5 of 17

Write now Article Tools

Courting the undead: Assessing the appeal of zombie movies

Zombies are the unwashed masses of the horror film genre, soulless creatures who wander the earth, lacking both personality and purpose. They are a grotesque parody of the end that awaits us all. Although they lack both style and finesse, zombies have been a constant presence in horror films since the 1930's.

The catalog of zombie films produced since this time includes both critically acclaimed and popular entries such as:

I Walked with a Zombie (1943)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
28 Days Later (2002),
Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Why hasn't the zombie ever been treated seriously? It's partly because the living dead lack an established literary heritage. Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and even the Wolf Man can boast a pedigree that stretches back to European folklore, Gothic Fiction, or even ancient legends. Compared to these monsters, the zombie is quite modern.

A child of the 20th century, the zombie's appearance in the English speaking world dates back to the publication of The Magic Island, William Seabrook's study of Haiti's geography and culture, in 1929. Without the momentum of history behind them, the living dead were originally forlorn figures, cast aside by society as second-rate villains. The zombie had none of the legitimacy or celebrity of Dracula or the Mummy.

Boris Karloff may have become famous for his so-called "little walk" as Frankenstein's Monster, but no actor has become famous portraying the living dead. Even Bela Lugosi, a prolific horror actor not known for being choosy about his roles, always played the zombie master and never a walking corpse. Given the lowly status of its stars, it's not surprising that the zombie movie has remained on the cultural margins.

What has always troubled critics and mainstream audiences about the zombie could be its frequent appearance in terrible films. In terms of quality control, the zombie, more than any other, has an appalling track record. Whether starring in Poverty Row era trash, Shot-on-video gore flicks, or Italian rip-offs, the living dead are always found lurking in movies that are low on stars, short on cash, and often shot on a short schedule.

Just because most zombie films fall far below the standard set by the A-list Hollywood film, however, doesn't mean that they're not worthy of serious attention. In fact, it is the marginality of these films that makes them so fascinating to watch.

Learn more about this author, Kaarina St. John.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Courting the undead: Assessing the appeal of zombie movies?
We want to hear your view. Write now!