Zombies! discussion

what is THE BEST ZOMBIE MOVIE... EVER? is it 28 Days Later? is it Night of the Living Dead? perhaps Saun of the Dead? I've heard that a World War Z movie is in the works maybe that will be THE BEST ZOMBIE MOVIE... EVER! What is, in your opinion the best zombie movie?

The original Dawn of the Dead. Perhaps I have some sentimental reasoning having caught the theatrical release, but I have watched it more than any other movie and simply love it.

I'm going to go with Thee_ron_Clark on this one. Although the original NOFTLD is a fave as well. On the other hand, I think Shaun of the Dead was fabulous and the recent ZOMBIELAND ranks close. Moving down the list I also have to recommend Dan O'Bannon's RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, which was pretty funny.

Well if you are talking about FUNIEST zombie movie ever than I would totally agree that Shaun of the Dead is #1 followed by Zombieland

Fulci's Zombie, The Dawn of the Dead remake, NOTLD, the first NOTLD remake also have a close place in my heart.

28 Days Later does as well, although it isn't so much a zombie flick. Speaking of 28 Days Later, I loved the marauders in Serenity who had a good bit in common with the Infected in their final attack in that film.

Best independent zombie films would either be Come Get Some! or Siege of the Dead.

Best zom com, I would have to go with Shaun of the Dead. Am I the only one who disliked Dead and Breakfast?

I guess you mean Fulci's ZOMBI 2, which was amazing.

Say does anyone recall an Italian film about zombies (or plague victims) in a movie theatre? I seem to recall seeing it during my Italian horror phase, but haven't been able to track it down. It must have been made in the late '60s to mid-70s and I saw it on VHS. I believe it ends with the creatures escaping into the city.

Thanks, Nick. It was indeed "Demoni" by Lamberto Bava. A friend had turned me onto the Italian horror masters Bava, Fulci, etc. and I was trying to see as many as I could. This was in the mid-late '80s when I was living in New York.

re: Thee_ron_clark (new)Jan 15, 2010 09:49AM
Dead and Breakfast was awful. i didnt get it at all. doomsday isnt really a zombie flick but i LOVE it i mean cannibals are almost like zombies right?

Dawn of Dead orig and Remake, sorry I really like it. I know fast zombies stink.

Zombieland honorable mention as well as Shaun.

Some not yet mentioned: The Signal (2007), Peter Jackson's Braindead (or Dead Alive), End of the Line (not true zombie as it deals with cultists, but same concept).

For comedy check out the recent Norwegian gorefest Dead Snow & the silly Flight of the Living Dead (or Dead Plane).

Slither has yet to be mentioned.

I adore Slither. It's so twisted and fun, and hell Nathan Fillion's easy on the eyes. Makes me miss Firefly suddenly, but back to this conversation! :o)

Slither's more about alien parasites, right? Regardless, one of my favorite zombie (more-or-less) movies is Night of the Comet. Also a fave Christmas movie of mine too.

Not really a zombie movie, but a mini series that ran in England...Dead Set. Frakking AMAZING!

I loved BRAINDEAD. A friend who had seen it kept nagging me and I had to thank him when I finally saw it. You just know the folks who did SHAUN OF THE DEAD must have seen it!

Honorable mention to a Canadian goodie, "Rabid".

I would say Dawn of The Dead. It's scary and exciting. I'm not a fan of classic zombie movies, simply because it's so predictable to me, and most don't make since.

heh good point michael. I love the original NOTLD but the zombies were caused by a space probe from venus or something... WTF? plotlines in zombie movie can be amusingly ridiculous

Have you seen Rabid? A zombie plague in Montreal is the result of a skin-grafting operation. It is Cronenberg, after all. (And yes, as Sarah'sDad pointed out, a goodie nonetheless.)

logan wrote: "how about legoin"

Legion is angels, not zombies.

Shaun of the dead was the best although not entirely realistic, it definately was good. dawn of the dead came close but nothing beats shaun.lol

Lot of great movies mentioned here. I would feel poorer if I had missed any of them. Still Return of the Living Dead was my first Z movie and one that remains dear to me. Dead Alive also rocked, lots of great one liners and gross out scenes.

I'm really looking forward to a World War Z adaption but fear the studios will F it up. Of course AMC has a pilot for The Walking Dead in the works... and that could be a wholly new type of experience.

Kelly wrote: "Shaun of the Dead is my choice for best zombie movie ever. I do have to admit I love the remake of Dawn of the Dead...not sure if I should be embarrassed to admit this! haha"

No worries Kelly. I love the Dawn of the Dead remake as well.

Kelly, No need to be embarrassed. The "Dawn of the Dead" remake is one of the best zombie flicks ever made.

And of course there's the little known I Sell the Dead which is just great on both the comedy and the horror levels.

I Sell the Dead was a good movie. Not really Zombie per se but enjoyable for non SAW Horror watchers. I mean to say, watchers who dont require Human beings torturing each other to enjoy a movie.

O h DEAD SNOW ( Finnish movie ) was really fun and Carriers though it was a virus not Zombies.

Was DEAD SNOW the film about Nazi zombies? I saw a trailer for that and thought it looked pretty interesting.

Zybahn wrote: "Have you seen Rabid? A zombie plague in Montreal is the result of a skin-grafting operation. It is Cronenberg, after all. (And yes, as Sarah'sDad pointed out, a goodie nonetheless.)"

Cronenberg is always fascinating and sometimes amazing. This was poor Marilyn Chambers' attempt to go legit after her porn career, which, it seems,she returned to after this film.

Steve wrote: "Was DEAD SNOW the film about Nazi zombies?"

Yes it is. Funny & very gory.

Steve wrote: "This was poor Marilyn Chambers' attempt to go legit after her porn career, which, it seems,she returned to after this film. "

Since she was (needlessly) without clothes throughout much of the movie, I wouldn't really say that she left her other career.

Dead snow becomes very gory in an Evil Dead campy kind of way toward the end. Funny movie!

For me it's the director's cut of the 2004 DAWN OF THE DEAD. Although I prefer my literary zombies to be slow shamblers, I like fast ones on screen. Plus, the movie had interesting characters and excellent character actors. Plus lots of hidden references to previous zombie films (the news chopper from the original Dawn, a Ken Foree cameo, Tom Savini as the sheriff, etc.). I find this one to be endlessly watchable.

Geez....I wrote a whole chapter on that in ZOMBIE CSU. My guess is that it would depend on where they are in terms of rigor (which wears off) and decomposition. And on how much damage the motor cortex has sustained.

If the body is fresh and there's relatively little cranial trauma, then fast seems likely. Once rigor sets in they'd slow down; and when rigor wears off muscle tissue begins to decompose. So, fast-then-slow makes sense to me. In as far as science will stretch considering we're talking about zoms.

Has anyone seen The Signal? It was not that great (nor was it strictly a zombie movie), but you do get an inside peek at the thoughts of the infected which was different and amusing.

Basic Synopsis taken from IMDb: Imagine every cell phone, radio, and television in your city suddenly broadcasting the same mysterious signal over and over. Now imagine these "terminus" transmissions evoking violent, uncontrollable, psychotic chaos from everyone who comes in contact with them.

The Signal invades the minds of everyday citizens living their workaday lives and having their sordid affairs. Suddenly struck by the power of the insidious transmissions, they are compelled to kill or be killed. Complicating matters is a zombielike resistance some characters have to the idea of remaining dead. The story violently explodes, blending bloody gore with psychological satire, for a truly original horror experience. The Atlanta filmmaking team of David Bruckner, Dan Bush, and Jacob Gentry tell the eerie tale in three parts (cleverly called "transmissions"), shifting perspectives to draw out a larger story that explores dark secrets and fears as well as jealousy and betrayal.

The original Zombie Flick Night Of The Living Dead.
George Romero did something no one else even conceived if it wasn't for that movie I honestly don't think zombies would even be popular today.

Close second 28 Weeks Later haha

Of course not. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD started the entire genre. All zombie flicks before that belong to a different genre that tap into the Haitian voodoo beliefs.

It should be noted, however, that Romero didn't call his monsters zombies until Land of the Dead. It was the Italian filmmakers (Dario Argento and company) who started calling the Romero monsters 'zombies'. So the zombie genre we're all discussing here began with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

Romero unleashed the monsters on all of us....

Thank You Jonathan

William wrote: "Has anyone seen The Signal? It was not that great (nor was it strictly a zombie movie), but you do get an inside peek at the thoughts of the infected which was different and amusing.

Basic Syno..."

Saw that awhile back and liked it. Supposedly Stephen King's book Cell is going to be made into a movie which has a similar story.

A couple fun zombie-esque movies but are more "creature features" - Black Sheep and Splinter. Mulberry Street was fun to watch as well.

William wrote: "Has anyone seen The Signal? It was not that great (nor was it strictly a zombie movie), but you do get an inside peek at the thoughts of the infected which was different and amusing.

Basic Syno..."

I recall seeing a trailer for the film, but never have seen it. It seemed to be a rip-off of Stephen King's CELL, which has a similar plot. Not sure which came out first.

Anyone care for HOUSE OF THE DEAD? Not a great film, but fun since it has both the slow & speedy zombies. Made sense that the Undead would still be quick immediately after resurection and then begin to stiffen over time.

Saw some of the cast interviewed, with some trailers & behind the scenes stuff at a "Fangoria Weekend of Horror" in NYC months before the film came out. Made me want to catch it when I could.

Steve wrote: I recall seeing a trailer for the film, but never have seen it. It seemed to be a rip-off of Stephen King's CELL, which has a similar plot. Not sure which came out first.

It was certainly similar to Cell, but different enough to be worthy of a view.

If I get the chance I'll try to catch it. FearNet is always playing new shows and I'm sure it will be there soon if not already.

Hi, I'm Nydia and I am a zombiholic. My favorites include:

- Night of the Living Dead (original) - Saw this as a kid and I've been hooked on zombies ever since. It's like a gateway drug :)

- Dawn of the Dead (Remake) - I LOVE this movie even if some of the purists hate it. I don't mind fast zombies, because that makes them more dangerous. If they were all slow, I'd be saying, "hey look, a zombie... maybe when he gets to the porch I'll think about scooting out of his way...."

Return of the Living Dead 1 & 2 - Also a classic that left me jonesing for more.

28 Days Later - Great movie, although I wish it had ended more tragically... I kept waiting for the plane at the end to drop a bomb. That's what I would have done... LOL.

Shaun of the Dead - Hilariously funny. The best of the funny zombie movies.

Nydia wrote: "28 Days Later - Great movie, although I wish it had ended more tragically... "

Have you seen the director's original ending? It's available as an extra on the dvd. Excellent and most definitely tragic.

Patient Zero whens its made :)

So the concensus is Night of The Living Dead. A classic, which is actually still frightening. I like what Nydia said "A gateway drug" for zombie stories. I think you need to separate the 'serious' zombie movies from the 'comedy' zombie movies. 28 Days Later is serious, Zombieland is comedy.

I still am reminded, in the back of my mind, of Evil Dead every time I walk in the woods....

My favorite zombie flicks are Day of the Dead (original) and Night of the Living Dead (the remake).

Cj wrote: "Patient Zero whens its made :) "
What's Patient Zero?

Amanda wrote: "Cj wrote: "Patient Zero whens its made :) "
What's Patient Zero?"

It's a book by Jonathan Maberry: Patient Zero: A Joe Ledger Novel

Thanks! I'll have to check it out.

Still the George Romero's Night of the Living Dead...Classic.. Can't go wrong.