Harsh Vardhan
World cinema has explored the idea of zombie invasions in different forms. It was George A. Romero who established zombies as a modern genre with a strong cult following after his 1968 indie horror flick ‘Night of the Living Dead.’ Zombies erase the lines between horror, slasher, and other gory genres. They bring everything disturbing and unsettling into one thing — the zombie apocalypse. It is a protean genre that evokes fear, terror, disgust, shock, suspense, and horror- all at the same time. Prime Video houses a collection of some of the most exciting titles in this category.
11. Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
Directed by Christopher Landon, ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ is a zombie comedy movie starring Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, Sarah Dumont, and David Koechner. The straightforward zombie flick follows high school sophomores Ben, Carter, and Augie, whose camping plan takes a dark turn after they find themselves in the middle of a zombie onslaught. Teaming up with Denise, a cocktail waitress, the trio has to put their brains to good use to survive and kill the undead.
Fast-paced, funny, and with bits and pieces of action, ‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ does manage to live up to the expectations that come with the genre. While more could have been done, we forgive the drawbacks and enjoy the movie. You can check it out here.
10. Night of the Living Deb (2015)
Portland, Maine, is hit with a radiation leak, as per the official story, that turns the townsfolk into flesh-eating zombies. In the middle of this ruckus, we have Deb Clarington and her new love interest, Ryan Waverly. Her attempts at seducing him turn futile due to the undead who have taken over Maine. As the two people try to survive with each other, we get to see a rom-com propelled by blood. Directed by Kyle Rankin, the movie stars Maria Thayer as Deb Clarington and Michael Cassidy as Ryan Waverly. You can watch ‘Night of the Living Deb’ here.
9. A Little Bit Zombie (2012)
Things go way out of hand for Steve (Kristopher Turner) after he gets bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito that begins to turn him into a zombie with an appetite for brains. However, his fiancée Tina (Crystal Lowe) seems not to be bothered by it nor by Steve’s perpetual loss of body parts and just wants to marry him. How he, along with his friend Craig (Shawn Roberts) and sister Sarah (Kristen Hager), deal with the situation while trying to avoid a zombie hunter is what we see in this goofy zombie comedy directed by Casey Walke. You can watch ‘A Little Bit Zombie’ here.
8. Diary of the Dead (2007)
From legendary director George A. Romero, who majorly contributed to the popularity of zombie movies, comes an independent found-footage zombie movie ‘Diary of the Dead.’ It is the fifth installment of the ‘Night of the Living Dead’ film franchise. It follows a group of students and their professor from the University of Pittsburgh, who are making a mummy-inspired horror film in a forest when they are subjected to the undead. The use of footage adds to the feeling of chaos that is brought about by the zombie onslaught, underscored by the scarcity of basic needs, including water, food, and gas, which also results in a civil war within the group. The cast includes Michelle Morgan, Joshua Close, Shawn Roberts, Amy Lalonde, and Joe Dinicol. You can watch ‘Diary of the Dead’ here.
7. Day of the Dead (1985)
Directed by George A. Romero, ‘Day of the Dead’ is the third film in Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’ series. The film shows the conflict among humans taking shelter in an underground bunker while a zombie apocalypse spreads on the surface of the Earth. While the scientists believe that there is a way to treat the zombies, the army personnel believe that the only to prevent the pandemic is to kill the dead.
As per Romero, the film addresses how lack of communication leads to chaos, and rightfully so. Starring Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Jarlath Conroy, and Sherman Howard, ‘Day of the Dead’ is an immortal addition to any zombies-movies list ever, with a fair share of gore that is fortunately devoid of modern visual effects, giving it an organic touch. You can watch the movie here.
6. The Night Eats the World (2018)
The French zombie film ‘The Night Eats the World’ is based on Pit Agarman’s novel of the same name. The plot follows Sam, a musician who recently broke up with his girlfriend. He visits his ex-girlfriend’s house to retrieve some of his old things. Fanny, his ex, is hosting a party. Sam manages to find his stuff in the office, but tension rises when his nose starts bleeding. Soon, he passes out as the party rocking outside turns into a zombie bloodbath.
Sam wakes up the following morning to witness a city invaded by zombies. He finds Fanny as a zombie in the next room. Sam realizes he is the only survivor and has to barricade himself to stay alive. Sensing the human presence, zombies start grouping around the apartment. Sam prepares for the showdown and realizes that there are other survivors. A Dominique Rocher directorial, the movie stars Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, and Denis Lavant in significant roles. You can stream ‘The Night Eats the World’ here.
5. Dead & Buried (1981)
‘Dead & Buried,’ directed by Gary Sherman, is a unique and underrated entry into the zombie movie genre. The film’s compelling plot revolves around a small coastal town where the residents mysteriously die and then return from the dead. While it blends elements of horror and mystery, what sets it apart is its focus on psychological horror and a chilling atmosphere. The film’s cast includes James Farentino, Melody Anderson, and Jack Albertson, who deliver strong performances. ‘Dead & Buried’ stands out for its eerie ambiance, engaging storyline, and twist ending, making it a must-see for zombie movie fans. You can check out the movie here.
4. The Zombie King (2013)
An Aidan Belizaire directorial, ‘The Zombie King’ follows an ordinary man named Samuel Peters. He grows desperate to bring his wife back from the dead and strikes a deal with Kalfu, the God of Malevolence. The deal results in the destruction of the underworld as the Earth is run over by the horrifying undead, with Samuel as the Zombie King. Even as the zombies run havoc on Earth, resilient citizens team up against the terrifying threat in an epic showdown of life and death, hoping to dethrone the cursed king. You can stream the movie here.
3. Redcon-1 (2018)
Helmed by Chee Keong Cheung, ‘Redcon-1’ AKA ‘Redcon-1 – Army of the Dead’ portrays a zombie apocalypse that spreads from a London prison and manages to cripple the UK successfully. Although the outbreak is temporarily contained by fortifying the south of England behind strong walls, the discovery of enhanced and more powerful zombies increases the threat tenfold.
As the movie progresses, the army discovers that the scientist responsible for the outbreak is stuck in the middle of zombie-overrun London. Thus, with nothing to lose and a nation’s hope on their shoulders, a team of eight special force soldiers agrees to take on the undead city and rescue the scientist in a last-ditch effort to save humanity. You can watch ‘Redcon-1’ here.
2. Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead (2014)
Directed by Tommy Wirkola, this must-watch Norwegian horror action-comedy is a sequel to ‘Dead Snow’ (2009), although if you want, you can treat it as a standalone movie. After Martin opens his eyes in the hospital following the first movie’s events, he realizes that his right hand, which he had cut off with a chainsaw after it got infected, has been replaced with that of zombie Nazi commander Herzog, which was found in his car. With the cursed Nazi zombies wreaking havoc, Martin teams up with the Zombie Squad, professional zombie hunters, and uses his zombie arm to raise their own zombie army and wage war against Herzog’s undead forces before they can accomplish the task that was given to them by Adolf Hitler himself. ‘Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead’ shapes what can be, for many, a dream scenario, i.e., two zombie armies fighting each other. The movie stars Vegar Hoel, Martin Starr, Jocelyn DeBoer, Ingrid Haas, and Ørjan Gamst. You can watch it here.
1. Zoombies (2016)
The Eden Wildlife Zoo, a sacred haven for endangered animals, is threatened when veterinarians use a forbidden serum to save a monkey from cardiac arrest. The serum reacts strangely and soon turns the animals into undead zombies who finish off the vets and then set off an alarm just as college students applying for jobs arrive on the scene. Agile and impossible to catch, the monkeys end up contaminating the whole zoo, turning each animal into a bloodthirsty killing machine as the people stuck inside put up a desperate fight for their lives. Feel free to check out the movie here.
Read More: Best Zombie Movies on Netflix
