pregnant.

Heavy cigarette smoking throughout. The survivors drink gin, vodka, wine and whiskey passed from the bottle, and armed vigilantes drink beer while hunting zombies.

Over two hours of siege tension: crowds of the dead press against doors, survivors are bitten and slowly turn, and friends must shoot companions who come back. The gore looks dated but is still disturbing.