Michael A. Appel 
When George A. Romero night of the living dead was released in 1968, there was no way to predict the impact it would have, not only on the horror genre but also on everyday life. The zombie as an allegory and beast of carnage was popularized by the macabre classic, and the undead’s reputation as resurrected titans of the screen was cemented by Romero’s follow-up, dawn of the dead and countless other zombie games such as 28 days later and Shaun of the dead.
Since 1968, a variety of different zombie species have emerged in popular culture, and chief among them is the Nazi zombie. In part because of their prominent inclusion in video games like Call of Duty and Wolfenstein, there is a strange fascination with the horrifying concept of these warrior walkers. Naturally, filmmakers flocked to the idea, bringing their own visions to the big screen of what a plague would look like in the middle of World War II.
5 Frankenstein’s Army (2013)
Working with the twisted diary of infamous Doctor Victor Frankenstein, Nazi scientists perform bizarre and nightmarish experiments on the corpses of their dead comrades. Set towards the end of World War II, Hitler’s last desperate ploy to win the war is nothing short of horrific. Born out of what would have been the first crowdsourced horror film in the early 2000s, this schlocky horror flick was originally conceived as the story of undead German soldiers attacking unsuspecting vacationers on a beach. .
Original title worst case scenario, and directed by Richard Raaphorst, a concept designer and screenwriter best known for his work on bloodthirsty genre flicks, he does his first and seemingly last stab here as a director/screenwriter combo. With that, however, he’s created a modern cult classic that will turn stomachs and leave horror fans wanting more.
4 Blood Stream (2009)
This action horror flick surprises audiences a bit, mostly due to its unexpected star power. Although not a traditional zombie movie filled with a massive population plagued by a terrible virus, the film stars Geralt of Rivia himself, Henry Cavill, alongside the famous actor of cartoon action drama, Michael Fassbender. Add to the mix Joel Schumacher, director of over-the-top cult favorites batman forever and Falland the result is a bloody, action-packed good time that will interest die-hard horror fans.
In 1936, an unassuming German family in West Virginia named the Wollners happily accept an unusual visitor from the Third Reich. Miserable and promised a good sum of money, they welcome the stranger with open arms. To their horror, the stranger (Fassbender) is a scholar in the occult arts. By heartbreaking means, the Wollners hold him captive. Several years later, in 2007, Evan Marshall’s brother Victor goes missing near the former Wollner residence and it appears the Nazi cultist has survived.
3 “B-17” from Heavy Metal (1981)
“B-17” is one of many short segments that make up the spectacular sci-fi/fantasy/horror/comedy animated film from producer Ivan Reitman (who will be well known to ghost hunters fans). The film as a whole is a horror anthology of shorts loosely tied to the theme of an evil force that is the sum of all evils. Each story is adapted from a short story published in the comic book magazine, heavy metal, and became famous (or infamous) for featuring graphic sex and violence. It’s a favorite among fans of schlock and 80s excess.
“B-17” is shorter than the other segments in the movie, but it serves up great horror animation that has yet to be matched. Written by Dan O’Bannon (who is one of the geniuses behind the Extraterrestrial franchise, the Return of the Living Deadand Total recall), the segment tells the story of the World War II B-17 bomber, the Pearl of the Pacific, and the terrifying tragedy that strikes her after a fatal mission. Co-pilot Holden leaves the cockpit to check on his crew, only to find that they have died and been resurrected to become undead. It’s the definition of “short and sweet” and an underrated horror short.
2 Puppet Master III: Revenge of Toulon (1991)
The third entry in this long-running horror franchise, which has spawned not only 10 films but several spin-off comics, games, and prequel films, is a classic revenge story. Guy Rolfe embodies the titular Toulon. In war-torn Berlin, Andre and Elsa Toulon put on whimsical puppet shows for children that portray the leader of the Nazi Party as a clumsy fool who is shot by an American cowboy puppet. They are soon interrupted by Dr. Hess, a scientist employed by the Germans to discover a way to bring the dead back to life. The next day, Elsa is assassinated by soldiers for treason and Toulon narrowly escapes.
Although on the surface a weird horror/fantasy, the film is a satisfying tale of revenge. Toulon, with his animated puppets in tow, goes on a mission to kill those who destroyed his family. Viewers won’t feel overtly lost in the overall story if they choose to start with the third entry.
1 Overlord (2018)
Produced by JJ Abrams and written by two people whose work includes The ghostscreen adaptation of The hunger Gamesand Vacancy, it is surprising that Suzerain was as misunderstood as he was. The audience follows a team of American paratroopers who parachute behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day in order to destroy a Third Reich radio tower. In suicide squad style, however, several soldiers are executed, and the remaining few must bravely continue.
Similar to other genre films, like From dusk till dawn, Suzerain emerges halfway through as a disturbing zombie thriller with Nazi experiments and life-saving drugs. The film is packed with hands-on special effects, so fans of old-school movies, puppets, and animatronics will be delighted by the unsettling, real-life transformation scenes and intense action.
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