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Mike: Yo Magnus! You know that series we said that we'd get started? The conversational one where we have a back and forth about the best movies of all time and where we try and wrestle some sort of critical consensus to the ground? Well, I'm starting it, right now. I'm even taking the liberty of choosing our first subject: zombies.
So... before we go any further, I gotta ask: what do you consider a zombie movie? Are you fine with any old undead creatures, or are you a purist who likes his zombies to be slow, mindless husks, an allegory for the modern consumer as they shuffle through the tills on Black Friday, mumbling incoherently as they go?
Magnus: Greetings old friend! What a treat this is going to be. Yes, we've been conversing back and forth about something like this for what seems like years, so it's great to finally get started. Hopefully, we're not going to agree on much, as that would probably make for more dramatic reading. Alright, let's go.
Well, I think the genre in and of itself has become more fluid and dynamic as time has passed, so while something like 28 Days Later was first seen as incredibly innovative, a straight zombie-premise can now even be considered trite. You need spice now, something to make a particular film stand out. But yeah, let's mumble incoherently!
So, to kick things off. Are you mostly going to hark on about older classics, or have you seen any zombie flicks recently that have caught your eye? I personally finally watched Train to Busan recently, and fought it extremely evocative and brilliantly put together.
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Mike: That's not one I've watched yet. I used to love watching subtitled films and world cinema, but these days I have to balance my gaming habit with my movie addiction, and that often means no subs so I can have something running on the laptop while the film plays on the TV. First world problems, huh!
I'm actually going to open with an entry from left-field: Shaun of the Dead. There are a couple of reasons, but mostly it's because I used to live on the same road where they filmed the sequences with him going to the shop. That was the shop where I bought my milk and cigarettes (don't judge me, I've quit now) and I always enjoyed walking down there - though it was less fun walking home, that shop was at the bottom of the fairly steep hill!
The other reason to mention Shaun of the Dead is the funnies. This was peak Pegg and Frost and arguably their finest work together, although there is a distinct possibility that my bias towards zombie movies is blurring my hindsight somewhat. Still, it was funny and satirical in equal measure, and I also appreciated it for having proper slow-ass zombies (although that's not a sticking point for me, generally speaking). Bonus points for Peter Serafinowicz, too.
Magnus: I agree. Shaun of the Dead is incredible, and if you, dear reader, haven't watched Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's movies in general, there's a whole load of them just waiting for you. Shaun of the Dead uses general comedy to add that spice that I was talking about earlier. It has to have that extra.
Now that we're talking zombies and doing something wholly unique with an occasional overly familiar premise, Kingdom on Netflix is another awesome piece of zombie cinema from South Korea. Here though, it takes place in the Joseon period in the 1500s and mixes the threat of a nationwide zombie plague with royal disputes, imperial power struggles and characters that haven't really seen anything like it before. It's a refreshing twist and is handled beautifully throughout the series.
We'll get to the classics I'm sure, but just these three examples perfectly illustrate how something that would appear boring at this stage, actually still can be utilised for fascinating storytelling and set-piece design even today, so many years after the very first classics in the genre arrived.
Mike: Well let's go there then, and talk about Night of the Living Dead, the George Romero original from 1968. If you want to trace this genre back to a key point, this black and white movie would most certainly be it. I've watched it a couple of times now and it's certainly atmospheric, even if it is tame by today's more shocking standards.
Still, if you're a serious zombie fan it's well worth a watch and despite its flaws, Night of the Living Dead is arguably the closest thing we've got to a genuine classic in the genre. Do you think there are any more modern zombie flicks that warrant that sort of reverence? There are some great movies, sure, but I'd argue that in recent years especially, video games have pushed the genre forward more than movies have been able to.
Magnus: It's funny you should mention Romero because I was about to bring up Dawn of the Dead, which I think is a better intro-point for enthusiastic viewers who wants to explore the classics of the genre. While it cannot be considered the platform on which all other zombie flicks are built, I think it's better at representing some of the body horror tendencies, the social commentary, and the human-to-human interactions that are now mainstays in the genre.
And while on the subject of Dawn of the Dead, Zack Snyder's remake from 2004 isn't half-bad. I mean it's not great, almost none of his films are, really, but it does encapsulate some of the spirit of the original. In terms of modern films that deserve the reverence that you speak of, I do think we've touched upon a number of them already. Shaun of the Dead, Train to Busan, 28 Days Later, all three are incredibly strong, I'd say.
There are of a couple of very recent examples that could demand more attention though, such as The Dead Don't Die, which is this psychedelic, Twin Peaksesque zombie tale with Bill Murray and Adam Driver, as well as Zombieland, which, just like Shaun, manages to pull off smart comedy amidst a zombie pandemic. So, how about we start listing them, huh? Everything is always improved with lists!
Mike: Hell yeah! A list feels like a good way of wrapping things up and putting a bow on this here conversation. But perhaps before we form a huddle and deliberate over our top list, I think it's worth mentioning a couple of video game-related zombie flicks that probably won't get a mention in our top list because they're good but not that good.
World War Z is one, which stumbles despite the presence of Hollywood royalty (and the game came after the film, which itself came after the book, so perhaps it's not the best example). Coming the other way round is mainstay video game franchise Resident Evil, which spawned a whole series of mediocre movies, although the first one has a certain charm that I can't dismiss, even after all these years and knowing full well that really, it ain't all that. Still, it's worthy of being a footnote in this little shuffle down memory lane if nothing else, don't you think?
Our Top Five:
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Zombie Gold on the Silver Screen - Gamereactor UK
- The Cranberries' Zombie - the story behind the incendiary song - Louder - April 22nd, 2024
- Chris Riddell on the zombie Tory government falling apart at the seams cartoon - The Guardian - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie grave dating back 4,200 years discovered in Germany, photos show - Miami Herald - April 22nd, 2024
- Steam zombie survival game leaves early access 11 years on, and you've got one week to get it cheap - PCGamesN - April 22nd, 2024
- "Zombie" cicadas with STDs are coming to Virginia - Axios - April 22nd, 2024
- Deathtroopers is the Star Wars zombie horror game I never knew I needed - PC Gamer - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie Army VR Reveals The Story In Latest Trailer - Bleeding Cool News - April 22nd, 2024
- Where Infected "Zombie Cicadas" In The US Will Emerge In 2024 - TheTravel - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie anti-abortion laws are menacing American women - The Hill - April 22nd, 2024
- Joe Manganiello to Zombie It Up in Mountain Man Adaptation - Reactor - Reactor - April 22nd, 2024
- Frozen Soul Covered White Zombie and It Rules - MetalSucks - April 22nd, 2024
- Arizona's abortion ban could bring zombie laws back to life in other states - Fast Company - April 22nd, 2024
- Arizona abortion ban shows the dangers of reviving zombie laws - MSNBC - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie fires smoldering near Canadian oil and gas wells threaten production following 2023 wildfires - WorldOil - April 22nd, 2024
- You'll Never Guess Who Doesn't Want to Repeal a Zombie Abortion Ban - The New Republic - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie Army VR: New trailer gives a glimpse of the gruesome campaign - MIXED Reality News - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie Tests: Is the SAT Back From the Dead? - Fair Observer - April 22nd, 2024
- How likely are you to survive a zombie apocalypse in Connecticut? You may want to travel north - Hartford Courant - April 22nd, 2024
- Missouri Reports 162 New Cases Of Deer 'Zombie' Disease In 2023 - Lake Expo - April 22nd, 2024
- Zombie Fires Pose Looming Threat to Canada's Oil and Gas Infrastructure - OilPrice.com - April 22nd, 2024
- Rob Zombie Presenting House on Haunted Hill Soundtrack on Vinyl - ComicBook.com - April 22nd, 2024
- Take on Zombie Stormtroopers In This Star Wars Fan Game - IGN - April 22nd, 2024
- The Best Zombie Game of 2023 Has a New Expansion Out Now - Esports.net News - April 22nd, 2024
- Frozen Soul Debuts Frosty Rendition of White Zombie's 'Creature of the - Knotfest - April 22nd, 2024
- 'Dawn of the Dead' at 45: A Zombie Love Affair That Never Died - The New York Times - April 12th, 2024
- Hyper-sexual 'zombie cicadas' infected with bizarre STD fungus will emerge in US - New York Post - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie malls and other retail centers getting extreme makeovers to keep up with the times - Chicago Tribune - April 12th, 2024
- 'Zombie' drug xylazine found in cannabis THC vapes in UK - BBC.com - April 12th, 2024
- Taxing health insurance: The Republican zombie that refuses to die - Roll Call - April 12th, 2024
- Fungus-infected Zombie Cicadas with hypersexuality to emerge in the US this year: Expert - Hindustan Times - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie Classic Dawn Of The Dead Coming Back to Theaters for 45th Anniversary - MetalSucks - April 12th, 2024
- E-News | 'Zombie cicadas' infected with sexually transmitted fungus expected to emerge this year in parts of US - WVU ENews - April 12th, 2024
- Deadly Zombie Sedative Penetrating The U.K.s Illicit Drugs Market - Forbes - April 12th, 2024
- Seattle Police warn that base ingredient in 'zombie drug' tranq is being sold as standalone pill - FOX 13 Seattle - April 12th, 2024
- Opinion | Today's Opinions: Haunted by zombie law and thrown into abortion time-travel - The Washington Post - The Washington Post - April 12th, 2024
- Rob Zombie Teases 'House of 1000 Corpses' Book With Rare Photos, Original Script and More! - Bloody Disgusting - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie malls getting extreme makeovers to keep up with the times - Detroit News - April 12th, 2024
- 2000s Horror Fantasy Is One Of The Most Unique Takes On The Zombie Genre - Giant Freakin Robot - April 12th, 2024
- Mysterious 'Zombie Neurons' Unlock Secrets of Learning in The Brain - ScienceAlert - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie SKUs: What They Are, How They Work & Results - JumpFly PPC Advertising News - April 12th, 2024
- Arizona Reviving Its Zombie Abortion Ban Is Trump's Doing - The Cut - April 12th, 2024
- Hyper-sexual "zombie cicadas" that are infected with sexually transmitted fungus expected to emerge this year - CBS News - April 12th, 2024
- Should we be concerned about zombie cicadas? - WGN Radio - Chicago - April 12th, 2024
- You need to play this underrated zombie shooter before it leaves Xbox Game Pass - Digital Trends - April 12th, 2024
- End the 'zombie' Comstock Act - Star Tribune - April 12th, 2024
- OPINION - Flesh-eating zombie narcotics are on our streets Britain is badly losing its war on drugs - Yahoo News UK - April 12th, 2024
- What Is Xylazine - The Flesh-Eating 'Zombie' Drug Linked To 11 Deaths in The UK? - Times Now - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie Cicadas To Emerge In Virginia: What To Know - Patch - April 12th, 2024
- What Is "Zombie Drug" Gripping The UK? - NDTV - April 12th, 2024
- OJ Simpson's Final Film Will Resurrect His Naked Gun Character - As A Zombie? - Looper - April 12th, 2024
- Flesh-eating 'zombie drug' sweeping US is linked to 11 UK deaths - The Telegraph - April 12th, 2024
- Flesh-rotting 'Zombie drug' tranq raises alarm in UK - The Times of India - April 12th, 2024
- Zombie Cicadas To Emerge In GA: What To Know - Patch - April 12th, 2024
- What was the first-ever zombie movie? - Far Out Magazine - April 12th, 2024
- Even Will Smith Couldnt Save Zombie Survival Game Undawn, Which Flopped Spectacularly - IGN - March 24th, 2024
- Rob Zombie Recommends This Surprisingly Wholesome Comedy - Dread Central - March 24th, 2024
- Army Writing and the Zombie (Noun) Apocalypse - Modern War Institute - United States Military Academy West Point - March 24th, 2024
- Fatal Fury's Mai Shiranui Is In This Zombie Survival Game For Some Reason - Time Extension - March 24th, 2024
- Should you be worried about 'zombie deer'? | College of Public Health - George Mason University - March 24th, 2024
- 'Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island' Scares Its Way to Blu-ray for the First Time This Spring - Collider - March 24th, 2024
- Rob Zombie hates my guts: GWAR's Dave 'Oderus Urungus' Brockie was a genius, and here's an interview that proves it - Louder - March 24th, 2024
- In the fight against gun violence, Rep. Frost Introduces the Destroy Zombie Guns Act - The Apopka Voice - March 24th, 2024
- Elfriede Jelinek's 'The Children of the Dead' is a historical zombie novel - The Washington Post - The Washington Post - March 24th, 2024
- Germany's Zombie Government Is Fueling the Far Right - The Atlantic - March 24th, 2024
- Zombie Survival Game Undawn Has Crashed And Burned According To A Reuters Report - MMOs.com - March 24th, 2024
- Will Smiths Zombie Game Has Been Hit Harder Than Chris Rock at the Oscars Its Astronomical Budget Was ... - imdb - March 24th, 2024
- Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island / Return to Zombie Island Blu-ray (Warner Archive Collection) - Blu-ray.com - March 24th, 2024
- Registration almost here for Dothans annual Zombie 5K Chase - WDHN - March 24th, 2024
- Zombie magic and gambling club Magic Island will come alive again this summer - Houston Chronicle - March 24th, 2024
- Undawn | The $140m zombie survival game starring Will Smith that bombed while nobody was looking - Filmstories - March 24th, 2024
- After 4 years, a cult classic zombie horror manga from Ga-Rei's creator is finally getting an official English release - Gamesradar - March 24th, 2024
- Will Smith's Zombie Game Has Been Hit Harder Than Chris Rock at the Oscars - Its Astronomical Budget Was ... - FandomWire - March 24th, 2024
- "The game literally no one knew existed": The Will Smith Zombie Survival Game is Reportedly a Big Flop and Fans Are ... - FandomWire - March 24th, 2024
- Zombie-palooza --- Get to the biggest undead music event in the latest Dead Island 2 expansion: SoLA - Gaming Trend - March 24th, 2024
- Bournemouth University medical students treat 'zombie attack' in mass training simulation - The Tab - March 24th, 2024
- Zombie car factories on the rise in China as buyers opt for EVs - Financial Times - March 16th, 2024
- Hey, Remember When Rob Zombie Was Going To Direct THE CROW 3? - FANGORIA - March 16th, 2024
- New Walking Dead Twist Shows How The Zombie Outbreak Will Finally End - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- Candid conversations from death row with The Zombie Hunter - Arizona's Family - March 16th, 2024
- Zombie! The Musical - REVIEW - City Hub Sydney - March 16th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero