Zombie Movie History: A Reference for Zombie Masters
Creating The Zombie Movie History requires a certain kind of Horror Freak that has that special love for rotting undead human flesh-eating critters. Yes, BHM contributor Lee Roberts is just the special freak .
Who better than The Zombie Master to give his accounting of where zombies come from, how they have progressed in film through the years, the best zombie movies and why we love them?
Written by: The Zombie Master Lee Roberts
Photo commentary by: BHM Editor Don Sumner
As the editor of BHM I had to chime in a bit on the specifics of the flesh-devouring ghouls from each era with photo commentary, because dressing on Halloween as "just some random zombie" is not NEARLY as cool as being "a Euro-undead grave-ariser from 1970s Italian horror".
Well, at least I think so...
Why do we Love Zombies?
Zombies. Ahhh, zombies. What is it about these creatures that attract us to them? If I were a sociologist I would probably answer that question in this fashion:“The attraction of some to the zombie and the genre of films in which they appear represents an inner desire to place blame for society’s misgivings on the establishment, i.e. big business, big government, etc. and use the zombie as the most logical outcome if the establishment were to be left unchecked by a complacent population.”
Me not being a sociologist though, I would have to answer that question like this: “We are just a bunch of sick freaks that use the cinematic visions of the undead feasting on the living as a release from the everyday monotony of life.” (Editor's note: Yeah Lee, that's more like it.)
In the Beginning...
 The early zombies were merely mindless slaves, and typically had white faces and blackened eyes - held wide and expressionless. |
In the period of time that I like to call B.R. (Before Romero) the zombie as we know it did not exist. Pre-1968 zombies were something entirely different. These animated corpses were a product of voodoo and the movies portrayed them as such. In films such as White Zombie (1932) and Revenge of the Zombies
1968: Birth of the Modern Zombie
Just when the idea of rotting reanimations were about to go the way of an Ed Wood film, along came a man who would revolutionize the horror genre and breath new life (or undeath) into the zombie. A small budget black and white film titled Night of the Living Dead , written and directed by George A. Romero, hit theaters and drive-ins in 1968. The effects of Romero's ground-breaking treatment of the theme are still being felt today.From the moment that we heard "They're coming to get you Barbara", the zombie became fair game again, and the gore effect became a staple of the genre.
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| The George Romero arisen ones had the look of "every day". Their dress consisted of either the clothes that they wore in the casket at their funeral, or normal work clothes (i.e. waitress, mechanic). Injuries such as missing limbs were also common. Their intelligence was very low, and movement stiff and slow. |
The 1970s: Zombie Genre Growing Pains
 The zombies from Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things were very simple: Blue/green face, blackened eyes, messed up hair, splattered with blood and outfits from the second-hand store. Be stupid and move slowly and you're all set. |
The seventies were a decade that consisted of a lot of growing pains for the Zombie genre. Filmmakers were not quite sure how to properly utilize this new tool that had been thrown into the horror toolbox. There were a couple of decent attempts such as Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (1972) and Garden of the Dead
 Some of the European entries to the genre opted for the "dead a LONG time" look. Skulls, some residual facial hair and monk robes were standard fare for the deadly derelicts from the Old Country. |
 Romero stayed true to his original vision with normal clothing. Now in color, the faces are a bluish tint, and random injuries and blood mark the Romero zombie. Still slow and not too bright. |
In 1978 Romero gave the genre a much needed “fatherly” shove in the right direction with Dawn of the Dead (1978). The first to gather an understanding of where the genre was going was Lucio Fulci who ended the decade with the release of Zombi 2 (1979, 1980 U.S.).
The Roaring 1980s
Like a child with the training wheels taken off, zombie films took off in the eighties. The zombies from Evil Dead were the result of possession by evil spirits, so their faces quickly developed a white crust over them. Pure white eyes with black circles around them are also typical. These demonic heartbreakers could carry on conversations and attack with focus. |
 This is "Bub", the pet zombie from Day of the Dead. Bub is a little smarter than his typical brethren, and is often seen with a walkman. Wrinkled bluish face ala Romero. |
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The list of movies adding to the Zombie Movie History from the 80s is long and includes many of the classics if the genre: Dead and Buried
(1981), The Evil Dead (1982), Zombie Island Massacre
(1984), Day of the Dead (1985), The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Night of the Creeps (1986), Evil Dead II
(1987), The Dead Next Door (1988).
It was also during this time that certain rules became staples of the genre, some accepted, some rejected, and others made fun of:
• If you didn’t die first, you ain’t a zombie.• Zombies are not cannibals. They do not feed on each other only living flesh.
• The only way to stop a zombie is a well placed head shot. (Hammer, ice-pick, gun, axe, etc.)
• Intelligence is not a their strong point.
There are other rules that are deemed acceptable to bend if necessary, but these are pretty much untouchable.
1990s: Zombie Film Makers Lost Their Way
 Braindead is considered the goriest movie EVER. The zombies reflect this, with blood and guts everywhere. Also characterized by black eyes and ripping flesh. |
 The undead from Dellamorte Dellamore (Cemetery Man), as you can see, have lots of ripped skin and plant-matter on them. They can also be a bit "frisky". |
Teenagers, you see, think they know everything and that they are bullet-proof. It is during the teen years that the most mistakes are made.
That is what the nineties were to the zombie film - mistake time. Though there were a few greats, such as Braindead (1992) and Dellamorte Dellamore
2000 - Present: The Future Looks Bright
Today, it seems as though the zombie genre is moving into responsible adulthood.There have been some good films released so far in this decade, notably Land of the Dead (2005), Dawn of the Dead 2004 (2004), and Shaun of the Dead (2004).
There are a few remakes in the works that I am a little hesitant about, but I am very optimistic about what the future holds for zombie fans everywhere.
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 Because they are regularly hunted AFTER they became zombies, the undead in Romero's Land of the Dead are a bit bloodier than normal Romero fare. Otherwise, pretty consistent with the classic formula. |
So, just remember...If work is weighing you down, home life is racking your nerves, and nothing seems to be going right, there is nothing more calming than a good healthy dose of gory, human flesh eating, zombie mayhem. Whether you want to blame "the Man" for societies woes, or just like seeing rotted walking flesh rip apart their victims and eat their guts out, a zombie movie marathon will surely cure what ails you.
If there are any questions, confusions, or any other “sions” we have created a special section just for you:
Ask the Zombie Master about Zombie movie History or any other zombie question you have.
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