It is that time of year again where the mind turns to thoughts of decaying people rising up out of their graves and walking around town in search of brains. To thoughts of how they hold their arms out in front of themselves, grabbing for whatever can be caught until they can pull unsuspecting humans into a ghoulish hug of death and dismemberment, ending in more of the undead wandering around town. To thoughts of what is new in zombie entertainment.
So if your mind works like mine, then you might be up for a few zombie recommendations. Here we go.
Zombie Movies
The Cabin in the Woods — While not a traditionally “zombie” zombie movie, this movie is scary and it has zombies so it counts. Set up as a look behind why creepy lurkers might exist, this comedy/horror does a great job of juxtaposing an office party with a cabin — leaving it up to the viewer to determine which is scarier. Plus, you get to see Chris Hemsworth and Jesse Williams nearly naked, and watch Kristen Connolly and Anna Hutchison scream a bunch. You can watch Cabin in the Woods on Peacock or Amazon Prime.
The Dead Don’t Die — In theaters in 2019 for about a minute, this movie doesn’t look like much of anything from the trailers. It stars Bill Murray, Adam Driver, and Chloe Sevigny in deadpan roles that really work if you like subtlety. This movie got mixed reviews, but it really is a sleeper that comes back to really slap. You can find this movie on Amazon Prime.
The Girl with All the Gifts — This movie is centered on a girl who is one of several children who is immune to the spores that make the “hungries.” Starring Sennia Nanua as Melanie, this movie is sort of heart breaking. You can stream this movie on Netflix. And if you get the chance, the novel this movie is based on (same title, authored by M.R. Carey) is equally wonderful.
Resident Evil — This series of movies are cinematically beautiful in so many ways, with Milla Jovovich playing the badass lady who can find a way out of literally anything. Based on a Japanese video game, this franchise has a total of seven films that will keep you jumping from your seat for hours. The first Resident Evil can be streamed through Netflix.
Zombie Series
Freakish on Hulu — This series is basically The Breakfast Club with zombies, and it works. The only problem is that it was canceled after two seasons, leaving the avid zombie-lover wanting. It’s still worth a look, though.
iZombie on Netflix — Originally on The CW, this is a five season adventure of a doctor turned zombie turned police detective who can see and solve murders by eating the victims’ brains. Based on a comic book series by the same name, this series was produced by musician Rob Thomas who actually makes a guest appearance. Funny, clever, silly, and a solid series conclusion.
What We Do in the Shadows on FX and Hulu — Mostly about vampires, this show does have some zombies and it’s ridiculously funny, so we’re counting it. A mockumentary about four vampires and one familiar, the show follows rabbit holes and strangely delightful weirdnesses to very satisfying places. An Americanized version of a New Zealand film, this show is completely enjoyable.
Zomboat! on Hulu — The best way to avoid a hoard of zombies is not on a slow-running boat in a skinny canal. Get your fill of British accents as they run quite slowly toward London — with a backtrack to grab a friend, a phone and… well, you should watch it. Very funny.
Zombie Books
I, Zombie by Hugh Howey — Ever wonder if a zombie still has a soul? If they do, then Howey has definitely captured what that’s like, and it’s scary as Hell! This novel leads the reader through the minds of several people stuck in bodies that they no longer control, and those bodies are doing monstrous things. Warning, this book is not for the weak.
The NewsFlesh series by Mira Grant — This series of novels takes into account the effects of social media, internet news, medical espionage, and a cure for the common cold through a total of seven books and several novellas. Start off with Feed and you will fall into these characters and stories effortlessly.
The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell — This book is written beautifully. It follows a girl named Temple as she lives between the remnants of American society and the brutal frontier where the zombies that have taken down the world reign. Temple can’t remember the time before the zombies, but she remembers enough to make this novel a very compelling read.
World War Z by Max Brooks — Taking a world with zombies in it as a real thing, this novel is able to spread itself across the perspectives of multiple people by using the framework of individual accounts about different aspects of the zombie apocalypse. For example, what would happen to someone in the International Space Station if the world collapsed? This book has the answer. Interesting fact: Max Brooks is the son of Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft, and yet this book isn’t funny in any way.
By Sally K Lehman
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