
There are many horror brands that scare and delight audiences, but zombies have experienced a renaissance that has helped make it a staple of the 21st century take on the horror genre. Zombies are a rich concept that can work as terrifying threats as well as compelling metaphors for larger social evils and that is why the subgenre has become such classic horror component.
Audiences have become quite savvy when it comes to horror, which has prompted the genre to work harder for create real scares. Some modern movies just can’t compare to the classics, but there are some very satisfying current horror movies that shouldn’t be overlooked.
ten Overlord is a thrilling ode to classic B-Horror cinema
Initially thought to have links with growth Cloverfield universe, the product JJ Abrams Suzerain is a very surprising take on the zombie genre which is also a major throwback to classic horror. Suzerain is a stylistic masterpiece set during the tumultuous period of WWII. He uses this conflict and genetic experiments as the perfect backdrop for an unconventional approach to mad science and undead monsters. Suzerain is full of classic zombie staples, but also embraces with love its atmosphere of war to defy expectations and inject even more drama into the storyline.
9 #Alive takes on social media, gaming with claustrophobic zombie attack
South Korea is constantly reinventing horror in exciting ways and #Living is a 2020 zombie movie that applies a very modern twist to an undead invasion. #Living focuses on a reclusive video game streamer who is forced to stay in his claustrophobic apartment after finally realizing that a zombie outbreak is brewing outside. #Living plays smart with its limited space and uses social media angle to say new things with the zombie genre that also feel incredibly prescient and important. He impressively balances his horror and comedy so that one extreme never completely overshadows the other.
8 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake lets zombies escape their pasts
The original by George A. Romero Dawn of the Dead 1978 is probably the strongest of his classic zombie films, but Zack Snyder’s 2004 reinterpretation becomes the perfect distillation of the 21st century obsession with remixing the zombie staples.
Snyder’s direction and James Gunn’s screenplay give Romero an original new life, sharp black humor, and terrifying twists like the rise of fast-moving zombies. the years 2004 Dawn of the Dead shows that nothing is too sacred and that cinema is allowed to play with zombie staples in a major way.
7 Dead Snow is the most ridiculous mix of extremes ever
Horror is one of the few genres where an increasing 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 2009 Norwegian film, Dead snow, he chooses to combine zombies with snowy terrain and determined undead Nazis. Dead snow is exaggerated in every department and the exaggerated threat of Nazi zombies sort of works. There are also not enough horror movies that take advantage of snowy environments, which Dead snow performs with confidence.
6 Anna And the Apocalypse turns a zombie plague into a musical extravaganza
Horror has become such a pervasive genre that it’s frequently ambitiously deconstructed. Horror and comedy hybrids are nothing new, but the British film Anna and the Apocalypse shoot for the moon with a zombie movie also a musical. The juxtaposition between these contrasting styles could be a disaster, but it sticks to the landing. Anna and the Apocalypse won’t scare many people, but the songs are catchy and the choreography is entertaining. Ella Hunt puts everything in the role of Anna and the movie is a great example of how to do something different with the genre.
5 Shaun Of The Dead Is Considered The Zom-Com Trainer
Edgar Wright is one of the most exciting and ambitious filmmakers working in the industry today. Each of Wright’s films demonstrates a mastery of the genre and his first cinematic effort, Shaun of the dead, lovingly takes the horror obsession with zombies.
Shaun of the Dead features plenty of powerful zombie attacks, but it’s also full of witty dialogue and plots that have even more bite than zombies. Zombie humor takes aren’t for everyone, but it’s hard to top what is accomplished in Shaun of the Dead.
4 One Cut Of The Dead is a movie meta-masterpiece
There is no such thing when a strong concept meets a brilliant execution and the Japanese horror film, A cup of the dead, is a remarkable example. The film takes a look at a motley team of independent filmmakers who see their humble zombie flick interrupted by a veritable zombie epidemic. The juxtaposition between their shoddy product and the actual invasion is amazing, but the real highlight of the film is how everything is shot in one unbroken take. It’s a technical masterpiece that will amaze filmmakers who aren’t even interested in the zombie genre.
3 Train To Busan is a terrifying and heartfelt flick that future zombie films should aspire to
Train to Busan is a zombie movie from South Korea that is like Snowdrops mix with Night of the Living Dead. Terrified passengers on a high-speed train learn that a zombie invasion is gathering outside the vehicle. What follows is a stunning look at zombies and widespread panic, but there’s a real emotional core that brings much needed pathos to the disaster movie. The the recent sequel to the film, Peninsula, doesn’t repeat the same magic, but it’s another very progressive and entertaining review of zombies and social strife.
2 [REC] Combine zombies with found horror images for stunning results
The horror of the images found generated a bad reputation due to how the stylistic device was lazily abused after successful efforts like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal activity. [REC] is always a film of found formative images and a testament to what style of shooting can accomplish. The film examines a locked-out apartment complex, which gradually becomes more infested with the invasive and voracious threat. [REC] spawns a whole slew of movies, and the second entry makes it clear that these monsters aren’t exactly zombies, but the original movie doesn’t shatter that illusion.
1 28 days later, chronicles of a world in free fall mode with breathtaking nihilism
28 days later is Danny Boyle’s foray into zombie horror and he displays the destruction and isolation of the world with unwavering sadness. 28 days later creates a palpable sense of hopelessness that so many zombie movies lack, whether it’s through the rabies bug, the movie’s isolating visuals, or the untrustworthy version of the government. The sequel, 28 weeks later, is an equally terrifying business, which some even prefer. There are still regular discussions about a third entry in the series, which makes it a great time to revisit the original or check it out for the first time.
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