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ZOMBIES IN MOVIES
A lot of you probably don't know how all of the zombie films tie together since this is a common question that comes up at conventions. I've listened to poor John Russo explain it enough times. So here is your zombie primer and all you need to know to be a true fan of the genre...
It all starts, really, with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Made in 1968 by George A. Romero and John Russo on a slim budget of around $115K featuring friends of theirs instead of real actors. Not once is the word zombie used and George actually called them Ghouls initially. The film made the bulk of its money in Europe but was quite successful here as well over time. Russo and Romero disputed the rights of the franchise and eventually came to a decision that Romero would be free to do follow ups using "Dead" and Russo would use "Living Dead".
DAWN OF THE DEAD was Romero's direct sequel, released in 1978 and is the movie that started the splatter horror movement. The film was critically praised for its underlying commentary on the culture of the day. The film was re-edited at different points for different audiences including a version by Italian horror master Dario Argento, which was released in Europe as ZOMBI featuring a faster pace and less characterization.
ZOMBIE (1978), by another Italian horror master, Lucio Fulci, was already written and in production before DAWN OF THE DEAD was released but with the popularity of the Argento re-edit ZOMBI, a decision was made to release the film as ZOMBI 2 in some markets (creating a lot of confusion in America where ZOMBI was unknown). ZOMBIE and ZOMBI 2 are the same film and are known for the classic scenes of the zombie vs. shark and the eye piercing gag.
EVIL DEAD from 1981. I don't really need to tell you about this, do I? Sam Raimi's super low budget student film that launched his career, not directly connected to anything else on the list. Not really zombies but close enough.
DAY OF THE DEAD was the third Romero film, released in 1985. Budget restraints caused this film to be less epic in scale than many fans hoped but it still has some of the best zombie and gore scenes ever and gave us Bub, the trained zombie that everyone loves.
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD was Russo's unofficial sequel, released in 85 as well and is known for having a darkly humorous approach to the crisis and the first ever fast zombies. Not quite the comedy that SHAUN OF THE DEAD was but still a humorous approach compared to the Romero versions. Directed by Dan O'Bannon, the film was based on Russo's novel and was originally going to be directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) but he backed out. This was actually my first zombie movie and I love it dearly. It actually talks about NIGHT as a film within the film and how it was based on true events creating a nice circular logic. Oddly enough, the film was far more successful than DAY OF THE DEAD at the time. DON'T bother with the sequels of which there are now 4. RETURN 2 and 3 can be fun fluff but they are not really worth mentioning.
EVIL DEAD 2 in 1987 was basically a remake of EVIL DEAD with a budget and a lot more humor.
ZOMBI 3 was released in 1988 and was partially directed by Fulci who got sick during production. No real continuity but it has some moments.
In 1990, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was remade. Romero wrote the remake from the original screenplay by Russo and himself and Tom Savini directed. Savini was the effects guy on DAWN and DAY, fyi. The remake was quite well executed and brought the story to a whole new generation.
BRAIN DEAD, aka DEAD LIVE was Peter Jackson's 1992 over the top action, gorefest, zombie, comedy. Yes, that Peter Jackson. Simply put, this is the goriest film ever made and is every bit as hilarious as Raimi's EVIL DEAD series. If you haven't seen it, rent it now!!! Force yourself to get past the zoo sequence and you won't regret it. It gets hilarious and truly unforgettable. Long live the Sumatran Rat-Monkey! Not connected to the Romero cannon.
ARMY OF DARKNESS was Raimi's 1993 sequel to EVIL DEAD 2. More humor and more undead, this time in a fantasy setting.
CEMETERY MAN, aka DELLA MORTE DELL AMORE is an Italian film released in 1994. I only mention it because it was directed by Dario Argento's main student, Michele Soavi. It has a lot of humor and is really overlooked but should be checked out, like BRAIN DEAD.
CHILDREN OF THE LIVING DEAD from 2001 was a low budget, unconnected zombie movie that Russo was involved with, I assume as writer. I haven't seen it and know very little about it except that Tom Savini is in it.
28 DAYS LATER, from 2002, is not actually a zombie film as the "monsters" are not actually dead but are over come with a rage virus and eventually starve and die. Still, it is a fantastic movie and really captures a lot of the epic apocalyptic nature of what has always made zombie films so intriguing. They are currently making the sequel called 28 WEEKS LATER.
DAWN OF THE DEAD was remade and released in 2004 without any involvement from the original players but it was well received by most people and George even said he liked it. I personally think this has the most frightening zombies of any of the films. Fast and intense.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD came out the same year, 2004, and isn't connected but is a generally fine film and deserves mention. A romantic zombie comedy with solid production values and some great scenes.
DAY OF THE DEAD 2, 2005, has nothing to do with anyone and is generally considered awful. Avoid.
LAND OF THE DEAD, directed by Romero, was released in 2005 and did quite well considering its budget was a mere $15 mil. I liked the film but I was hoping we'd get to see the giant zombie epic I've been dreaming about since it all began.
DAY OF THE DEAD is also being remade and is scheduled for 2007.
There are literally hundreds of low budget, crappy zombie films out there borrowing from the above films and I have only seen a fraction of them. Most aren't worth mentioning but if there is something not on the list that should be, feel free to let me know and I'll update. Maybe you have seen a masterpiece I haven't gotten to yet.
ZOMBIES IN COMICS
There are an awful lot of zombie comics out there as well and I've only read a portion so I'll only comment on those.
DEAD WORLD is an old series from the 80's from Caliber. I actually worked on the sequel, KING ZOMBIE, when I was breaking in. Good, long running, solid zombie stuff with a bit of a fantasy flare later on.
TOE TAGS was a Romero penned series that DC put out a few years ago. It had some potential but DC really dropped the ball. Uninteresting art with bad promotion. The book never really got off the ground.
Kirkman's WALKING DEAD is critically lauded and quite solid. It borrows its entire premise from the Romero cannon and sticks to the rules. It follows an ensemble cast through the left overs of the world after the apocalypse and gets it right, focusing on the human drama. I highly recommend the book (I even have a fan letter in issue 7 I believe). Issues and trades available from Image comics.
ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD is John Russo's sequel to NIGHT, adapted from his novel. It takes place in the same time line as the film and is quite a good read. Avatar publishes it.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Avatar is doing the officially licensed prequel with Romero and Russo on board. It is the events leading up to the first film and is currently in production. I can't wait to read it.
ON THE FAR SIDE WITH DEAD FOLKS, written by Joe Lansdale and drawn by Tim Truman from Avatar. this one came out a few years ago and is actually an adaptation of a Lansdale story from a Living Dead anthology that was full of different horror writers writing within the Romero universe. it is a post apocalyptic western zombie story and it is a lot of fun. The collection is out.
BLACK GAS is Warren Ellis' unique take on the concept with its own origin and new type of zombie. This is a must read! The second series is being drawn up now and anyone who reads my journal regularly should already be familiar with this one.
DAWN OF THE DEAD was IDW's cool adaptation of the '78 film with Steve Niles scripting and Chee on art. I just thought it was a shame there weren't more!
ZOMBEE is a humorous zombie/samurai tale from my old partner Miles Gunter. It is a one shot, coming soon from Image.
MARVEL ZOMBIES was...well hell, I don't know. A goofy but fun way to cash in? Anyone read it?
So what am I missing here? What should I read?
On a personal note, I resent it when people talk about the genre as being "over". It is simply a framework with which to tell a story. Like all other genres, it is possible to tell affecting, solid stories and it is only in the hands of hacks who see the basic trappings of the genre and delve no deeper that the genre seems tired and played out. If people can still tell new, entertaining stories within the saturated superhero genre, there is certainly room for some more great zombie stories.