Zombie Style Examples for New Film

by Cal Wood
(Melbourne, Vic, Aus)

Zombie Master,

I'm looking at making a dark short film with zombies in it and I have a few different styles in mind for the visuals, but I was hoping you could inform me of which zombie films would be most helpful in my research of the visuals/ cinematography. I have done some "research", but there are so many zombie films...

The main style I want will be similar to that of Alien with the zombies being hidden in shadows mostly, but I'm also after a bit of a dark and gritty feel with the cinematography to give the feel that the end is night.

Also, I don't have a budget for CGI, so can you recommend any low budget/ indie films as good examples, even some that you had to chance to see that didn't make theatrical release?

Basically any film with a distictive visual style or stand out cinematography would be great.

Thank you,

Cal Wood, Melbourne, Vic, Austrailia

Cal Wood,

I always enjoy helping out when it leads to future horror/zombie morsels.

To begin with, I firmly believe that anyone wanting to jump into the zombie genre of horror must not only watch but study the original b/w Night of the Living Dead. It is the Citizen Kane of zombie films and George Romero is the Orson Welles. The style, the angles, the atmosphere; all lean toward perfection. I would also suggest Zombie Honeymoon and Severed: Forest of the Dead.

One more suggestion if I may. Nothing against the newer films but if you want to get back to the style of film making that relied more on camera angles and less on CGI you may want to look at the works of the early greats. Bava, Romero, Argento, Fulci, etc. didn't have the luxury of Hollywood financing to help tell their story.

I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master