Of all the different niches ofhorrormovies, the zombie flick is one of the most enduring, with each generation of filmmakers bringing their unique perspective to the narrative. In recent years, we’ve seen exciting changes within the zombie genre, as many of the tropes and rules of these stories established by classics likeNight of the Living Deadhave been subverted and altered to suit the contemporary era. While there are many great zombie movies produced by Hollywood,there are legions of innovative titles that have come from countries besides the U.S.
Plenty ofunconventional zombie movies break away from the genre, and these great international projects showcase that writers and directors everywhere are interested in seeing how far they can push the concept of the zombie. From bloody, gory films that make you want to turn away from the screen to satirical narratives that play with your expectations, these movies have it all. Lately,many of the best zombie films have been grappling with zombies as a metaphor for worldwide diseaseand catastrophe, often being combined with the post-apocalyptic genre.
Martin Freeman’s underrated realistic zombie movieCargohas long been overlooked within the genre. However, watching the Australian film today demonstrates why it’s such an emotionally gripping horror movie. Zombism is referred to as a virus within the world ofCargo, but the effects of infection work the same way, and it’s clear that anyone who gets bitten isn’t long for this world.The ticking clock of Andy’s (Freeman) infection is the background ofCargoas he attempts to get his infant daughter to safety.
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These movies grapple with the days before the apocalypse and actually bring the characters and audience over the edge into Earth’s final moments.
Incorporating many of the best elements of the post-apocalyptic genre,Cargoalso grapples with the legacy of Australia’s treatment of Indigenous Australians. Andy encounters the young girl Thoomi (Simone Landers), who helps Andy find a safe place for his daughter to be raised after he’s gone. Freeman is doubtlessly at his best inCargo, and the complex project is a tender portrait of love and sacrifice against insurmountable odds.The setting of rural Australia also provides a unique atmosphere,as so many zombie films focus on urban environments.
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Oftentimes, in zombie movies, when a person is infected, it’s a tragic loss, and the characters' connections make the outbreak even more terrifying. This isn’t the case inDead Snow,a Norwegian film that doesn’t just have zombies; it has Nazi zombies.If the undead weren’t horrifying and evil enough,Dead Snowadds these extra elements. This ensures that the audience is appropriately prepared to cheer when the zombies are blown up and scream when they’re getting closer.
In many ways,Dead Snowunfolds in the classic manner of most horror narratives, beginning with a group of students traveling to a remote cabin in the Norwegian woods. One by one,Dead Snowsees the characters encounter the zombies and go to extreme lengths to escape them or fall victim to them. It’s clear from the first moments ofDead Snowthatthe filmmakers were having a lot of fun with the genre and wanted to play up the grotesque and campy parts of zombie filmsthat make the genre so memorable.
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Infusing technology and social media into contemporary movies can be difficult, as innovation is moving so fast that these elements can become dated at the drop of a hat. However,#Alivedoes a great job of being relevant and timeless at the same time, as it follows the protagonist, Joon-woo, who struggles to find other survivors while facing zombies and other humans alike.Social media plays a role in#Alive, but it doesn’t overshadow the actionand character development.
Yoo Ah-in anchors the film as Oh Joon-woo, the video game streamer who attempts to survive the zombie apocalypse while being locked inside his apartment.
Yoo Ah-in anchors the film as Oh Joon-woo, the video game streamer who attempts to survive the zombie apocalypse while being locked inside his apartment. Park Shin-hye plays Kim Yoo-bin, one of Joon-woo’s neighbors. She and Joon-woo eventually connect and work together to make it out alive. Their relationship provides enough bright spots and breaks in the tension of#Alivethat you can stomach the more grotesque moments of the South Korean film.
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In conversation with not only the zombie genre but filmmaking itself,One Cut of the Deadpokes fun at the lengths directors and artists will go for fame and success.The meta-project soon becomes a film within a film, showcasing the events of a fictional zombie movie,then the background of the film getting made, and the actual production of the project. Despite its microscopic budget, made for around $27,000,One Cut of the Deadcatapulted to fame, earning millions of dollars and making an international splash (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).
When watchingOne Cut of the Deadtoday, it’s easy to see how and why the movie became such a phenomenon. Perhaps the most innovative movie of 2017,One Cut of the Dead, is hilarious and self-aware without being too tongue-in-cheekor alienating. Made with unknown actors and playing with form and niche material that most mainstream projects would shy away from,One Cut of the Deadis a fantastic movie that should be remembered among the best of the genre.
One Cut of the Dead (2017)
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Set in Paris,The Night Eats the Worldisn’t full of loud, slow-moving zombies that are easy to outrun and a little less formidable than other movie monsters. Instead, the film includes fast, deadly, and virtually silent beasts that Sam (Anders Danielsen Lie) struggles to see coming, even from the apartment he’s hiding in.As the pain of isolation and survival sets in, it gets harder and harder for Sam to stay saneand fight off the zombies.
As much a test of endurance for the audience as it is for Sam,The Night Eats the Worldis a grueling addition to the zombie genre that doesn’t rely on gore to make an impact.
The Night Eats the Worldis a reminder of how difficult, or nearly impossible it is, for people to survive alone and that survival alone isn’t all there is. As much a test of endurance for the audience as it is for Sam,The Night Eats the Worldis a grueling addition to the zombie genre that doesn’t rely on gore to make an impact. Another recent French zombie film, theMadSmovie, brought something unique to the genre, showcasing how France is pushing the zombie story forward.
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One of thebest found footage horror movies,[REC]is the first in several sequels, but the iconic original film is still the best.[REC]is a Spanish movie that follows Ángela (Manuela Velasco),a reporter who gets trapped inside an apartment building with the building’s residents as they slowly become infected.Throughout the night, Ángela’s camera operator, Pablo (Pablo Rosso), captures the increasingly gory and disturbing events as Ángela attempts to escape and uncover what’s happening to them.
[REC]makes good use of the found footage genre, incorporating fun jump scares, Easter eggs, and an ominous ending to keep you hooked until the film’s final moments. Though it isn’t flashy or over-the-top,[REC]proves that a project doesn’t need a large budget or mountains of gore to make an impression. In fact, one of[REC]’s strengths is the fact thatit leaves so much up to the viewer’s imagination.
[REC] (2007)
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As time has passed,28 Days Laterhas only become more iconic within the zombie genre.Boasting a star-studded cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Brendan Gleeson,28 Days Laterhelped to revolutionize the zombie genre and increase contemporary interest in these stories. Today, many new zombie movies have their monsters fast-moving and extraordinarily powerful, but28 Days Laterwas one of the first projects that stepped away from the slow zombie trope.
It’s hard to say where the modern zombie movie would be without28 Days Later, as it introduced so many important story choices and stylistic elements that have impacted horror as a whole, not just zombie films.
The long-awaitedsequel28 Years Lateris coming soon, and though the next installment of the franchise has a lot of pressure riding on it, there’s reason to be hopeful. It’s hard to say where the modern zombie movie would be without28 Days Later, as it introduced so many important story choices and stylistic elements that have impacted horror as a whole, not just zombie films. Fortunately, we don’t have to imagine, as revisiting28 Days Lateronly reaffirms its potency.
This Japanese zombie movie is as dedicated to bringing its grotesque zombies to life as it incorporates well-choreographed action sequences.Versususes elements of the martial arts and samurai genres to uplift the central narrative, leaning into the idea thatzombies are part of intricate myths and folklore rather than a lab-created accident.Set in a forest of resurrection, an escaped prisoner and a young girl fight their way out while being pursued by dangerous men.
However, in the forest, these men won’t die and just keep chasing them. Tak Sakaguchi plays the central prisoner, with Chieko Misaka co-starring as the girl, and the pair of them make compelling action heroes. AsVersusprogresses, more mystical elements and historical connections are revealed, making the story more intricate and exciting with every passing moment.Versusexpertly blends genres, showcasing that the zombie movie is capable of being so much more than people realize.
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Simon Pegg and Nick Frost quickly became one of the most iconic horror duos in recent memory thanks to their hilarious and bloody work inShaun of the Dead. While there are plenty of horror-comedy movies out there that reimagine the genre,Shaun of the Deadimmediately sets itself apart because of the unique style of filmmaking.Directed by Edgar Wright, a creative known for his distinctive editing and fast-paced comedy,Shaun of the Deadjuxtaposes the urgency of Wright’s direction with the zombies' glacial pace.
ThoughShaun of the Deadwas made on a small budget, it went on to receive universal acclaim and box office success.
TheNight of the Living Deadmovies are iconic pieces of film history, so it’s unsurprising thatShaun of the Deadlovingly pokes fun at the tropes these projects created. It can be difficult to balance the violence and inherent tragedy of the zombie genre with lighthearted humor, butShaun of the Deadeasily achieves this. ThoughShaun of the Deadwas made on a small budget, it went on to receive universal acclaim and box office success.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
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Yeon Sang-ho’s most iconic movie,Train to Busan, is one of the most famous contemporary zombie films, regardless of country. Action-packed and brimming with blood, gore, and surprising emotional poignancy,Train to Busanmight bring a tear to your eye before the story’s over,as its central character develops as a father and a person in the wake of the shocking outbreak. Gong Yoo brings this character, Seok-woo, to life with the gravitas of an action hero, balanced with sensitivity.
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Though there are plenty of horror movies with sad deaths and sacrifices, these films are particularly impactful in their most emotional moments.
Train to Busanexemplifies what we love about modernhorror, as it’s in conversation with the best of the genre but is also unafraid to carve its own path. Additionally,Train to Busanis as much about class and impending natural disasters as it is a delivery system for the zombie gore we know and love.WhileTrain to Busandoesn’t reinvent the zombie movie, it does pave the way for the next era of great brain-eating filmmakingand encourages it to include some smart commentary.
Train to Busan (2016)
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