Dear Zombie Master: Zombie Evolution

by Beanfigger
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

Dear Zombie Master,

Though zombies have always found strength in numbers, potential victims always had hope for survival due to their flesh-eating foes' main weaknesses, namely that they are slow and stupid. However, I feel like zombies have evolved a bit in the recent decade. Zombies now seem to have the ability to run after their prey, i.e. 28 Days Later (2002) and the Dawn of the Dead remake (2004). Also, there is some evidence that they may now be able to think and form plans for their hunt, most notably in Land of the Dead (2005).

What are your thoughts about this "evolution"? Is it good or bad for the genre going forward, and where will it lead? Maybe someday we'll have movies where groups of zombies come together and have meetings to draw up battle plans and develop new technology for weapons. Also, what do you think about the genre's evolution into more of the mainstream media, including the well-reviewed show The Walking Dead?

Beanfigger

Beanfigger,

First I must clarify something. If you happen to be chased by living humans are infected by a virus that makes them rip people apart, then remember you can shoot them anywhere or just hole up for a couple of months because they will die of starvation anyway.

If however you are being chased by a zombie, neither of those solutions will work. In other words, if you attempt to fight off the coming zombie apocalypse using 28 Days/Weeks Later tactics, you will be overtaken, wondering what you did wrong.

Also, let me say that I do not like nor do I agree with the concept of "intelligent" zombies (although my favorite zombie is Bub) but Land of the Dead was written by George Romero and if he wants to put zombies around a table smoking cigars and playing poker I will not say a word about it.

Now, I do not mind the evolution of zombies in that I think that logically you can accept faster and slower zombies and they can co-mingle. It will be good for the genre in the same way that Romero moved the genre forward from the "voodoo" style zombies. It will be bad when some people take it where it should not go ala Day of the Dead remake (2008).

I have no problems with it moving into the mainstream. In fact, it might make more people aware of the problem and have them seek out more information. Sadly, I have not seen all of the first season of The Walking Dead but it is the best graphic novel series on the market IMO and what I saw of the series I was impressed. I will give a better review when I am able to view all of them. Until then;

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master