Ever since brothers Victor Halperin and Edward Halperin brought "White Zombie" to the screen in 1932, Hollywood has been obsessed with the undead. The reason is obvious. From this early 30's movie to George A. Romero's zombie classics to "The Walking Dead" zombies make good box office. Here then, are 10 of my fave undead epics;
Dawn of the Dead
Romero’s best work in my opinion. The
follow-up to Night of the Living Dead has everything – action, gore, story and
character development. From its opening scene featuring a SWAT team clearing a
zombie-infested apartment block, to the somewhat open-ended ending, this is a
must see. The 2004 remake is
perhaps stylistically better, but then again, it is a remake.
Zombie
Italian Director, Lucio Fulci’s gorefest is
a homage to Romero, and a worthy one at that. Bloody and brutal, but with a
tight, fast-paced story line and a few nasty surprises. Where else are you
going to see a movie featuring a zombie fighting a shark?
World War Z
The film version of Max Brooks' zombie saga might not be a patch on the book, but it still features some of the most intense zombie action ever seen on screen. The Zs are quick, scary and hyper aggressive and the story is epic in proportion with thousands upon thousands of the creatures loose on the streets. Looking forward to the sequel.
Day of the Dead
The third of Romero’s classic zombie movies
is dark, gruesome and scary. Picking up where
Dawn of the Dead ended it follows
a group of people taking shelter in an mine shaft while the dead create havoc
above. Perhaps the least popular of Romero’s offerings but a must see for any
serious zombie fan.
28 Weeks Later
I know I’m in the minority here but I
prefer the sequal to the original. The opening scene is one of the most intense
I’ve seen in a zombie movie and the ending is just creepy, with lots of Z
action in between.
Shaun of the Dead
A laugh-a-minute take on the Zombie
Apocalypse. Shaun and his best friend Ed are two slackers going nowhere fast
when the Z’s strike, forcing them to make a stand. Of course they head for the
first place you would choose when zombies attack – the local pub!
28 Days Later
A man wakes up from a coma to find London
abandoned. He soon realizes that the population has been decimated by a virus
that turns them into mindless killing machines. The story lags in places but
it’s a good zombie flick nonetheless.
Zombieland
Another comedic take on the zombie apocalypse. Woody Harrelson plays "Tallahassee" a dedicated zombie killer who guides three young people on a road trip from Texas to California. It's fast and funny with some great Z action and a hilarious cameo appearance by Bill Murray.
Night of the Living Dead
The original classic from George A. Romero.
Personally, I prefer the 1990 remake, but the original deserves its place on the
list for shaping the genre.
Dead Alive
Directed by Peter Jackson before he became
mega-famous for Lord of the Rings. In this New Zealand production, the hero’s
mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She becomes sick and dies, but of
course, rises from the dead to cause mayhem. It’s gory, gruesome and hilarious.