Top 5 Best Zombie Movies
The Undead Are Reanimated in These Scary Films
Zombies have had a major resurgence in popular culture in the last decade. The rise of these murderous, brain-eating undead has been based in part on the success of scary movies that feature them, as well as on the numerous zombie survival guides that have been released.
What this zombie film guide intends to do is provide a mix of ghoulish modern and classic zombie movies that represent zombies using different styles and storytelling techniques.
Night of the Living Dead (1968), Directed by George A. Romero
The classic of all classic zombie films, Night of the Living Dead was strongly criticized when it was released for having vulgar, explicit content. In 1999, however, the film was placed on the United States' National Film Registry for its cultural importance. Though it wasn't the first zombie film, it ushered in the concept of zombie-takeover films, which heavily influences the depiction of zombies today.
Trapped in a farm house in rural Pennsylvania, Ben (Duane Jones), Barbra (Judith O'Dea) and five others struggle to survive when the dead come back to life and start feeding on human flesh. The group later learns, after finding a television, that attacks are occurring all across the eastern seaboard. The only way to stop the ghouls -- a gunshot or heavy blow to the head.
Evil Dead (1981), Directed by Sam Raimi
Probably actor Bruce Campbell's most memorable film, Evil Dead is a lot of campy fun with plenty of blood, guts and gore. Oh, and there's also a chainsaw. Excellent. Thought not a zombie film in the classic sense, it deals with undead demons that transform humans into mindless killing machines, and friends who have to turn on each other for their own survival. These are two themes that run rampant in zombie films.
The story takes place in a cabin in the country. Ash (Campbell), his sister and their friends find a demonic text as well as taped incantations of the damned. Not knowing what the recordings are, they play them and unwittingly release demonic spirits that try to devour their souls.
Shaun of the Dead (2004), Directed by Edgar Wright
Can there be such thing as a zombie romantic comedy? Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg thought so and penned a killer script to prove it. The British duo wrote this zombie film, which also stars Nick Frost, with plenty of humor, pop culture references and scary moments in their own right.
The plot revolves around Shaun (Pegg), a lovable loser whose girlfriend breaks up with him right as a zombie apocalypse has begun in England. Throughout the film, Shaun's relationship with his mother and stepfather are also mended, and friendship is truly tested. The funniest thing about this movie is the way it resolves the problem of the new English zombie population.
28 Days Later (2002), Directed by Danny Boyle
Realism is the best quality of 28 Days Later, which stars Cillian Murphy in the lead role. What would happen if a highly contagious virus created zombie-like creatures? The movie thwarts past notions about how one becomes a zombie, while sticking close enough to horror lore to retain zombie elements. Like Shaun of the Dead and Night of the Living Dead, it uses the concept of the zombie apocalypse and takes it into the 21st century.
This sci-fi flick begins when animal activists release a chimpanzee infected with what the movie calls Rage. It attacks the activists and passes the virus to them, creating a global epidemic. Twenty-eight days later, Jim (Murphy) wakes up from a coma and realizes London is deserted, save for few uninfected survivors and Rage-addled monsters that want to devour him.
May (2002), Directed by Lucky McKee
This film is the most nuanced of the five mentioned in this list, but will be appreciated by zombie film lovers for its mix of psychosis and bloody dismemberment.
Troubled May Dove Kennedy, played by Angela Bettis, is awkward and odd. Her doctor suggests she wear an eye patch to cover her lazy eye, but that only makes her stick out more in school, prompting serious bullying. When May's eye is fixed, she tries to become more social, but fails. In response, she decides to dismember those that wronged her and use their body parts to create her very own human doll.
Scary Films for Halloween or a Rainy Night In
For those in need of an escapist adrenaline rush, those trying to set the mood for a Halloween party, or even those trying to plan an activity to avoid trick-or-treaters on Halloween, a scary movie is a fool-proof way to accomplish any of these goals.
Watching all of the films on this list is a great way to start building a zombie repertoire while scaring the wits out of friends and loved ones.
George A. Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead'
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