There are numerous brands of horror that frighten and delight audiences, but zombies have undergone a renaissance that’s helped make them a staple fixture of the 21st century’s take on the horror genre. Zombies are a rich concept that can function as terrifying threats as well as compelling metaphors for larger social ills and it’s why the sub-genre has become such a classic component of horror.
Audiences have become quite savvy regarding horror, which has pushed the genre to work harder to create genuine scares. Some modern movies just can’t compare with the classics, but there are some very satisfying current horror films that should not go overlooked.
10 Overlord Is A Thrilling Ode To Classic B-Horror Cinema
Initially thought to possibly have connections to the growing Cloverfield universe, the J.J. Abrams-produced Overlord is a very surprising take on the zombie genre that’s also a major throwback to classic horror. Overlord is a stylistic masterpiece that’s set during the tumultuous times of World War II. It uses this conflict and genetic experiments as the perfect backdrop for an unconventional take on mad science and undead monsters. Overlord is full of classic zombie staples, but also lovingly embraces its war atmosphere to defy expectations and inject even more drama into the scenario.
9 #Alive Tackles Social Media And Gaming Through A Claustrophobic Zombie Attack
South Korea constantly reinvents horror in exciting ways and #Alive is a zombie movie from 2020 that applies a very modern twist to an undead invasion. #Alive centers around a reclusive video game streamer who is forced to remain in his claustrophobic apartment after he eventually realizes that a zombie outbreak is brewing outside. #Alive cleverly plays with its limited space and uses the social media angle to say some new things with the zombie genre that also feel incredibly prescient and important. It impressively balances its horror and comedy so that one extreme never fully overshadows the other.
8 2004’s Dawn Of The Dead Remake Allows Zombies To Run Away From Their Past
George A. Romero's original Dawn of the Dead from 1978 is likely the strongest of his classic zombie movies, but Zack Snyder's 2004 reinterpretation becomes the perfect distillation of the 21st century's obsession with remixing zombie staples.
Snyder's direction and James Gunn's script give Romero's original new life, an acerbic dark humor, and some terrifying twists like the advent of fast zombies. 2004's Dawn of the Dead shows that nothing is too sacred and that cinema is allowed to mess with zombie staples in major ways.
7 Dead Snow Is The Most Ridiculous Mix Of Extremes
Horror is one of the few genres where a growing amount of absurdity can sometimes work in the film's favor. Zombies are such an archetype that it's often a popular idea to combine these monsters with other radical ideas. In the case of the Norwegian 2009 movie, Dead Snow, it chooses to combine zombies with a snowy terrain and determined undead Nazis. Dead Snow is over the top in every single department and the exaggerated threat of Nazi zombies somehow works. There are also not enough horror movies that take advantage of snowy environments, which Dead Snow confidently accomplishes.
6 Anna And The Apocalypse Turns A Zombie Outbreak Into A Musical Extravaganza
Horror has become such a well trodden genre that it's frequently being deconstructed in ambitious ways. Horror and comedy hybrids are nothing new, but the British film Anna and the Apocalypse shoots for the moon with a zombie movie that's also a musical. The juxtaposition between these contrasting styles could be a disaster, but it sticks the landing. Anna and the Apocalypse won’t scare many people, but the songs are catchy and the choreography is entertaining. Ella Hunt pours everything into the Anna role and the movie is a fitting example of how to do something different with the genre.
5 Shaun Of The Dead Is Considered To Be The Formative Zom-Com
Edgar Wright is one of the most exciting and ambitious filmmakers that is currently working in the industry. Every one of Wright’s movies demonstrates a mastery over genre and his debut cinematic effort, Shaun of the Dead, lovingly takes on horror’s obsession with zombies.
Shaun of the Dead features plenty of powerful zombie attacks, but it’s also full of witty dialogue and plotting that has even more bite than the zombies. Humorous takes on zombies aren’t for everyone, but it’s hard to top what’s accomplished in Shaun of the Dead.
4 One Cut Of The Dead Is A Meta Masterpiece Of Filmmaking
There's nothing quite like when a strong concept meets brilliant execution and the Japanese horror film, One Cut of the Dead, is a remarkable example of this. The movie looks at a team of ragtag independent filmmakers that have their humble zombie film interrupted by an actual zombie outbreak. The juxtaposition between their shoddy product and the actual invasion is stunning, but the film's true highlight is how it's all shot in a single unbroken take. It's a technical masterpiece that will amaze filmmakers that aren't even interested in the zombie genre.
3 Train To Busan Is A Terrifying And Heartfelt Movie That Future Zombie Films Should Aspire Towards
Train to Busan is a zombie movie out of South Korea that's like if Snowpiercer mixed together with Night of the Living Dead. The terrified passengers of a bullet train learn that a zombie invasion gathers outside of the vehicle. What follows is an amazing look at zombies and widespread panic, but there's a real emotional core that brings a necessary pathos to the disaster movie. The movie's recent sequel, Peninsula, doesn't recapture the same magic, but it's another very progressive and entertaining examination of zombies and social strife.
2 [REC] Combines Zombies With Found Footage Horror For Stunning Results
Found footage horror has generated a bit of a bad reputation due to how much the stylistic device has been lazily abused after successful efforts like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. [REC] is still a formative found footage film and a testament to what the filming style can accomplish. The movie examines an apartment complex in lockdown, which gradually becomes more infested with the invasive and ravenous threat. [REC] spawns a whole series of films and the second entry does clarify that these monsters aren't exactly zombies, but the original movie doesn't shatter this illusion.
1 28 Days Later Chronicles A World In Freefall Mode With Stunning Nihilism
28 Days Later is Danny Boyle's foray into zombie horror and he displays the destruction and isolation of the world with an unflinching bleakness. 28 Days Later creates a palpable feeling of hopelessness that so many zombie films lack, whether it's through the rage virus, the film’s isolating visuals, or the untrustworthy version of the government. The film’s sequel, 28 Weeks Later, is an equally terrifying endeavor, which some even prefer. There's still steady discussion on a third entry in the series, which makes it the perfect time to revisit the original or check it out for the first time.
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