Summary
The 1990s were a strange time forzombie movies, which didn’t have as many classics as other decades, although there were still great releases during this time. While George A. Romero’sNight of the Living Deadsignaled the birth of the modern zombie movie in the 1960s, and the 1970s and 1980s have countless iconic releases, the last decade before the millennium amounted to somewhat of a slump for the genre and may have been impacted by viewer fatigue from years gone by. However, despite this decline, some movies stood out amongst the rest and still hold up today.
Zombie movies during the 1990s consisted of many different genres as comedy horrors found mainstream success and intensely gory releases became normalized. Acclaimed directors like Hong Kong legend Wilson Yip, horror icon Clive Barker, and New Zealand extraordinaire Peter Jackson all put outincredible zombie movies. While it may not be considered a golden age for the genre,there were still plenty of incredible zombie movies to check out from the 1990s.
Ed and His Dead Mother
Cast
Ed and His Dead Mother is a comedy-horror film directed by Jonathan Wacks. The story centers around Ed Chilton, played by Steve Buscemi, who, a year after his mother’s death, is offered a chance to bring her back to life by a mysterious salesman. Despite the successful resurrection, Ed soon realizes that his reanimated mother, portrayed by Miriam Margolyes, is not quite the same as she once was.
While this dark comedy may not be exactly what horror fans expect when they think of zombie movies,Ed and His Dead Mothermeets the criteria for the genre and stands as an underappreciated 1990s eccentric gem. Steve Buscemi plays Ed Chilton, the son of an overbearing mother, who is convinced by a dodgy salesman to revive his dead mom for $1,000. However, things aren’t as simple as they seem asEd’s reanimated zombified mother starts acting bizarrely and unusual, spooks the neighbors, and chases dogs with knives.
Through its strong script and talented cast,Ed and His Dead Motheris an enjoyable cult oddity that fails to live up to the heights set by the very best zombie comedies of the 1990s and, at times, came across as a dollar store version ofDead Alive. However, for those looking for an underrated Buscemi movie to enjoy, then look no further.Ed and His Dead Motheris worth checking for lovers of comedy horror, but for those not accustomed to this genre, its odd nature may just be too weird.
Bio-Zombie
Bio-Zombie is a Hong Kong horror-comedy film directed by Wilson Yip. The plot revolves around two mall workers who encounter a horde of zombies after a soft drink tainted with a biological weapon turns people into the undead. Starring Jordan Chan and Sam Lee, the film blends elements of dark humor with traditional zombie horror, exploring themes of consumerism and survival.
Before he directed martial arts classics likeFlash PointandIp Man, director Wilson Yip paid homage to George A. Romero’s zombie movies withBio Zombie. This Hong Kong zombie comedy echoed elements of Reomero’sDawn of the Deadand shared some similarities with the Peter Jackson zombie classicDead Alive.Bio Zombiefollowed a group of shoppers and employees who were forced to face a horde of zombies in a busy shopping center.
WhileBio Zombiemay feel derivative of other zombie movies that came before it, it also wore its influences on its sleeve and proudly paid homage to the work of other filmmakers. With plenty of 1990s special effects and many twists and turns,Bio Zombiewas an enjoyable addition to the genre as it perfectly blended comedy with horror. While the focus is on the comedic elements,Bio Zombiealso knew when to take things seriously as it built toward its epic conclusion.
A teenage slacker’s right hand becomes possessed with murderous intent.
The1990s were a great time for teen movies, and the cult comedyIdle Handsdelivered an outrageous teen zombie movie that was woefully underrated. As a box office bomb when it was first released,Idle Handsfeatured Devon Sawa as a stoner teenager whose hand becomes possessedand goes on a killing spree. Never has the saying that the Devil makes quick work of idle hands been truer than in this energetic time capsule to an era of moviemaking the likes of which may never be seen again.
With a punk rock soundtrack featuring The Offspring, Blink 182, and The Vandals, as well as over-the-top performances from Sawa, Seth Green, and Jessica Alba,Idle Handswas full of stoner humor that became even wilder once the hand was chopped off and began acting independently. Both horrifying and hilarious,Idle HandspredatedScary Movieby one year and proved there was a cinematic appetite for comedy horrors during this time. For those looking for a horror spoof that doesn’t forget the horror part, check outIdle Hands.
Nightbreed
Nightbreed, released in 1990, follows a troubled young man as he discovers Midian, a mystical sanctuary for benevolent monsters hidden from the human world. As he seeks refuge, a sadistic serial killer pursues him, complicating his quest for belonging and peace.
The legend of British horror Clive Barker came to prominence with hisBooks of Bloodand for creating theHellraiserfranchise, but he also wrote and directed one of the best zombie movies of the 1990s,Nightbreed. This story follows an unstable mental patient believed to be a serial killer who seeks refuge in an abandoned cemetery. From here, the man named Aaron Boone encounters a zombified tribe of monsters known as the Nightbreed who hide from humanity.
Nightbreedshowcases terrifying otherworldly creatures, unique designs, and an impressive amount of worldbuilding from writer and director Barker. Withclear inspirations from Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Nightbreed is an ambitious creature feature with dark undertones. Lovers of body horror will also be excited to see none other than David Cronenberg play a major role as Dr. Philip K. Decker, a psychotherapist who doubles as a masked serial killer.
Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island
The Mystery Gang reunite and visit Moonscar Island, a remote island with a dark secret. Daphne wants more than just a villain in a costume, and they get more than they ever expected.
While horror purists may be reluctant to call aScooby-Doomovie one of the best zombie films of the 1990s, it’s impossible to deny thatScooby-Doo on Zombie Islandwas a really engaging film. As the absolute pinnacle of Scooby and the Mystery Inc. gang’s feature-length adventures, this direct-to-video release perfectly blended comedy and horror for kids. With real pirate zombie monsters facing the gang, thisfelt like the most urgent adventure Shaggy and Scooby had ever encountered.
The appeal ofScooby-Doo on Zombie Islandwas that it had a far darker tone than any other installment. The animation in this film was far superior to the previous TV outings in the series, and the stakes were much higher once the gang realized the zombies were actually real and that there was no disgruntled businessman behind the strange happenings.Scooby-Doo on Zombie Islandwas a fast-paced adventure that revitalized the franchise for a new generation of kids.
10 Best Scooby-Doo Movies, Ranked
From direct-to-video releases to theatrical movies, Scooby, Shaggy, and the Mystery Inc. gang have had so many spooky adventures over the years.
Cemetery Man
Cemetery Man is a 1994 horror-comedy film directed by Michele Soavi, featuring Rupert Everett as Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery caretaker who must confront reanimated corpses and his own existential dilemmas. The film explores themes of life, death, and the nature of reality, blending macabre humor with philosophical undertones.
The Italian filmmaker Michele Soavi channeled the styles of Sam Raimi’sEvil Deadand the horror classicRe-Animatorfor the comedy horrorCemetery Man. Based on the novelDellamorte Dellamoreby Tiziano Sclavi,Cemetery Manstarred Rupert Everett as a caretaker searching for love, all while defending himself from the dead people who won’t stop rising from his graves. With surreal humor and a unique style, thisunderrated zombie moviewill satisfy lovers of B-movie horror fun.
Cemetery Manwas titledDellamorte Dellamorein Italy and waspraised by Martin Scorsese as one of the best Italian movies of the 1990s(viaNY Times.) With political undertones, the endless rising undead acted as a powerful and unconventional metaphor for the continual rise of fascism and the need to tirelessly fight against tyranny. WhileCemetery Mancan be enjoyed for its straight-up horror antics, buried just below the surface was plenty of hidden depth.
Return of the Living Dead 3
Having recently witnessed the horrific results of a top secret project to bring the dead back to life, a distraught youth performs the operation on his girlfriend after she’s killed in a motorcycle accident.
As one of the best horror sequels of the 1990s,Return of the Living 3deserved credit for bringing something new into the well-worn franchise. While screenwriting legend Dan O’Bannon made horror history with the firstReturn of the Living Dead, which introduced the concept of brain-eating zombies to the genre, this third installment had an almostRomeo and Juliet-style love story at the center of its premise. As the angsty teen couple, Curt Reynolds and Julie Walker, promised to love each other forever, this vow was tested after Julie was reanimated as a brain-eating zombie.
Return of the Living Dead 3maintained O’Bannon’s unique style whileBrian Yuzna took over directional duties. However, the punk rock aesthetic of the previous entries was replaced with a more moody and grungy 1990s feel and style. WhileReturn of the Living Dead 3could not live up to the greatest heights of this franchise, it was a worthy successor and a must-watch movie for zombie lovers.
10 Best Horror Sequels Of The 1990s
It can be notoriously difficult to make a great horror sequel, although the 1990s delivered its fair share of scares with worthy follow-ups.
Bride of Re-Animator
Bride of Re-Animator is a horror-science fiction film directed by Brian Yuzna. Set eight months after the events of its predecessor, the film follows Dr. Herbert West and Dr. Dan Cain as they continue their experiments in reanimating dead tissue, resulting in a monstrous and grisly outcome. Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Abbott reprise their roles, advancing the story’s exploration of the boundaries between life and death.
WhileBride of Re-Animatordidn’t quite live up to the standard set bythe greatest H.P. Lovecraft adaptationever made,Re-Animator, it still stood as a fantastic horror sequel.Bride of Re-Anmatorcontinued the original retelling of the short story “Herbert West–Reanimator” as a scientist attempted to create a living woman from dead tissue. This extraordinary zombie premise also harkened back to horror classics likeBirde of Frankenstein, whose legacy gave the film its namesake.
Bride of Re-Animatorfeatured plenty of returning cast members from the original and was an insightful Lovecraftian tale of man’s attempts to use science to push past the limits of mortality. With incredible stop motion and puppetry effects,Bride of Re-Animatormaintained the outrageous style of the original, although it lacked its cohesiveness. While the first film has maintained widespread popularity, this enjoyable entry does not get nearly enough credit for just how fun it is.
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead (1990) is a remake of George A. Romero’s 1968 classic, directed by Tom Savini. The film follows a group of strangers who barricade themselves in a rural farmhouse to escape an onslaught of reanimated corpses. Tony Todd and Patricia Tallman star, capturing the chaotic struggle for survival and the breakdown of societal norms amidst a terrifying undead siege.
It almost felt like blasphemy to remake George A. Romero’s zombie classicNight of the Living Dead, but somehow, director Tom Savini pulled it off. Part of the reason this version felt like such a creative success was that Romero rewrote his original screenplay for this release and gave his approval as an official remake, as opposed to the countless other versions out there due to its lack of copyright and status within the public domain. Like the original,Night of the Living Deadfeatured seven strangers trying to survive a zombie apocalypsein a rural farmhouse.
The initial response toNight of the Living Deadwas generally negative; however, over the years, it has been reappraised as one of the best horror remakes ever. The racial politics of the original film have been replaced with a more gender-based discourse as it continued zombie movies' role as representations of the angst of contemporary society. With a feminist spin,Night of the Living Deadproved its worth, and although it does not exceed the power of the original, it certainly justified its existence.
Dead Alive
Dead Alive follows the story of a young man, Lionel Cosgrove, as he contends with his overbearing mother who becomes a zombie after being bitten by a rare Sumatran rat-monkey. Set in a suburban neighborhood, Dead Alive offers a unique take on the traditional zombie narrative.
Before gaining worldwide recognition with theLord of the Ringsfranchise, New Zealand director Peter Jackson made several acclaimed cult horror classics. Perhaps Jackon’s greatest achievement in the early part of his career wasDead Alive, also released asBraindead, which stood as the greatest zombie movie of the 1990s. With a plot involvinga man’s mother bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey and turned into an unstoppable killing machine,Dead Aliveperfectly balanced over-the-top horror with absurdist comedy.
With elements of romcom and plenty of splattery gore, looking back on the incredible achievement ofDead Alivemakes viewers wish that Jackson had continued to make more lower-budgetzombie horror moviesin conjunction with his massive Middle-earth blockbusters. Part of the unnerving power ofDead Alivewas that it was so hilarious and disgusting that viewers were unsure whether they wanted to laugh or cry. The gore special effects were top-tier, the humor was on point, and everything aboutDead Alivejust worked.
