10. “Day of the Dead” (2007)
Written by: Jeffrey Reddick
Directed by: Steve Miner
A remake of Romero’s trilogy in the ‘80s, a small town is infected and then quarantined by the military. Everything gets out of hand; residents get infected before they can leave, hospitals turn in on themselves and the streets are safe to no one.
This movie is awful, but that sometimes makes a great movie. Nick Cannon stars in it, which should speak for itself. And I’m almost positive it never went to theaters. Regardless, its slight grindhouse feel and basic plot makes for an entertaining living dead-fest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaIeBjwUoRw
9. “The Evil Dead” (1981)
Written and directed by: Sam Raimi
A bunch of friends go to a cabin in the woods where they find the Book of the Dead. Being dumb young adults in a horror film, they summon out inactive demons that have been dormant in the forest. Cue the deadly battle.
Sam Raimi was right out of film school when he directed this creepy film, and it’s one of the few movies where the zombies actually converse with their victims. This betrays all the rules of zombie-dom, but it is so ridiculously well done that it doesn’t matter.
8. “Quarantine” (2008)
Written and directed by: John Erick Dowdle
A remake of the Spanish “[?REC],” the audience follows a local newscaster as she shadows a firefighting team. After they get a seemingly routine call about a woman stuck in her apartment, they are soon trapped along with all the other occupants in the complex. They try to find refuge as the residents slowly become infected with a heightened form of rabies.
As far as bad ratings go, I disagree with popular sites like Rotten Tomatoes. This movie scared the willies out of me and I couldn’t sleep the night after. The handheld camera effect also doesn’t help you see what’s around the corner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4inLY7YmNI
7. “Dawn of the Dead” (1978)
Written and directed by: George A. Romero
The sequel to “Night of the Living Dead” is set only a few months after the first story ends. Military forces send in the National Guard to attack the zombies as they find them, but when one mission in Pittsburgh goes wrong, things begin to unravel.
Anything by Romero in this genre just rocks. He is the god of zombie horror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpuNE1cX03c
6. “Dead Snow” (2008)
Written by: Stig Frode Henriksen and Tommy Wirkola
Directed by: Tommy Wirkola
A group of medical students are on a ski trip in Norway, where they come into contact with a battalion of undead Nazi soldiers that have a mission to eat human flesh. The students have to fight for their lives while slowly realizing what they’re up against.
Definitely an indie success, “Dead Snow” was on Netflix forever, hitting comedic and ironic scenarios with a topic that is taboo. Scary, cold and a bit unique, “Dead Snow” is a film any horror junkie must add to their repertoire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-KQh87_V2Q
5. “28 Days Later” (2003)
Written by: Alex Garland
Directed by: Danny Boyle
A misguided animal rights group releases infected chimpanzees. The chimps are exposed to humans, and after almost a month of pure insanity, a man wakes from a coma and finds that London looks a lot more desolate. Not understanding the cause right away, he joins a group of survivors and eventually realizes the nature of their desperation.
Both the “Days” and “Weeks” versions of this tale are completely epic. Praises came from many different movie sites on this one, which is arguably the better of the two films. If you’re unsure, I suggest marathoning it - it’s really a tough call.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eunaclr-WgU
4. “Land of the Dead” (2005)
Written and directed by: George A. Romero
Zombies, at this point, conquer the streets of America. Mercenaries guard urban skyscrapers and have learned to wage battles with the living dead. However, the zombies are evolving and defeating the last grip humans had on defense.
Yes, another Romero film, but this is my personal favorite of the series. Nothing new really reveals itself, but it’s basically a zombie “Road Trip.” How does that not sound like the best adventure ever?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atXJB9luiko
3. “Shaun of the Dead” (2004)
Written by: Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright
Directed by: Edgar Wright
The film is all about Shaun, a pretty lame Englishman who comes to his full potential as a brute, honorable dude as the dead rise from a nice little rest. With his on-and-off relationship taking its toll as he tries to fight for his life with his drunken friend Ed, this movie is nothing short of hilarious.
If you haven’t seen this already, shame on you. It is possibly the best combination of humor and horror around. If you’re watching a ton of scary movies this month, “Shaun of the Dead” is the perfect thing to give your stomach a rest from jumping out of your throat by letting you chuckle for a couple hours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfDUv3ZjH2k
2. “Dawn of the Dead” (2004)
Written by: James Gunn
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Yes, the remake. Earth’s been taken over by zombies. Survivors flee to a shopping mall and plot to make it to an island that’s supposedly zombie free. Silly horror film characters.
Sorry, Romero, but this version is lengths better than the original. It created a new generation of zombie awesomeness. The ‘90s were too good for these films, it seems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LUzJAsa-gg
1. “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
Written and directed by: George A. Romero
“Night of the Living Dead” is the original zombie movie. In the film, a radiation leak raises the dead in a small Pennsylvania town. The townspeople flee to a farmhouse and fight for their lives while simultaneously figuring out a way to escape. Original, huh?
It is original because it was one of the first of its kind, so of course it tops the list. It technically was the list for a long time. Respect the Romero and have a very undead Halloween.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gUKvmOEGCU
Reach the reporter at lkjorda1@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
