2002’s “Resident Evil” smashed the box office and ushered in a new era of zombie culture which has become a world-wide phenomenon. AMC’s ratings record breaking “The Walking Dead” has made this subgenre of horror not only popular but part of everyday culture. Lovers of the undead will be stuck to their screens this October in record numbers ready chew up their favorites. Night, Dawn, and Day of the Dead will surely be on everyone’s must see list but try a few of these lesser known gems this October.
DEAD ALIVE (1992)
Vera, an overprotecting mother that makes Norma Bates look mild, follows her son to the local zoo and gets bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. The bite turns Vera into one of the undead and her son, Lionel, must keep her and her rampaging victims secluded in their basement while determined to maintain his new relationship with his new found love, Paquita. Vera eventually escapes and is deemed to be dead, but the undead Vera returns and by bite builds a small army of flesh eaters. Lionel and his lady love go to war with the zombie hoard in glorious gory fashion.
Peter Jackson has become one the most famous and distinguished filmmakers of the last two decades, “Dead Alive” was an opening glimpse of just how talented the kiwi king was. While modern directors overthink most new films, “Dead Alive” is a perfect example of how to keep it simple and feed the hungry horror crowd exactly what they want. Jackson shoots this gore feast simply by not holding back on the splatter while keeping the pace moving once the undead rise. From an insane infant to a mild-mannered man going full on ballistic with a lawnmower, nothing is held back during the bloodbath. “Dead Alive” exemplifies what makes horror fans so passionate about their genre. One could watch this film ten times and see something new every time. This October give this gem a look for a non-stop thrill ride or revisit to catch some of the brilliant bloody zombie stampedes you may have missed the first time.
28 DAYS LATER (2003)
Jim wakes up from a hospital in London to find out the country is abandoned. Come to find out some animal activates have unknowingly unleased infected lab animals that turn bitten victims into frothing, savage killers. Jim runs into a couple survivors that explain the situation, the world has been infected with fast moving lunatics with a thirst for flesh. After coming across a few other survivors, the group make the long journey to Manchester where an allegedly safe army base is set up. Once at the safe haven, the group come to realize that the real monsters and threats in the new undead world are the living and breathing.
“28 Days Later” only suffers from one major thing, the insane popularity of Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead” remake. From iconic director, Danny Boyle (Train-spotting,) “28 Days Later” is actually the first real film to introduce the world to fast moving zombie’s, too often the film is labeled as a scientific horror virus film, but let us be honest, this is a zombie film to the core. Boyle shoots on video to give the film a very indie look and the empty shoots of London are stunning. Not holding back on the horror either, the attack scenes send shivers thru the viewer. Many who view this film for the first time will no longer hold the thought of simply being able to walk casually past the undead, but will start hitting the treadmills to up their cardio. A simple cast of characters are beautifully portrayed with exceptional performances from now household name Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris. The key to any film from any genre is to have the audience evoke emotion towards the characters and it would be a hard person not to be praying for the duo to make it thru the swarm of savages. This October take a terror trip to jolly old and enjoy this modern masterpiece of misery.
DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007)
While shooting their own horror film in the middle of nowhere, university students are alerted of mass rioting and chaos back in the civilized world. As the mainstream media attempts to play down the chaos, a series of uploaded videos from the web show the true horror of the situation. With senior faculty teacher Andrew in tow, the group make their way back to school, thru the open country, a hospital, some relatives’ houses, and eventually to their friend’s mansion, the entire time surviving monsters both undead and alive alike.
Nearly forty years after his masterpiece, “Night of the Living Dead,” Mr. George Romero delivers perhaps his finest work. The horror is all there, zombie flesh attacks, death by crossbow, and a slick scythe slaughter. What makes this an underrated masterpiece is the way Romero adapts to the times with both technical eloquence and modern satire. About eight years after “The Blair Witch Project,” Romero shoots the steadiest found footage film to date. The entire piece is choreographed to perfection and gives the look of a standard shot multi camera film. In 1968 Romero used news clippings and radio broadcast to set the tone of his setting, without missing a beat, Romero expertly edits in web cast and video uploads from bloggers to show the audience how mainstream media manipulates the truth. Four decades from his start and Mr. Romero turns in another masterpiece which has sadly been dwarfed by the success and cult following of his other dead films. Put the oldies down this October and give this creative corpse piece a view.