by Tammy Cramblett

Created on: August 16, 2011   Last Updated: August 17, 2011

Horror films have been popular from the beginning. Whether you enjoy a bloody slice and dice or a psychological thriller, the horror genre has something for almost everyone. Vampires have enjoyed a long history of success on the big screen as well as on television. Zombie films, largely, have been overlooked. The reason for this may be due to the hint of reality to some of them. There are a few elements that have to come together to make a good zombie flick. Here are examples of those elements: 

*Zombies typically eat the flesh of live humans and in some films, even animals. This is cannibalism, which has actually happened. The thought of being eaten alive is gruesome and alarming. Society has never accepted the idea of cannibalism, even for survival. There are cases where groups of people had to resort to cannibalism to survive when trapped in extreme circumstances. Society may understand it, but it is still viewed as gruesome and immoral. A good zombie film incorporates this immoral action and puts it in your face. That is scary.

*Credibility is another major element. The story line must be believable and have an air of realism. The thought of a person being buried alive and then coming back as a crazed zombie, is somewhat believable. This is because in the past, people were afraid of being buried alive. Think about how you would react if you woke up in a dark box. You could actually drive yourself insane trying desperately to claw your way out. Chemical warfare is a real possibility. Certain chemicals and gasses can cause the brain to stop functioning properly. They can also alter the way the body functions like slowing the ability to move correctly.

*A good zombie film can actually make a viewer question themselves as well as their surroundings. People assume they could never do things a zombie does on the wide screen. When faced with the possibility of having no choice, people shudder. One zombie film showcased this idea by having nature be the method of zombification. The mere thought of plants being able to transform people into zombies is appalling. People don't think twice when the wind blows, unless they've watched that film.

Many people don't care for zombie movies. This could because those films show what people can become in the right situation. They may hit a little too close to home. Zombies generally have one purpose: survival. They don't think or have emotions. It is almost like the saying goes: "Only the strong survive".

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