Growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Toronto, my parents provided me a normal childhood by rearing me on a steady diet of cartoons, sitcoms and movies. TV introduced me to a world of characters I would have otherwise not known. Some of those characters possessed the skill to frighten me in ways that would prevent me from having a good night’s sleep. Dracula, Frankenstein, the werewolf, and to some extent, the mummy creeped me out. Zombies never did anything for me.
Shocking, isn’t it? It’s Monday Mayhem. Would you expect anything less?
I mentioned this once before in another post that as a kid I considered zombies cartoonish, pasty, disfigured anomalies I didn’t take seriously until I saw the movie 28 Days Later. That’s when I knew my life had changed and couldn’t look at zombies the same way again.
Since then, I have a staple of movies I recommend to everyone interested in understanding zombies better. By no means are these the best zombie films, but they are defining works for the genre.
If you’ve read me long enough, you’ll know how much I enjoy George A. Romero’s undead compendium—The Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Land of the Dead. Produced over the course of thirty years, these films set the rules for subsequent zombie behavior. Although some may consider these B movies, every year these titles have withstood the test of time by attracting new audiences with their original concepts and stories.
I’ve learned from these movies The Three Commandments of the undead:
I—The Dead Have Come Back to Life
II—The Undead Crave Human Flesh
III—The Undead Will Die with a Blow to the Brain
As noted, 28 Days Later is the perfect introduction for new film students feeling the need to want to appreciate the zombie genre. The movie contains ideas some viewers may find interesting. For instance, the work presents a solid case regarding a zombie apocalypse fashioned after a virus running rampant among the population. Also dominant in this film are fast zombies, something explored fully in World War Z.
These last two movies are my favorites. Without these, folks would take zombies much too seriously. I’m talking about Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. Both films have their quirks. Both films are equally hilarious. The more useful of the two, Zombieland details a set of rules zombie apocalypse survivors can utilize to remain alive. Instructions such as “beware of bathrooms” and “cardio” made it into the Top 10. Shaun of the Dead makes an impression by the amount of gags it pulls. In one scene, the boys throw vinyl records on the oncoming undead all the while arguing as to which records to throw, always having a favorite they’d rather save as a keepsake.
Indeed, I could mention many other movies, but these ones provide a future zombie film enthusiast something to think about when perusing online for a title to watch on a cold Friday night. Who knows, maybe they’ll even find the Resident Evil franchise to whet their appetite (pun fully intended).
What movies would you recommend your friends to watch that would act as a primer for learning about zombies?
Looking to God 
Good insight into the role of a humour in the story line. It can see how this makes the genre more approachable.
Reblogged this on THE RAMBOVA FILES.
Thanks for the reblog!
I was the same as you, never liked Zombies as they were too slow. I actually thought if there was a Zombie apocalypse it would actually be good fun…but then that’s probably just me.
Mummies were also rubbish for the same reason. So I’m glad that 28 days changed all that and of course inspired my logo 😉
I definitely have to check out “28 Days Later.” Kinda funny, when I was cast as the lead zombie Corneilus (as seen in the teaser clip below-that’s me punching thru the car window 🙂 ) in the movie “Night of Something Strange” (hopefully to be out sometime in 2014), the producers told me to watch “28 Weeks Later” and “Dawn of the Dead” (2004) as an example of the type of zombie they wanted. I’ve heard from several sources that “28 Days Later” is so much better than “28 Weeks Later.” It kinda makes me wonder why the later was suggested as research material and not the former…
Ha ha, that looks great, I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.
I have to tell ya, Wayne, the teaser brought shivers to my spine. Can’t wait to watch it! Also, the zombies in 28 Weeks Later are way more violent and malevolent than the ones in 28 Days Later, so that right there may be your answer!
Funny…zombies are the only monsters I’ve ever had straight-up nightmares about. Vampires appear in my dreams now and then, but they are usually actual characters and not, you know…monsters.
Fast zombies are so scary. Love 28 days later and World War z.
Well since you asked, how about, “Stan and Zach Survive the Zombiepocalypse”
What? You never heard of it??? If you look closely, you’ll see me with a cameo. 🙂
You’ll have to copy and past the link!
You’re going to need to point out where you are. I can’t find you!
OK. I’m the one with the white face who looks up from the table dripping blood. Wink. It’s chocolate sauce.
Found you! Took a couple of viewings, lol. And is that really chocolate sauce? Well, no one can’t say being a zombie isn’t delicious! 😉
Zombieland is really great too!
My must watch zombie movies are: Night of the Living Dead (original), Dawn of the Dead (original and remake), Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days and 28 Weeks Later. Once you get past that point I think a person has to make up their mind whether they want to go further with this whole zombie obsession or call it quits. Most people I know are content to stick with those movies above… not me. I watch just about every zombie movie I can find. I just have to watch most of them alone.
My recommendations:
Shaun of the Dead, Juan of the Dead, Cockneys vs. Zombies, Warm Bodies
😀
Juan of the Dead sounds interesting. Sounds like the Mexican version of Shaun of the Dead. I’ll make sure to check it out!
Juan of the Dead is great. If you like Shaun of the Dead – you will like this one as well.
Thanks, Karen. I placed it on my to-watch list!