Zombie Flicks

Zombie flicks are a silly and mindless form of entertainment. But for me, these types of movies are a bit scarier than all other themes in the horror genre because I happen to actually believe that some kind of awful plague will really cause the demise of the human population. Granted, I don't think that people will be zombified by a plague, but scenes of burning human beings in plastic bags and chaos at the early onset of a plague are very unsettling.....which makes for a perfectly creepy Halloween. 

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) - Harvard educated ethnobotanist Wade Davis wrote a book from which this creepy flick is inspired. Journey to Haiti and learn the secrets of zombification.
Directed by: Wes Craven Starring: Bill Pullman

28 Days Later (2002) - This highly acclaimed film is extremely unsettling because the zombies depart from their usual glacial pace to a super-human sprint.  Directed by: Danny Boyle Starring: Cillian Murphy, & Naomie Harris

Night of the Living Dead (1968) - This is the quintessential zombie flick. These are the zombies that we all know and love. I could deal with these zombies, they move at the speed of a snail and they're incredibly easy to destroy.  Directed by: George A. Romero Starring: Duane Jones & Judith O'Dea

Dawn of the Dead (2004) - This is a remake of another one of George A. Romero's other zombie film with the same name (original). I prefer this version because it actually shows more of the plague outbreak than its predecessor.  Directed by: Zack SnyderStarring: Ving Rhames & Mekhi Phifer

Things to Come (1936) - This one is a classic gem. The film is not exactly a zombie flick but a plague breaks out after an apocalyptic world war and the infected victims behave very much as zombies do. This film has fallen into the public domain and can be viewed in its entirety online.  Directed by: William Cameron Menzies Starring: Cedric Hardwicke & Raymond Massey

Several Film Versions of Richard Matheson's book I am Legend have been made into popular films: The Last Man on Earth (1962), The Omega Man (1971), I am legend (2008).  These are my favorite zombie flicks. Richard Matheson's original book was published in 1954. Since that time there have been three film versions made and Robert Neville's face has changed considerably. The first movie in 1962 starred Vincent Price, the second film made in 1971 starred Charlton Heston, and the latest film was released earlier this year and it starred Will Smith.  Each version was a different from the others but here is the quickest breakdown: the first version followed the book more closely, the second has become a cult classic (and my personal favorite) and the last version was surprisingly not bad.  Also, both the first and second film versions can be viewed entirely online.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)  - This movie is a spoof of zombie films. I really don't like comedy per se, but I was goaded into watching this flick and I found that it was actually very good...and funny too.  Directed by: Edgar Wright Starring: Simon Pegg & Kate Ashfield

Throw some candy in a bucket and sit it by the door so that you can get it to your trick or treaters without much delay. Then slap these dvds in the player and get set for a creepy evening.