Zombies have been an essential presence in film ever since "Night of the Living Dead"
released in 1968, but they've found serious mainstream appeal in the past several decades.
Here are some 21st century masterpieces that fans of all things undead can't afford to miss.
Before he got his handful of Oscars for "Slumdog Millionaire," British director Danny Boyle grabbed
audiences' attention with 2002's "28 Days Later," which stars Cillian Murphy as a man who awakens
from a coma and finds himself in an abandoned London. Both the protagonist and the audience
are thrust right into a world turned upside down, one that's full of violent monsters that have been
infected with the aptly named Rage Virus. Even more frightening than the relentless zombies,
however, are the greedy humans who find themselves going mad with their newfound power.
Although Boyle would go on to direct slow-burning dramas based on real life like "127 Hours" and
"Steve Jobs," "28 Days Later" showed off his ability to direct grisly horror at breakneck
speed. Grimy yet intimate cinematography and emotional supporting performances from Naomie
Harris and Brendan Gleeson make for an experience that's as raw as the meat that zombies love to
consume. Even considering all of the other impressive movies Boyle has helmed in the
decades since its release, "28 Days Later" still remains one of his finest creations,
as well as an essential and influential film in the 21st-century canon of zombie cinema.
"Shaun of the Dead" may not be the first film to lovingly parody zombie cinema,
but it's certainly one of the funniest. Edgar Wright's second feature film was his first to
feature the dynamic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, a combination that has proven its worth
time and time again with projects like the movie "Hot Fuzz" and the TV show "Spaced."
This hilarious story about the last people to learn about the zombie apocalypse showcases
Wright's British sense of humor, impeccable comedic timing, and trademark energy behind
the camera. Filled with quotable lines and recurring gags, the banter between Shaun and
his friends is a breath of fresh air in a genre so often filled with nothing but doom and gloom.
"What's the matter, David? Not taken a shortcut before?"
Charming critics and audiences alike, "Shaun of the Dead" proved itself to be
a 21st century comedy classic. Not only did it kick off the iconic "Cornetto Trilogy"
that continued with "Hot Fuzz" and "The World's End," but it also established
Wright as a filmmaker to watch and set a new standard for not just zombie comedies,
but for comedies in general. Not too shabby for a rookie director.
In the wake of "Twilight" making serious cash at the box office, it was only a matter of
time before more human-monster romances made their way to the silver screen. One of these
films was 2013's "Warm Bodies," which swapped out sparkling vampires for shambling zombies.
However, viewers expecting just another "Twilight" knock-off were in for a surprise,
as director Jonathan Levine managed to imbue the film with more heart and soul than anyone
expected a movie about reanimated corpses to have.
Rather than delivering what might be considered "realistic" visions of how the infected might
look and act, "Warm Bodies" revels in the awkward oddity of classic zombies — the ones
that eat brains, move slow, and can barely speak. This makes for plenty of fun comedy
and some unexpectedly heartfelt moments when a walking corpse falls head over rotting heels
for a human woman after defending her from several of his undead compatriots.
Totally committed lead performances from Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer help deliver a movie
romance that's more than a little off the beaten path; a relationship that you can't help but root
for. This Romeo and Juliet story is filled with heart, whether that heart is beating or not.
In the late 2000s, nearly a decade after "The Blair Witch Project"
brought found-footage into the mainstream, the genre saw a major resurgence with films
like the low-budget supernatural thriller "Paranormal Activity" and the mysterious
kaiju feature "Cloverfield." This trend wasn't limited just to America, though,
as Spain delivered its own unique spin on the zombie genre with the incredibly freaky "REC."
The film follows a reporter who accompanies a group of firemen to an emergency at an
apartment building where a zombie outbreak has recently begun, only to find themselves
locked inside by the authorities with nowhere to escape. Directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
use the found footage format not just as a way to keep production costs down, but rather as a way to
immerse audiences in a world of frightening uncertainty. The brazenly chilling imagery
throughout "REC" ensured that it couldn't be mistaken for any other zombie flick at the time,
embedding itself in viewers' minds like an axe to the head.
The box office success of "REC" spawned not only a sequel, but an American remake in the
form of the 2008 motion picture "Quarantine," However, "Quarantine" impressed far fewer
critics than the first Spanish film, and more than a decade later, it's still the original
"REC" that's keeping moviegoers up at night with its bold approach to found-footage filmmaking.
It's easy to imagine a version of "Zombieland" that's just an American remake of "Shaun of
the Dead," but this 2009 comedy feature was able to establish its own identity
on the backs of its many iconic performances. Jesse Eisenberg's neurotic everyman,
Woody Harrelson's thrill-seeking badass, and Emma Stone and Abigail
Breslin's wisecracking con artist sisters make up an eccentric zombie survival squad
that's as good at busting guts as they are at busting hordes of the undead.
Director Ruben Fleischer gives "Zombieland" plenty of unique flourishes that make it stand out in the
increasingly crowded world of zombie cinema. These include memorable rules for survival, a colorful
climax in an amusement park, and of course, an unforgettable cameo from Bill Murray as himself.
"So do you have any regrets?"
"...Garfield, maybe."
With this many laughs, it's no wonder that "Zombieland" cultivated a fanbase
so devoted that it got a sequel an entire decade after its release in "Zombieland:
Double Tap." Much like the walking dead, "Zombieland" refuses to die,
and it's not hard to see why: comedies this good are rarer than a Twinkie in the apocalypse.
Looking for a zombie movie to watch with the whole family? The options may be scarce,
but "ParaNorman" proves they're out there. The second film from Laika Studios,
"ParaNorman" is the offbeat story of Norman, a kid who can see ghosts, and follows his quest
to save his small town from Puritan zombies and a witch's curse. The project may not be as intense
as your typical zombie flick, but it shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with Laika's infamously
creepy first feature, "Coraline," that there's no shortage of scares here, regardless of age rating.
The zombies and ghosts in "ParaNorman" aren't just here for the frights, though;
they help tell a delightful story about friendship, acceptance, and what makes all
of us unique. Each frame is lovingly crafted with Laika's impressive stop-motion animation,
which lends a signature tactile quality to everything from a zombie's dangling jaw to a
smear of nail polish. "ParaNorman" is a film that's equal parts chilling and thoughtful,
and its overwhelming heart has made it one of the more critically acclaimed animated movies
of the 21st century. This insightful take on the genre is perfect for horror-loving
parents who want to get their children in on the action from a young age.
Zombie movies have been used as a means for providing social commentary since "Night of
the Living Dead," a trend that continued into 2020 with Jeff Barnaby's "Blood Quantum."
In this film, as the zombie apocalypse spreads across North America, the native residents of
a First Nations reserve find themselves strangely immune from the infection. Unfortunately for them,
there's no such thing as immunity from getting torn to shreds, so three generations must work
together to navigate the new undead status quo and save as many people as they possibly can.
Throughout its runtime, "Blood Quantum" offers ruminations on experiences specific to indigenous
individuals, who rarely find themselves in heroic leading roles in mainstream film.
Excellent performances by indigenous actors Michael Greyeyes, Forrest Goodluck,
and Stonehorse Lone Goeman make for an undeniably harrowing viewing experience.
Despite a rocky release and mixed public reception, "Blood Quantum" received
overwhelmingly positive marks from critics, with Roxana Hadadi from Pajiba praising,
"[It] takes aim at colonization and the subjugation of native and indigenous peoples,
and [Barnaby is] wrapping those considerations in writhing coils
of intestines and splattering them with a hot burst of arterial blood."
The combination of social commentary and blood-soaked carnage
makes "Blood Quantum" more than just an entertaining thrill ride.
It's also an exciting expansion on the kind of themes that zombie movies can explore.
"One Cut of the Dead" is, in a word, ingenious. This Japanese zombie comedy revels in its twists
and turns, but even without spoiling its big surprises, it's easy to say
that director Shin'ichirō Ueda displays a level of creativity never before seen in this genre.
When a crew making a low-budget zombie flick is attacked by actual, real-life zombies,
their unhinged director demands that they keep the camera rolling for maximum authenticity,
putting everyone around him in mortal danger in order to get that one perfect shot.
As actors and crew members fight for their lives, the camera shows the
action in a single extended take, capturing the chaos in real time.
Ueda does impressive work handling the shift from a casual hangout vibe to all hell breaking loose,
all without ever taking a single break in the action. Keep watching after the credits,
though, because nothing in this movie is quite what it seems. At once a rollercoaster ride
and an exercise in unearthing depth in even the most unexpected places,
the sense of creativity in "One Cut of the Dead" is very much alive!
A Christmas zombie musical might sound like a mismatched mess, but "Anna and the Apocalypse"
not only proves that it can be done, but that it can be done well. This yuletide tale,
following Anna and her high school friends as they try to navigate a sudden zombie apocalypse,
works precisely because it leans completely into everything that makes it unique,
transporting audiences into a campy world full of festive frights.
Just because this is a musical doesn't mean the zombies are any less menacing, though; "Anna and
the Apocalypse" doesn't skimp on the blood and gore, especially when Anna's signature candy cane
weapon is involved. The musical numbers aren't lacking, either; tunes like "Hollywood Ending"
and "Soldier at War" are sure to stay stuck in your head even long after the credits roll.
"Anna and the Apocalypse" isn't smashing together genres to make some belabored punchline;
its affection for every type of storytelling it lampoons is both evident and endearing.
Like so many culinary treats, "Anna and the Apocalypse" is what happens when you get
something magical out of fusing together things that aren't typically paired up.
"Zombies on a train" might sound as silly an idea as "Snakes on a Plane," but that's the
central conceit behind "Train to Busan," one of the greatest zombie movies not just of the
21st century, but of all time. Writer Park Joo-suk and director Yeon Sang-ho
trap a packed cast of characters into the cramped confines of a train that suddenly
becomes infested with hordes of the undead. The passengers must move beyond barriers of class and
age and work as a team in order to survive their perilous journey to the coastal city of Busan.
While "Train to Busan" will certainly give any zombie lover their fill of undead carnage,
it's the humanity of its living protagonists that truly makes it shine. The characters
in "Train to Busan" are memorable and lovable — especially Ma Dong-seok's character Yoon Sang-hwa,
a charismatic tough guy with a heart of gold who takes down zombies with his
fists. With such engaging figures to ground the story, "Train to Busan" makes audiences
cry rather than cheer when its characters meet their untimely ends. Who knew the
key to creating a flawless zombie movie was simply putting them on public transportation?
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