The Evolution of Zombies in Film

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Like most of you, I’m a fan of (most) zombie movies.  Recently The Hollywood Reporter took a look at “Night of the Living Dead” to “World War Z”: The Evolution of Zombie Movies.  The title of the article is a little deceptive since the first zombie movie they look at is 1932’s White Zombie that starred Bela Lugosi (which premiered 37 years before Night of the Living Dead).

But I digress, the article shows how zombies in movies have changed over the years.  Initially zombies were people put into a trance or raised from the dead.  Slowly zombies became anyone who had lost self-control and were influenced by some outside source (black magic, aliens, etc.).

George Romero reinvigorated the zombie genre with his classic Night of the Living Dead.  Romero’s zombies were the standard for several years and then folks started to play with the zombie concept.  This led to zombies that could learn, zombies that could run, zombie comedies, and even a zombie romance.  Yeesh.

Using just the films in The Hollywood Reporter post, here are my top five and a couple of closing comments:

  • Night of the Living Dead (1968): George Romero set the bar high, reinvented the zombie movie and NOTLD remains the standard to shoot for when making a zombie movie
  • 28 Days Later (2002): While pureists would argue that 28 Days Later isn’t a zombie movie, I disagree.  Not only is it a zombie movie, it’s a great one.
  • World War Z (2013): Yeah, I agree.  World War Z the movie is not World War Z the novel.  To those who complain that the movie isn’t the book, I say, “Of course not.  It’s a movie and a very good one! If you want the book, it”s still available.
  • Dawn of the Dead (1979): Romero’s return to the genre that made him world famous.  I saw it twice in the original theatrical run.  The first time was with my wife-to-be and we walked out after the helicopter scene.  The gore was just too much for her.  I returned to a later showing without her and my appreciation of a zombie apocalypse continued. 
  • Zombieland (2009): Zombieland wasn’t the first zombie comedy, but for my money it is the best.   

Some final thoughts: I love well-done apocalyptic movies and a zombie film can easily fill the bill.  I don’t care if the zombies move fast or slow. A little gore is fine, but I’m not there to see how many ways I can be grossed out.  I don’t want zombies that learn, talk or have romantic feelings.  That’s just gross.  And, as I said, I’m not there to be grossed out.