I have always had a love for zombie movies–actual scary ones. Night of the Living Dead, Return of the Living Dead Part 3, Dawn of the Dead and the remake, Land of the Dead, 28 Days Later, the Michael Jackson video for Thriller, and others I’m forgetting. I haven’t seen Zombieland, and at first I didn’t want to because I think it signals what I consider to be the over-exposure of this sub-genre that I hold so dear, for me, I’m afraid it’s the beginning of the end. It looks like Zombieland is being marketed purely as a comedy: one where the little girl from Little Miss Sunshine is a main character, and where one character–according to the trailer–offers the other characters Purell after a particularly messy zombie affair. Everyone I know tells me ” thought of you when I saw that trailer!”, but for some reason, I don’t feel that interested in watching it! Maybe I’m missing something. And I’m sure, once I watch it, I’ll LOVE it too. For the mean time though, I just think it is an unnecessary, American take on “Shaun of the Dead”, which is one of my favorite zombie movies ever.
Shaun of the Dead is a Rom-Zom-Com. It is funny, yes, but it is still a legitimate zombie movie. It’s apocalyptic, it has heart, it’s scary at times, it’s so original, and you can tell, it comes from people who really love the genre! There’s nothing like it. The best thing I like about zombie movies, is how the humans get together–or don’t–in order to survive. It’s a matter of survival, and how your best friend, your mom, or your boss boss, can become a hideous monster who would like nothing more than to eat your flesh. All it takes is a bite or a scratch, and you’re sentenced to death. The zombie apocalypse is also a chance where you get to kill your best friend, mom, or boss. It’s my wildest fantasy. How messed up is that!
The song that opens up Shaun of the Dead is “Blue Wrath” by I Monster. It reminds me of Terry Hall and other music that is reminiscent of Halloween, or anything otherwise spooky and kitschy. It’s very appropriate for this day. Happy H-Ween!
