by Natasha Fielder

Created on: August 13, 2011   Last Updated: August 17, 2011

Zombie films have been a staple in cinema history since brothers Victor and Edward Halperin produced and directed White Zombie in 1932. They are seen as an allegory for the possibility of social ruin and commercialisation.

An explanation for people’s enthusiasm for such films stems from the primal urge to feel scared. Zombies come in many different guises, some films opt for a comedy aspect such as Shaun of the Dead starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, where as directors like George Romeros’ career has been based in the horror side of these creatures. Romero’s films such as The Night of the Living Dead incorporate gore and thrills into the already horrifying aspect of the genre.

Some films like Will Smith’s I Am Legend  focuses on zombies that have been diseased into an undead state. Although the “villains” of the piece are zombies the film is more inclined to investigate the emotional turmoil that one man faces in trying to find a cure and end to the loneliness he faces.

A recent zombie film has turned the criteria of the field on its head. Wasting Away revolves around a group of four young people who have accidentally ingested the zombie virus in beer ice cream. Instead of making the film about the “survivors” vs “the infected” this film uses a composition of grey scale, neon effects, and colour to show from the zombie’s perspective. Instead of mindless brain eating zombies, the audience find a group who feel normal but see the uninfected as diseased and are truly scared.

To make a good zombie film the director/writer/producer must manage to balance gore with real life. Most audiences don’t want to see just the stereotypical bad vs good they prefer an inner struggle one that is based on true emotion as well as some ass kicking abilities. As previously stated I Am Legend found the equilibrium between the two making it both humanised and thrilling.

Comedy now plays an important role as a sub genre as modern society grows to enjoy a light hearted approach to the objects they fear. Zombieland has made it possible to remain a humorous classic whilst tackling issues such as loss and the need for human companionship.

Zombie films in recent years have increased in popularity as commercialism grows and as “riots” and wars become more day to day. This is a middle finger to those making a buck out of other people’s suffering. The trend has also reached television screens and books. Including The Walking Dead that aired earlier this year and has already achieved critical acclaim and become a phenomenon worldwide.

Many directors have made a name for themselves through zombie films and will possibly be a household name for decades to come. Whilst people still enjoy being frightened, zombie films will live on, as long as directors are willing to develop them into something more than just gore for the sake of gore.  

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