Zombies

What is the world's fascination with zombies? Ok, maybe the world isn't fascinated with them, but I am. Why? Is it because I have actually found someone who runs slower than me? Maybe it is because they are one group that really has no peer pressure to speak of. They won't give you a hard time if your missing an arm or other appendage. They never seem to fight amongst each other. Sure they may rip your liver in half trying to get the biggest piece, but they aren't going to fight about it. They would rather move on to the other body parts rather than waste time arguing. It is probably an advantage that they can't actually talk, unless aarrrggghhhh counts. Also, do they have a preference for certain body parts or is it all good? Do they prefer internal organs or will an arm do just as well?I said they run slower than me, but this is only if we are talking about the Romero type zombies and not the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake type zombies. These zombies actually run faster than me, although since they are technically dead and decomposing it seems this would be difficult. The 2004 Dawn of the Dead zombies do look scarier than the zombies from the original, though you have to wonder if their blue skin was an inspiration for the Blue Men Group, although I have never seen the zombies play drums made out of plumbing or the Blue Men take a bite out of an audience member. If they were actually just infected, like the zombies (who are not really zombies according to Danny Boyle) from 28 days later, then I would expect Usain Bolt type speeds, but not from a reanimated corpse.

Romero is definately the king of the zombies, although there are a few other films that may be considered classics of the genre. Lucio Fulci's Zombie, or Zombie 2 as it's known in Italy, features some of the best zombie makeup for any zombie film. Add some Fulci eye gouging and you have a classic! The Beyond is another Fulci movie featuring loads of zombies and characters that never seem to realize that when they shoot the zombies in the head they die, and when they shoot them anywhere else, no matter how many times they shoot them, they do not die! And who can forget the classic Bruno Mattei film, Hell of the Living Dead? Mattei comes from the Ed Wood school of directing. "Why if I had half a chance, I could make an entire movie using this stock footage". Combining slow motion stock footage of monkeys jumping in trees, tribal dances, plenty of gore and a little nudity, Mattei makes one of the best bad movies ever. You can actually learn some important life lessons watching this movie. Like when you're in a house that is filled with flesh eating zombies, don't stop to put on a tutu and top hat and dance with a cane, you will most certainly be eaten.Remember, remove the head or destroy the brain!