As guaranteed as the constant roll out of new zombie flicks this article was to continue, with the virus inducing zombie plague, face it with the occurrence of Covid-19 some individuals hoped it was the apocalypse of all-time, and others used the lessons learned from these movies for survival; regardless zombie virus bring new terrors into our personal space quick easily.
Fourth Division of Zombies
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
The creation of zombies lately comes from the ‘zombie-viruses’ (z-v for the abbreviated form) which a virus generates the host into a beast of rage and uncontrollable hunger for human flesh, no rational or reasoning for the actions. The identifiable sources for this z-v, insecticides, pesticides, vaccines, or biological weapons, in other words a scientific accident natural occurrence or other discovery in nature such as from the permafrost. Whatever the cases the means to having the dead rise it always seems to reinvent it, and conquer the living, hence hatching from the “third division,” but now enhancing them as a crossbreed with speed for the modern audience seeking more action with suspense. The element of religion sometimes arises, but never questioning the soul, if the soul goes to heaven or hell what possess the dead. If a zombie apocalypse occurred, would one know of it before it was too late, likely possible, in a world where most people don’t know their neighbors and many people rather sit on a train or in park with headphones on and tap on their phones, thoroughly disengaged with the world around and obsessed with possible disinformation, it could spread like a wildfire. A disease the mutates effecting the homeless and drug users, which hide in derelict buildings darkened alleys, we know of them, but no one truly cares for them, the plague starts quickly. When it does come to the aspect of drug usages some try to make the jump to The Evil in Us [2016] or Ravers [2018], but those mutants tend to fall into the cannibalistic freaks, while Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave [2005] uses a drug called ‘Z’ and then of course, The Coed and the Zombie Stoner [2014].
Other such notable movies the use the z-v syndrome, Pontypool [2008] Canadian zombie flick takes place in a small radio station the idea that words can travel like a virus turn people into zombies. Although, The Returned [2013] from director Manuel Carballo delivers a post-zombie world in which the infected live amongst the human thanks to a retroviral drug. Director Marc Forster’s World War Z [2013] barely base from Max Brooks’ book present a zombie world created from a mysterious infection (i.e., z-v); though the movie uses action elements, and overdoses on CGI gave a blockbuster box office bounce to the horror genre, thanks in part to Brad Pitt.
In the past decade alone the rise of zombies became a safe bet for both the large studios and the independent filmmaker, as it takes very little to make a zombie story work, to an over-the-top method either way the films never stop their assault, just like a zombie. As the journey through the horrific zombie cinema to now we covered many films, definitely not all of them, hence only fair to mention a few of the recent ones. Starting with Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later [2002], and though it has an inside joke to some, where it focusses the attention of a rage inducing drug, release by do-gooders and cause the extinction of the people of England. As is the case with many trends in cinema, remakes plague the zombie films greatly, from Night of the Living Dead [1990] to Zack Snyder’s remake of Romero’s Dawn of the Dead [2004] a very good version, which featured super fast zombies as well as the birth of a zombie baby that unnerved some viewers, especially the killing of it; of course, Zack would deliver another zombified baby in Army of the Dead [2021] which was referred to as a zombie pandemic.
The modern-day zombie films of today exist in full throttle mode for the fans to enjoy, and while they still promote the goriest scenes, and scariest moments, comedy surprisingly enters into the fray more often. Although most of the films either originate from an original concept or borrow from the past with a little variation, yet many come from video games (Resident Evil series) and comic books (The Walking Dead TV series), they don’t get their own distinct division, because the Resident Evil movies based on Military viruses and Walking Dead is a plague. While the concept of presenting voodoo spells to rise up the dead, factor less into the mix, likely due to the changing behaviors and rational understanding of foreign religions, and presenting a scarier design in the form of viruses. In either case the past repeats in the modern era, only evolving into more horrendous spine tingling creations, and yet sometime, more often than not, quite silly thanks to the over usage of CGI and excessive poor acting. One thing is certain each generation continues to change the infection and adapting the zombie concept to fit their interactions into society.
In horror, zombies behave more like a creeping plague or a disease than singularly terrifying monsters like Dracula or Frankenstein, though, Lon Chaney Jr. (known for his portrayal of the titled character in The Wolf Man [1941] stated those two were “the living dead’ in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein [1948]. Most of the undead creatures survive on one principal the need to feed and are usually created by either a virus or an experiment, though sometimes a little occult tale enters into the fray just to add some diversion to the topic. The subgenre of zombies, as like all subgenres in the horror genre never clearly disappeared, the films might reduce themselves greatly, but they always come back from the dead after resurrecting in some manner. This mainly occur thanks to the low budget films scattering the store shelves of video store with VHS tapes and then later DVDs, it wasn’t until 2000s that independent filmmakers really help bring back the zombies. Each subgenre in horror contains rules, the same goes with the zombie movies; a bite, scratch, and sex with dead, and you’ll be a zombie; killing zombies equals a head shot. Now variations exist more often in this realm, for example with cutting the infected limb off to stop the infection.
Many of the films found began to return to the past and adapting the stories to fit the current trends in society, one where isolationism through technology started as a normal experience. Now the movies of before, use many social dynamics as the impact for the society undercurrent in the film, however today’s base them from terrorism to unheard viruses and vaccines, and distrusting authorities, governments, and outsiders. The reasoning actually benefit as society becomes more intelligent, not believing as much in superstitions, shifting the tone to paranoia delusions, and what-ifs. In addition, more movies, and books use of the phrase ‘zombie apocalypse,’ generating a greater impact, and yet subtle flashback to religion, more directly revelations, which some purists consider the other side of the same coin of superstitions.
Hyundai Zombie Survival
Everyone enjoys reminiscing and recalling the moments of great and tragic events, whether it is historical, sport related or in this case entertaining, the current love interest in the subject of zombies likely to demise once again, and fade way to the dark side of the net. The zombie films enjoy an overwhelming abundance of popularity, their infection stretches through every facet of society, as briefly mentioned before book, comics, video games, television and of course movies, but carries over past that, into music and combining other genres. However, it transcends even further to White House correspondent dinners, the Center for Disease Control, though the Pentagon did run a scenario on it. Big name Manufactures enter into the mix, with one-offs of zombie prep vehicle such as Unimog or Sports mobile and even a Hyundai Zombie Survival Car, there is no way this can compare to the films or the horror fans of yesteryear as none of exist on this platform. When doomsday preppers have zombie prep weapons noted by Hornady, The Prepper Journal, Guns and Ammo and the countless sites involving zombie survival camps and mud runs, the entire marketing machine for the zombie films equally tapping into is fully unprecedented, for all previous generations.
Fifth Division of Zombies
Hence the fifth and maybe not quite the final division a series of films combine the extreme genre of horror mixing with romance and comedy, giving a new meaning to undying love while understanding a new definition of death do us part (or beheaded) comes the German effort Rammbock [2010], Warm Bodies [2012] and the short film Anniversary Dinner [2012] from director Jessi Gotta. Many of the films also use comedy, to have manageable zom-rom-com into the storytelling, some far-fetched and others sheer ridiculous, such as Zombieland [2009], Fido [2006], and even a Vimeo hidden gem called El Zombie De La Muerte [2008] only a minute length from director Antonio Perez filmed a grainy yellow tint and about brain tacos.
One cannot omit the deep love between Curt and Julie in Return of the Living Dead III [1993], his passion for her extends beyond death, which similar the first ROTLD with Tina willing to offer up her brains to Freddy because of love and he can smell them. Needless, the fifth division delivers so many zom-coms, it’s impossible to list them all; but Fist of Jesus [2012] used the comedy, religion, and zombies for a creative and entertaining short film. Strangely some criticize incorporating elderly into the zombie films, it likely extends back to the concept of moral values to respect the elderly, however many find it hilarious, with a comedic line of “gummy me to death” lacking teeth and dentures used in Flight of the Living Dead [2007], and later shown again in Scouts Guide of the Zombie Apocalypse [2015] in scene the included Cloris Leachman as Miss Fielder; and nod to Cockneys vs. Zombies [2012].
Cockneys vs. Zombies – Undead Mob
Sixth Division of Zombies
As mentioned, there’s one last division, Space Zombies, after all we have had other alien micro-orgasms invading the planet as well as space vampires, likely one can point to Edward D. Wood Jr. and thank his legacy for delivering what was once considered the worst movie of all time (that is no longer true others have earned that notorious ranking. His film Plan 9 from Outer Space [1957] that strangely has aliens resurrecting the dead to overtake the living, this was more clearly shown in the remake Plan 9 [2015]. Director Kevin Tenney’s Brain Dead [2007], takes a deep variation featuring alien infecting humans creating mutant amoeba zombies, very similar to The Alien Dead [1980] the comparison of an improved cinematography and special effects, but both films hold rightfully positioning in the zombie lore. In fact, one shouldn’t overlook two other alien generated zombie movies Night of the Comet [1984] and Night of the Creeps [1986], therefore one can only wonder if filmmakers will explore this division more deeply with new story concepts.
Night of the Creeps
The zombie horror films will reinvent and combine with other genres to suit our constantly evolving population, as the culture associated with it grows continually. Some people argue horror films lack originality post 80s and however comparing today’s movie to the old classics, provides an interesting remembrance, history destined to repeat itself with slight changes. Yet, after some time, they all come accept the new style and that the comparison work both ways in developing new terrorizing scares, jolts and alarming interest to the zombie world, and the hidden truths of the zombie virus. As a world culture that survived the first global pandemic in more than 100-years, the early days seem to mirror that zombie apocalypses, for some it was preppers’ a wet-dream and others a nightmare unfolding, those piles of body bags, individuals in chemical suits, brought imagines of Outbreak [1995], Carriers [2008], and Quarantine [2008] dominated with heavy rentals in the early months of the lockdown. Many horror fans use the zombies as diversion of their everyday monotony an escape while others; use the movies as tool for survival, when in a new location, the exits, and the items to turn into weapons. Overall, the zombie evolution is one that’s filled with fascination, curiosities and the new horrors that lurk in the shadows waiting to unleash themselves onto an audience, keeping them frighten even when they finally return home for safety but for zombies’ homes are just another way to dine-in and devour.
An intense love bite in Quarantine [2008]