 Premise first:There are a million cinematic genres out there just waiting for you to find them. Within those genres are countless films ranging from atrocious to (hopefully) all time great.We care at OGR, so in 2012 we will periodically be highlighting a different genre and identifying which films in your respective genre are;
The GOOD: 8 / 10 and aboveThey might not all be great, but we wholeheartedly recommend that you check these out, as they represent some of the best the genre has to offer. The (NOT) BAD: 6.5 / 10 to 7.5 / 10These films might have a few flaws and probably won’t blow you away, but they aren’t terrible, boast at least a few decent moments and who knows there might just find a gem or two in here that works better for you. &The UGLY: 6 / 10 and belowFilms that are ordinary at best, and worse… not much joy to be found here I’m afraid. For the most part I will let the full reviews in the links tell the story. Feel free to let me know what I missed or which of your favourites is ranked too low. |
Zombies
The ugly, drooling cousin to the vampire, the zombie is essentially a mindless savage creature hell bent on one goal – feasting on your flesh and brains.
Many cite George Romero as the ‘Father’ of the genre thanks to Night of the Living Dead, and indeed both Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead had their moments too. But in recent years the zombie genre has seen new and inventive wrinkles added to the genre by foreign language filmmakers and some creative minds – the zombie film is without doubt the cheapest way for nameless filmmakers to become known. It must be said too that the video game industry has introduced a few cool concepts that have been promptly stolen and used to make better zombie films.
Zombies might still be the choice of gorehounds, but the last decade has shown that the genre can exist and evolve without relying solely on blood and guts.
(By the way I couldn’t call the Evil Dead films zombie flicks. If they are they all most definitely fit in the ‘Good’ category – in fact regardless of genre they fit into the ‘Good’ category.)
Let’s get to the sweet meat in this sucker…
The Good
Look I kinda liked 28 Days Later, well mainly the first half, but 28 Weeks Later carried more impact as far as I was concerned and was infinitely more consistent.
Plus it featured 2 memorable scenes where hubby and wife shared differing opinions, both leading to one being significantly worse off…
Dawn of the Dead 2004: (Review)
Precocious and talented director Zack Snyder bursts onto the scene with a vicious and inventive reinterpretation of the Romero original.
(Now less than a decade – plus 300, Watchmen and Sucker Punch – later I can’t wait for him to retire.)
Robert Rodriguez does 70s B movies exactly right. Hilarious, gory and ludicrous in equal measure.
The zom-com ying to Shaun of the Dead;s com-zom yang.
I have told friends that as soon as the quasi-religious subplot was introduced I mentally wrote this film off, but the film wouldn’t allow it.
Somehow Rec: 2 overcame what should have been a ridiculous move and turned out a scads better film than the original, and a great example of modern horror.
The film that launched Wright / Pegg / Frost into the global consciousness.
A masterful homage – not parody – to classic zombie horror with numerous intricately plotted clever touches and hilarious moments.
The (Not) Bad
Dawn of the Dead 1978: (Review)
Romero’s high point as far as I’m concerned, three survivors hole up in a shopping ball filled with mindless shuffling drones… at least it was before the zombies showed up.
Clumsy parable anyone?
A newly discovered unpolished gem.
Two soldiers must overcome exposure, exhaustion and a shitload of zombies in harsh African terrain.
No hooks. No clever twists. Just a gruelling ordeal.
A game of le cops and le robbers is abruptly called off when gatecrashing le zombies show up and can’t pick which side to le eat first.
The film is French by the oui.
Paul W.S. Anderson proves he is barely adept when things are simple.
Spawned so many terrible – yet profitable – sequels that decent filmmakers all just shed a single tear.
Especially clever and innovative take on a formulaic road zombie film.
More com than zom – but good com.
Other Not Bad Notables: Return of the Living Dead / Serpent & the Rainbow / Undead / The Crazies
The Ugly
Every non-Shaun of the Dead / Zombieland ‘Zom-com’: Those two films show it can be done, that doesn’t mean you should try, it ain’t that easy.
Fido / Doghouse / Big Tits Zombie (I concede a few redeeming features) / Zombie Strippers / House of the Dead / I Sell the Dead / Versus
Every Resident Evil sequel: The first was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise, the three (and counting) sequels all totally expected unpleasant cinematic skidmarks. We stop going they stop making ‘em.
Every Romero Zombie film since Day of the Dead: George seems a nice enough guy, but enough is enough.
Land of the Dead / Survival of the Dead / Diary of the Dead / ‘Tenuous please remember I came up with this shit even though I lost my mojo – of the Dead’
The rest: You have two choices with ultra low budget zombies; either stay as true to the genre as possible or introduce a new wrinkle – no half measures please.
Dead Snow (Zombie-Nazis) / Devil’s Playground (British Zombies) / Ghosts of Mars (Space Zombies) / Dead Girl (Zombie Sex-doll)
As always 2012 will bring dozens of new entries into the zombie genre and OGR will painstakingly waste hours and brain cells sifting through the entrails to sort the classics from the trash.
Stay tuned.
OGR
