Sunday, July 18, 2010

Looking At Popular Zombie Movies

The Zombie DiariesBy Adriana Noton

Horror movies are a driving force in the film industry. With that being said, zombie movies are a large section of the horror genre, providing a rich and exciting sub-genre to the industry. Audiences consistently flock to theaters to experience the thrills of these types of movies, indicating that they will be around for a long time.

Zombies have been a relatively large part of pop culture for quite some time. There are countless takes on zombies that leave films open to artistic interpretation and exploration. You will generally find two types of zombies. The first, and most popular, are the reanimated corpses of dead individuals. Other interpretations rely on mindless or brainwashed, living humans. These entities are generally frightening, no matter what form they take, and speak to a primal fear in all of us.

Obviously, opinions will differ. However, many movies have a general consensus as classic examples of the genre. One of the most popular of this genre is "Night of the living dead". This is a film directed by perhaps the most popular name in zombie films, George Romero. This movie, set in middle-class America, was released in 1968 as an independent black and white film that revolutionized previous thoughts on the genre.

In 1978, George Romero would release the second movie in the "Living Dead" series. This film, titled "Dawn of the Dead", is an undeniable classic that has inspired countless imitations. Largely popular through its supposed critiquing of consumerism, as well as being a great character piece, this film explores the plight of a group of survivors who seek shelter inside a shopping mall.

Building upon the formula set forth by the classics, there are many modern films that hold special attention. One of these is the 2003 release of "Shaun of the Dead". This movie is a satirical, comedic horror film that is unique in this niche. However, most people consider the film as one of the most entertaining zombie movies of all time, combining gore, horror, and interesting characters to pilot a new take on the medium.

2004's remake of the classic "Dawn of the Dead" is also considered an instant classic of the zombie movie genre. Director Zach Snyder's vision, like the original, centers on a group of survivors and their attempt at survival through barricading themselves in a mall. This remake exhibits faster and generally more psychotic zombies than the original. It is considered a faithful tribute, yet displays a new twist on the classic.

Another exciting new film that shines a new light on zombie films is titled "28 Days Later. Directed by Danny Boyle and released in 2002, this film received both critical and commercial success and is dubbed an instant classic. Made popular by lightning quick, ravenous zombies, as well as inspired shots of abandoned cities, this movies follows the breakdown of social structure due to an accidental virus outbreak.

In the horror niche, zombie films are an established sub-genre that does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Not only do they provide us with thrills and chills, but often they approach many different topics in a subliminal fashion. Zombie films have been popular for decades, and will be successful for quite some time.

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