by Caitlyn Jones

Created on: April 05, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

Run for your life!

Literally, get running. The zombies are coming, and if they get any closer I'm tripping you. Okay, we're not living in a zombie ruled society (even though many people look like the living dead). Horror movies have advanced, in my opinion for the better, from slow, boring zombies to the fast, keep you on your toes zombies we see today in movies such as Dawn of the Dead.

A zombie consists of a human body, no brains, and an uncontrollable urge to feed on the flesh of living, breathing humans. Their sole purpose is to attack, feed, and create other zombies. How effective can the zombie be at his goal if it only moves 2 mile per hour? Now what if the zombie picks up the pace and moves 15 miles per hour?

Slow zombies have the perk of being classics. And yes, they are really good at sneaking up on some distracted human. But when it comes to the chase aspect, a brisk walk will get you to safety. On the other hand, fast zombies have the leg up on any pursuit that may occur. Unless you're a track star, you're in trouble. While just about anyone can get away from the slow zombies, everyone isn't so lucky when you have Speedy Gonzalez on your tail. Find a car quick or kiss your butt goodbye. Just think: only people in good shape between the ages of 16 and 30 are going to get out alive. You need to not only be in shape, but have long enough legs to get you out of there FASTER! So if you're under 4 feet tall, you better hitch a ride with someone or find a really good hiding spot. You also need to have good reflexes in order to dodge any surprise attack that may arise in the process. The ability to think quickly on your toes when your life is at risk is another vital talent to have when fast zombies attack. You never know when you may need to find a weapon in the middle of nowhere or decide whether or not to feed the stranger standing next to you to the zombies in order to save yourself.

There is also the fear factor (not the show). Imagine you're walking down an abandoned main street in an apocalyptic world filled with zombies. There are no zombies in sight. You just need to make it to the end of the street; that simple. You start walking slowly, staying keen to everything around you; using all of your senses to make sure you're safe. All of a sudden, a zombie mob appears out of a side alley 10 feet away. They start walking towards you while they moan in unison. Do you freeze up or do you walk the other direction? Not very scary if I do say so myself. Okay, maybe if they are within two feet they're scary, but not 10 feet away. Now imagine the zombies start running at you. Are you scared for your life now? I thought so.

Without a doubt, fast zombies are more effective at their goal. They can not only take part in a chase, but have the ability to actually catch their victim. They have the speed to join up with others in seconds to take down any human that needs to be dealt with. While slow zombies will always be classics, fast zombies will always win in the end.

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