The Best Zombie Movies Ever Made

Considering the biggest cultural taboos in Western society, death is often overlooked. Yet, it deserves attention. North Americans and Europeans frequently avoid discussions about death. Many believe that a healthy lifestyle, including the right food and supplements, can grant immortality. This attitude reflects our obsession with youth. Zombie films, however, force us to confront death directly. In these stories, death often pursues us, attempting to claim our minds for its own.

Check out the SSP's rankings for the five greatest zombie films, evaluated based on their quality, influence, and impact on the genre.

REC

Before the remake titled "Quarantine," this Spanish found-footage film introduced fresh terror to the zombie narrative. A TV reporter and cameraman visit a fire station for a routine story when an emergency arises. Accompanying firefighters to an apartment, they record blood-curdling screams from an elderly woman’s unit. After authorities seal the building to contain the threat, the group faces overwhelming horror. Their survival looks grim with the camera rolling throughout.

The film offers a simple plot featuring typical characters, but it transcends these clichés through energetic execution. Notably, music is absent from the soundtrack until the film’s conclusion, which imparts a documentary feel. The relentless momentum carries through into the sequel, creating a film that compels watching in complete darkness as chills intensify with every scare.

Rabid

Choosing between David Cronenberg's "Shivers" or "Rabid" for the best zombie films list is challenging; both stand out. "Shivers," set in a luxury condo, seems like a precursor to "Dawn of the Dead’s" critique of consumerism. Nonetheless, "Rabid" showcases a sharper focus. After a severe auto accident, young actress Marilyn Chambers undergoes extensive plastic surgery, resulting in her developing a deadly phallic stinger. Close contact with any man turns disastrous, infecting them with a rage virus that unleashes their basest instincts.

Intriguingly, Chambers does not succumb to the virus herself; her victims reveal their true nature instead. The film provokes reflection on society's stigma toward sex workers who have long been seen as vectors of disease. It cleverly suggests that scrutiny should reflect more on the audience than the performers.

Re-Animator

Adapted from H.P. Lovecraft’s tale "Herbert West – Reanimator," Stuart Gordon’s stylish twisted comedy has gained a devoted following. Picture Romero’s "Night of the Living Dead" directed by a surreal comedy force like Mad Magazine. Following medical student Dan Cain seeking a roommate, he encounters the eccentric Herbert West. West enthusiastically pursues experimenting with reanimating corpses, embroiling Dan in horrific scientific antics.

As gruesome confrontations arise, filled with hacked-up undead, "Re-Animator" transforms horror into a blend of excitement and dark humor. Jeffrey Combs delivers an unforgettable performance as West, defining splatter theatricality in the 1980s. Unrivaled in its grotesque excitement, it remains a significant benchmark for horror films.

I Walked with a Zombie

"There is no beauty here, only death and decay," declares the rich plantation owner within this narrative. Val Lewton's RKO production explicates the genesis of zombie lore, weaving voodoo mythology into its thrall. Director Jacques Tourneur crafts an unsettling, melancholic atmosphere as a young nurse attends to the plantation owner's tormented spouse fallen victim to a voodoo curse related to infidelity.

The creative team innovatively instills fear through soft background melodies, the rustling winds, and waves crashing against a zombie's legs. Racial dimensions amplify this chilling atmosphere, serving as a formative commentary on white colonizers who co-opt Afro-Caribbean culture without comprehending the implications. The narrative escalates when one character's misguided use of voodoo spells monstrous repercussions.

Dawn of the Dead

While "Night of the Living Dead" is often hailed as a classic, it’s true that "Dawn of the Dead" has many compelling merits. A TV producer awakens to a zombie apocalypse, scrambling for safety with companions aboard a helicopter. Their sanctuary resides at a derelict shopping mall, surrounded by undead. Here, they indulge in looting and distraction. This escapade quickly turns darker when they must combat the zombies to protect their newfound haven.

Shot prominently at the Monroeville Mall, the film critiques American consumerism while blending suspense and horror through graphic scenes. Dario Argento’s contribution bolsters the movie’s color palette and sound; it evokes an uncanny vibrancy against the backdrop of horror. The creative irony lies in reviewing how the living are grappled with an obsession for things as they combat the consuming undead, contemplating the very nature of what's desirable in life.

Earlier, SSP told about the 5 best body horror movies.