Apocalypse horror scenario Which zombie would you escape from?
Fast or slow, clever or stupid: how dangerous zombies are in films depends on the combination. Which undead would you be most likely to escape from in real life? Here are the threat levels.
Pop culture loves its mustiest representatives, shuffling towards you with a blank stare and outstretched arms.
This is the classic zombie. But in the long history of film, the undead have changed, sometimes to the advantage of the survivors and sometimes not.
To analyze this, I have grouped the different types of zombie into four categories. And we'll start with the most harmless. Relatively harmless of course, zombies are always spooky.
Slow and stupid
This is exactly how zombie father George A. Romero introduced us to the undead. "When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth", as it says in the movie "Dawn of the Dead" (1978). Romero's zombies run in hordes, attracted by noise or still-warm blood.
Barricading themselves in or hiding behind high walls should be very safe. A melee weapon such as a knife or baseball bat is enough to take care of these moderns.
You can do it!
A more modern example - and a funny one - is "Shaun of the Dead" (2004), a direct reference to Romero's masterpiece. Main character Shaun (Simon Pegg) wakes up in the zombie apocalypse and tries to get himself and his friends to safety. The horror comedy plays with the cliché of the stupid and slow zombie. Definitely a recommendation for the squeamish who still want to treat themselves to a horror movie because of Halloween.
Slow and clever
These undead are really perfidious. You can run away, but you can't hide. George Romero also tried out this concept in his films "Land of the Dead" (2005) and "Day of the Dead" (1985).
The problem with the high walls or barricades mentioned earlier is that the zombies find a way to get around them. For example, by stacking a pile of undead into a ramp.
So change locations frequently! It's best to stay on the street and only stop for food, weapons or medicine.
Here I recommend "The Evil Dead" from 1981 or the more recent versions, actually all films with "Evil Dead" in the title and actor Bruce Campbell in the leading role. Great trash cinema.
Fast and stupid
Ironically, the chances of survival are slowly but surely no longer looking so rosy. The stupid and sprinting zombie is terrible. In terms of strategy, I also recommend a reinforced barricade here, ideally a tall building with corridors that can be easily blocked.
Knives and baseball bats won't cut it here either. Firearms are the only precaution, otherwise you will quickly be overrun. Sure, you're still smarter than the bloodthirsty ones, but you're not faster than them. Every one of these zombies is Usain Bolt.
This is beautifully described in the movie "Zombieland" (2009): One of the most important rules in the undead apocalypse is cardio training. You might find yourself running around a gas station with a zombie breathing down your neck - while reloading your gun or looking for your car keys.
That wasn't an example of my own, that's literally the opening sequence of "Zombieland". So keep the old pump going!
Quick and clever
There's no other way to tell you this, unfortunately: In this case, death is only a matter of time. All the weapons and barricades in the world won't save you from these fearsome hunters.
They sprint towards you, skirt hurdles, leap over pitfalls - their eyes fixed on your delicious visage. Usain Bolt combined with Albert Einstein, so to speak.
In the classic "28 Days Later" (2002), the protagonists - including "Peaky Blinders" actor Cillian Murphy - are confronted by this spawn of hell. Other examples of this type of zombie are "Quarantine" (2008) and the "Dawn of the Dead" remake from 2004.
With this in mind, Happy Halloween and always lock the front door properly.
Horror movies for Halloween
Still no idea what you want to watch on Halloween? You're sure to find what you're looking for in our horror dossier on blue TV.