Zombiefilms have been one of the most enthralling subgenres of horror for decades. The concept of reanimated dead humans has its roots in cultures with Voodoo traditions, but the monsters wouldn’t be nearly as popular without George A. Romero. Considered the godfather of zombie cinema, the filmmaker effectively developed the living dead concept that audiences are familiar with today. In addition to pioneering their global appeal, Romero established many of the mostcommon zombie horror tropes.
Romero’sNight of the Living Deadmoviesand other zombie properties were the inspirations for works moving forward, and it shows. Most movies today seem to follow the same basic guidelines. The zombies want to eat humans, they’re at shambling speed, and they only die via a fatal blow to the head. While it’s nice to see that the original characteristics have persisted over time, the majority of films in the genre never dare to test the boundaries. With that being said,there are still several noteworthy titles that break the typical zombie conventions.
Dead Snow
Cast
Dead Snow is a Norwegian horror film that follows a group of eight medical students on a ski vacation in the mountains. They inadvertently awaken a horde of Nazi zombie soldiers from World War II who threaten their survival in the remote, snowy landscape.
Some films are so ridiculous that they call into question the mentality of their creators,and Tommy Wirkola’s 2009 horror comedyDead Snowis one of them. For some reason, there is a common characteristic of modern horror movies in which Nazi soldiers mysteriously reappear in the present day. For example, inIron Sky, the Third Reich is secretly building a base on the moon. In the case ofDead Snow, they come back as zombies.
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It’s easily one of the mostabsurd movie premises, but the results are undeniably entertaining. The story follows a group of eight Norwegian medical students who venture to the Arctic for a skiing trip. Things quickly go awry when it’s revealed thata battalion of German World War II soldiers has turned into zombies that terrorize the land.As far as Nazi zombie movies go,Dead Snowcertainly wasn’t the first attempt. However, it’s one of the best modern executions of this odd concept.
In consideration of the history of zombie movies, the past decade has been relatively devoid of memorable releases. Few films have managed to capture the atmosphere of works likeDawn of the Deador28 Days Later,the latter a zombie movieregardless of whether it pretends to be otherwise. However, there are recent exceptions that brought a breath of fresh air to the genre. Colm McCarthy’sThe Girl With All the Giftsrepresents a prime example.
In a post-apocalyptic world that has been ravaged by a fungal infection, the remaining humans live among diseased populations called “hungries.” At an army base,a young girl named Melanie is revealed to have a connection with the zombies that causes them to ignore her.As humanity falls apart, she has to deal with sinister forces that hope to sacrifice her in pursuit of a cure. While the premise is somewhat straightforward, the movie does an excellent job of approaching it with an innovative style.
Fido
Fido is a film set in an alternate reality where zombies coexist with humans. It follows young Timmy Robinson and his unlikely friendship with a domesticated zombie named Fido. Complications arise when Fido’s predatory instincts lead to turmoil in Timmy’s neighborhood, endangering their bond.
The nature of horror films often grants their directors a higher degree of artistic freedom than other genres can afford. Given that these movies are generally low-budget,horror filmmakers have a chance to portray the wildest of scenarios without too much at stake.It’s never totally clear how such ideas come to fruition, but they make for great entertainment. Andrew Currie demonstrated this idea in full swing with his 2006 filmFido,whereinthe director approaches an undead invasion with the optimistic perspective of a horror comedy.
After a cloud of space dust transforms the deceased into bloodthirsty zombies, Zomcon Corporations offers a solution: a remote control collar that domesticates them. All of a sudden, the living corpses are essential pets that do the human’s busy work.At the center of the story lies Fido, a now-docile creaturewho makes friends with his owner’s son.It’s anunfairly overlooked zombie movieand a funny way of showing how the undead might fit into an idyllic 1950s lifestyle.
Pontypool
Pontypool is a psychological horror film directed by Bruce McDonald, based on the novel Pontypool Changes Everything by Tony Burgess. The story unfolds in a small town where a radio DJ and his crew discover a deadly virus is spreading through the English language. As they broadcast from their studio, they grapple with the unfolding chaos and strive to decode the phenomenon.
As far as unique premises go within the zombie genre,there aren’t many films that feature a more original idea than Bruce McDonald’sPontypool.The movie has predominantly flown under the radar since its 2008 release, which comes as a surprise given its quality. In a genre packed with similar features,Pontypoolimagines a virus that leaves its influence through spoken word.
Pontypoolwas inspired by Orson Welles' radio broadcast ofWar of the Worlds.
The plot follows DJ Grant Mazzy, who runs a radio show in Pontypool, Canada. After discovering that a zombie outbreak has taken place in the town, he is tasked with warning his listeners from the refuge of his station.The only problem is that the infection is spread through certain words in the English language. Thus, Mazzy is forced to navigate the dynamic of the virus to communicate the important message. Nobody would expect language to present a deadly mode of zombie transmission, but McDonald depicts the scenario masterfully.
Re-Animator
1985’s Re-Animator is a feature-length film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, Herbert West–Reanimator. The Horror and Comedy release follows a man that spends time attempting to create a reagent that will reanimate the dead.
In the realm of cinematic horror, films tend to follow a pre-existing schematic based on previous releases. This approach is oftentimes guided by the stories of traditional monsters within the genre. Without a doubt, one of the most famous formats was popularized by James Whale’s originalFrankenstein. The iconic story of a mad scientist and his reanimated corpse has inspired countless other works, but it’s refreshing when someone adds a twist.
Stuart Gordon’sRe-Animatorblazed a new trail within the genre because it was one of the earlier films to blend cookie-cutter horror stories thoughtfully.The plot is essentially a case of zombies combined with Frankenstein, in which Herbert West suffers the dire consequencesof bringing his professor back to life. With a great blend of scares and laughs, the film offers an interesting take on the undead. As of today, there are a total of threeRe-Animatormovies, with the most recent installment arriving in 2003.
Warm Bodies
Based on a novel and inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Warm Bodies stars Nicholas Hoult as R, a zombie living in an abandoned airport who falls in love with a living girl despite his undead status. As R works to protect the girl, Julie, from his fellow zombies, her presence begins to help him remember what is was like to be alive. Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, and John Malkovich also star.
Romance has played a pivotal role in horror films since the earliest days of the genre; audiences are often drawn to the forbidden relationship between monsters and humans.Stephenie Meyer’sTwilightmoviesmanaged to build a wildly successful franchise off this premise alone. The idea makes sense when it’s done with normal-looking vampires, butthe very concept of a romantic zombie movie seems completely ridiculous.
Despite how bold the move was, Jonathan Levine executed the challenge in impressive fashion withWarm Bodies. In a tale of unlikely love, Julie begins an abnormal relationship with a zombie named “R” after he saves her from his fellow monsters. The film manages to distract from R’s unfortunate circumstances and present a love story that prevails despite the harsh odds. Considering it was the first attempt by any director to create a movie like this,Warm Bodiesdeserves more credit.
One Cut of the Dead
One Cut of the Dead is a Japanese indie film directed by Shinichirou Ueda. The story follows a film crew shooting a low-budget zombie movie, only to be interrupted by real zombies. The film showcases an innovative take on the horror-comedy genre, with surprising narrative twists that defy the typical conventions of zombie cinema.
It’s no secret that comedy is integral to the horror genre. There is a very thin line between the emotional foundations of fear and humor, which is part of the reason that films of this nature are so popular. In contemplation of themost entertaining horror comedies ever made, Shin’ichirô Ueda’sOne Cut of the Deadis painfully underrated. It’s a shame that more people aren’t familiar with this movie, but since it’s such a small-scale production, the film never managed to gain widespread notoriety.
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However, the horror comedy’s cult status doesn’t detract from its greatness by any means. The plot focuses on Director Higurashi as he and his crew try to make a low-budget zombie movie.As luck would have it, things take a turn for the worse when real zombies show up on set.One Cut of the Deadhas many good qualities to offer, but it truly stands alone in its hilarious employment of meta-storytelling.
The Dead Don’t Die
The Dead Don’t Die is a horror comedy released in 2019, directed by Jim Jarmusch. The Dead Don’t Die focuses on a small town in Centerville that struggles to battle off hordes of zombies after the dead come back to life. The film has a star-studded cast, including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, and Danny Glover.
Horror movies are more popular than ever, but the same cannot be said for their zombie subgenre. Although breathtaking films likeWorld War Zconjured a small resurgence, few titles of this nature have managed to break onto the mainstream stage. Consequently, Jim Jarmusch’sThe Dead Don’t Diepresented an anomaly:It was intriguing to see the presence of a modern big-budget zombie production with a star-studded cast.
Even with A-listers at the helm of the ship, the movie failed to connect with critics and audiences alike. Despite the poor reception, the premise is unique to a fault.The Dead Don’t Dieis essentially a metaphor for climate changethat uses zombies as a medium. The outbreak comes as a result of polar fracking, which causes environmental disturbances that ultimately raise the dead. It might not make it to the top of the list ofJim Jarmusch’s best movies, but the idea is undeniably quirky.
Anna and the Apocalypse
Based on a short film created by Ryan McHenry, Anna and the Apocalypse is a holiday-themed comedy horror-musical by director John McPhail. Set in Little Haven, Scotland, Anna and her friends prepare for a big Christmas show at their school until they discover zombies have overridden the town. Anna and her friends will battle armies of zombified Christmas-costumed residents in a comedically horrific holiday fight for survival.
“What happens when a Christmas musical takes place in the middle of a horrific zombie apocalypse?” John McPhail strives to answer this question inAnna and the Apocalypse,and the results are priceless. In this holiday horror flick,Anna and her friends are forced to fight off an undead invasion during Christmas but quickly find themselves in over their heads.
Holiday horror crossovers have been attempted by hundreds of directors over the years, but never in quite the same fashion as this. The creators took three separate genres and morphed them into a product that satisfies many different tastes. It effectively creates a distinct category and claims the number-one spot. As with any absurdist film, the plot is only elevated by the ridiculousness of the circumstances. InAnna and the Apocalypse, every layer of incredulity makes each moment more fun than the last.
Shaun of the Dead
From director Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, an ambitionless slacker who one day finds his world overrun by zombies. From a script by Wright and Pegg, Shaun of the Dead injects comedy into a typically horror-focused subgenre as Shaun and his lazy friend Ed (Nick Frost) attempt to rescue Shaun’s estranged girlfriend and make it through the apocalypse unscathed.
When it comes to zombie comedies,there aren’t any movies that hold a candle to Edgar Wright’s 2004 cult classicShaun of the Dead.Although it wasn’t the first project of its kind, this film undoubtedly set the standard for similar works that followed it. It strikes a perfect balance between humor and horror that hasn’t been emulated since. Out of all the reasons this film is held in such high regard,Shaun of the Deadis arguably most well-known for its introduction of the everyday zombie hero.
Instead of a jacked veteran leading the charge against the undead, it’s a completely average loser named Shaun. He’s a nobody when circumstances are normal, but when a zombie infection breaks out, he is forced to step up.There’s a hilarious dichotomy between who Shaun is and the stereotypical apocalypse survivor he’s supposed to be. As he haphazardly makes his way through the chaos, Shaun looks like a hysterically helpless fish in unfamiliar waters. Even though newer releases have tried to employ the same unconventional layout, nozombiefilm has come close toShaun of the Dead.
