Harsh Vardhan
Shubhabrata Dutta
World cinema has explored the idea of zombie invasions in different forms. Movies like ‘White Zombie (1932)’ and ‘I Walked With a Zombie (1943)’ are some good examples. 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.
7. White Zombie (1932)
‘White Zombie,’ a classic of the zombie genre, doesn’t feature the brain-eating monsters typically associated with the genre. Instead, it showcases the legendary Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre, a malevolent voodoo master who can transform people into obedient zombies. When plantation owner Charles, infatuated with Madeleine, who is already engaged, seeks Murder’s assistance, the story takes a dark turn. Made in the pre-Hays Code era, ‘White Zombie’ flirts with some relative immorality, but its enduring appeal lies in its iconic status and Lugosi’s captivating, over-the-top performance. This film is a must-see for those intrigued by classic horror cinema. You can check it out here.
6. The Night Eats the World (2018)
The French zombie film ‘The Night Eats the World’ is based on the novel of the same name by Pit Agarman. 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 are mysteriously dying and then returning 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 a twist ending that makes it a must-see for zombie movie aficionados. 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. 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.
1. Train to Busan (2016)
‘Train to Busan’ revolves around a divorced single father, Seok-woo, who is always busy at work and is unable to give any time to his daughter, Su-an. On the day he decides to take her to Busan to meet her mother, a chemical spill in a different part of the city unleashes a horrifying zombie outbreak, throwing the region into chaos.
As Seok-woo and Su-an scuttle onto a train to Busan along with hundreds of other citizens, an infected girl spreads the virus on the train, turning carriage after carriage into bloodthirsty zombies. The rest of the movie depicts Su-an and Seok-woo’s struggle to survive as their world crashes and burns. Apart from all the blood and gore, the Yeon Sang-ho film has a huge heart. You can watch the movie here.
Read More: Best Zombie Movies on Netflix
