By Marc A. BrashearBy Marc A. Brashear

A necessary evil of modern times…

Zombies has been a part of the Zombies has been a part of the modern day culture ever since modern day culture ever since George Romero's landmark 1968 George Romero's landmark 1968 film, film, Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead. . Although they was called Ghouls Although they was called Ghouls in the film, the name zombie in the film, the name zombie soon adopted itself as the soon adopted itself as the universal name for a re-animated universal name for a re-animated corpse.corpse.

The name “Zombie” originated The name “Zombie” originated from the Haitian word from the from the Haitian word from the

tenets of Vodoutenets of Vodou. . It simply It simply means a re-animated corpse or means a re-animated corpse or another person that is under the another person that is under the control of a Bokor, usually under control of a Bokor, usually under a form of mind control. Which a form of mind control. Which really is nothing close to the really is nothing close to the plague driven, flesh-eaters of plague driven, flesh-eaters of popular Western and European popular Western and European pop-culture.pop-culture.

Brief HistoryBrief History

Zombies in MoviesZombies in Movies

White Zombie (1932)White Zombie (1932) - - If it wasn’t - - If it wasn’t for this movie, nobody would even know for this movie, nobody would even know what a zombie is. This was the first what a zombie is. This was the first movie where the term “zombie” first movie where the term “zombie” first appered, and is what inspired Romero’s appered, and is what inspired Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.Night of the Living Dead.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)Night of the Living Dead (1968) - - - The cult classic from the mind of - The cult classic from the mind of George Romero is what popularized George Romero is what popularized zombies and put it under the gaze of zombies and put it under the gaze of pop culture. This was a total reinvention pop culture. This was a total reinvention of the whole zombie idea from of the whole zombie idea from White White ZombieZombie and made the iconic zombie of and made the iconic zombie of today.today.

Dawn Of The Dead (1978)Dawn Of The Dead (1978) - - Also - - Also by Romero, this is the movie that made by Romero, this is the movie that made me start loving zombies and is what also me start loving zombies and is what also made Zombies as popular as they are made Zombies as popular as they are today. Being locked in a mall with an today. Being locked in a mall with an endless supply of weapons and a endless supply of weapons and a creative group is what made this movie creative group is what made this movie so amazing.so amazing.

If it wasn’t for movies, the zombie movement would have never took ground. So im going to start with the most popular, starting from the Beginning.

Return of the Living Dead Return of the Living Dead (1985)(1985) - - Where the whole - - Where the whole “BRAINNNNNNZZZZZZ” element “BRAINNNNNNZZZZZZ” element originated from. Created from the originated from. Created from the same person that made the Alien same person that made the Alien series, Dan O’Bannon.series, Dan O’Bannon.

Day of the Dead (1985)Day of the Dead (1985) - - A less - - A less known work from George Romero known work from George Romero but great nonetheless. It glorified but great nonetheless. It glorified how so much chaos could happen how so much chaos could happen when there is a lack of when there is a lack of communication during a crisis communication during a crisis showing a bit more attention to the showing a bit more attention to the characters than his other movies characters than his other movies (Probably why not many people (Probably why not many people seen it..)seen it..)

Dead Alive (1992)Dead Alive (1992) - - A film by - - A film by Peter Jackson that is deliciously Peter Jackson that is deliciously gory. A true cult classic that a lot gory. A true cult classic that a lot of people often find too much to of people often find too much to handle. While being somewhat of a handle. While being somewhat of a dark comedy, the excessive gore dark comedy, the excessive gore was more for entertainment and was more for entertainment and comedic purposes more than to comedic purposes more than to shock the crowd. Note: This is shock the crowd. Note: This is probably the Zombie movie in this probably the Zombie movie in this list that make you puke..list that make you puke..

28 Days Later (2002)28 Days Later (2002) - - - - Although the “zombie” in this movie Although the “zombie” in this movie much different than what many much different than what many people are used too. It is a really people are used too. It is a really good movie and certainly a good good movie and certainly a good watch if you like a more dramatic watch if you like a more dramatic show of one mans survival after a show of one mans survival after a zombie catastrophe.zombie catastrophe.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)Shaun of the Dead (2004) - - - - A pure comedy in its own; It’s a A pure comedy in its own; It’s a hilarious departure from the serious hilarious departure from the serious attitude that follows most zombie attitude that follows most zombie movies and is probably the most movies and is probably the most comedy-based movie on this list. comedy-based movie on this list.

Zombieland (2009)Zombieland (2009) - - Probably - - Probably my most favorite zombie movie of all my most favorite zombie movie of all time. This movie caused a huge change time. This movie caused a huge change in the way we look at the coming zombie in the way we look at the coming zombie apocolypse. Being a comedy, unlike apocolypse. Being a comedy, unlike most zombie movies, focuses purely on most zombie movies, focuses purely on humor more than inciting fear and shock. humor more than inciting fear and shock. It introduced “The List” containing very It introduced “The List” containing very valuable notes pertaining to surviving the valuable notes pertaining to surviving the zombie apocolypse with “rules” that zombie apocolypse with “rules” that following will aid one when it comes to following will aid one when it comes to not becoming a meal yourself. Ruben not becoming a meal yourself. Ruben Fleischer, the director, is a genus for Fleischer, the director, is a genus for making this movie and I highly making this movie and I highly recommend just for its very entertaining recommend just for its very entertaining dialog and the ever “List”.dialog and the ever “List”.

Zombies in GamesZombies in Games

Zombies made its mark on Hollywood, but it wasn’t long after Romero’s first hit that the zombie horde began to come down upon a new medium. Video games allow someone to delve into the worlds that they would otherwise only be able to read or watch, so it was inevitable that video games would come to reflect the zombie culture to about the same level as movies. This is just a list of some of the most popular franchises with no specific order.

Dead Rising (2006)Dead Rising (2006) - - One of the - - One of the first widely popular zombie based games first widely popular zombie based games focused on survival more than holding down focused on survival more than holding down a trigger. The game required you to try to a trigger. The game required you to try to escape a zombie infested mall full of objects escape a zombie infested mall full of objects which just about every one could be used as which just about every one could be used as a weapon. The creativity the game a weapon. The creativity the game encourages allows players to kill hordes of encourages allows players to kill hordes of zombies in any way you want. One of the zombies in any way you want. One of the best stress relieving games I think.best stress relieving games I think.

Resident Evil 1-5 (1996-Resident Evil 1-5 (1996-2008)2008) - - Probably the most well known of - - Probably the most well known of all the zombie games has to be Capcom’s all the zombie games has to be Capcom’s Resident Evil series. Having 17 released Resident Evil series. Having 17 released games it has come to be the icon of most games it has come to be the icon of most zombie gaming. The gameplay usually zombie gaming. The gameplay usually requires the player to fight his way through a requires the player to fight his way through a level from a first-person perspective. The level from a first-person perspective. The games, especially Resident Evil 4, received games, especially Resident Evil 4, received high priase for their action oriented theme, high priase for their action oriented theme, great story, and terrifying zombies. great story, and terrifying zombies.

Left 4 Dead 1-2 (2008-Left 4 Dead 1-2 (2008-2009)2009) - - My personal favorite. Valve’s Left 4 - - My personal favorite. Valve’s Left 4 Dead introduced a new element in zombie survival Dead introduced a new element in zombie survival which included the dependence on your team-which included the dependence on your team-mates in order to survive. This team-based game mates in order to survive. This team-based game play involves 4 players that have to try and fight play involves 4 players that have to try and fight their way to a safehouse at the end of every level their way to a safehouse at the end of every level using a large amount of teamwork and skill. But using a large amount of teamwork and skill. But the most appealing aspect of the game is its the most appealing aspect of the game is its multiplayer, which depending on the game-mode, multiplayer, which depending on the game-mode, you can play on the side of either the survivors or you can play on the side of either the survivors or the zombies as the “special infected” The game the zombies as the “special infected” The game received critical praise for its fresh gameplay and received critical praise for its fresh gameplay and its dependence on teamwork in order to survive. its dependence on teamwork in order to survive. (or kill)(or kill)

Dead Space 1-2 (2008)Dead Space 1-2 (2008) - - A very - - A very different kind of zombie game with very different different kind of zombie game with very different zombies. This game was designed to scare the zombies. This game was designed to scare the daylights out of you. With zombies that have to be daylights out of you. With zombies that have to be dismembered, limb from limb, in order to die, the dismembered, limb from limb, in order to die, the atmosphere of the game can be really bonechilling. atmosphere of the game can be really bonechilling. With the necromorphs (zombies) able to attack With the necromorphs (zombies) able to attack literally from any angle, the thrill of walking down a literally from any angle, the thrill of walking down a dark hallway and hearing something creeping to dark hallway and hearing something creeping to you from somewhere around you makes this game you from somewhere around you makes this game certainly one of the best thrillers in the gaming certainly one of the best thrillers in the gaming world. Note that its all based on a giant spaceship world. Note that its all based on a giant spaceship with the setting being years into the future.with the setting being years into the future.

Red Dead Redemption: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (2010) Undead Nightmare (2010) - - - - While this is only an expansion pack to a game set While this is only an expansion pack to a game set in the old west, the focus around zombies is in the old west, the focus around zombies is enough to give this game some notice. Its kinda enough to give this game some notice. Its kinda neat to be fighting zombies in an earlier time since neat to be fighting zombies in an earlier time since most zombie games are either set in modern times most zombie games are either set in modern times or the near to far future.or the near to far future.

Dead Island (2011)Dead Island (2011) - - A nice game - - A nice game that went with a more realistic approach by making that went with a more realistic approach by making guns a rare convenience and fighting with clubs guns a rare convenience and fighting with clubs and other hand-held weapons the games staple. and other hand-held weapons the games staple. Set on a tropical island resort, the player has to Set on a tropical island resort, the player has to figure out what happened and try to leave the figure out what happened and try to leave the island. The zombie brawls was the main focus of island. The zombie brawls was the main focus of the game with a lot of detail put into the combat the game with a lot of detail put into the combat system. But all in all received great reviews system. But all in all received great reviews despite a buggy launch and only added to the list despite a buggy launch and only added to the list of great zombie hack-n-slash.of great zombie hack-n-slash.

Nazi Zombies, CoD WaW and Nazi Zombies, CoD WaW and Black Ops (2008-2010)Black Ops (2008-2010) - - While - - While only being a single game mode many people will only being a single game mode many people will admit to spending a lot of time in it. The point of admit to spending a lot of time in it. The point of the game/mode is to simply try to survive as many the game/mode is to simply try to survive as many rounds as you can without dieing. Sounds simple, rounds as you can without dieing. Sounds simple, but if you have a team-mate things can get really but if you have a team-mate things can get really intense. The mode has garnered a lot of attention intense. The mode has garnered a lot of attention from the gaming community and many people, from the gaming community and many people, especially when considering Black Op’s version, especially when considering Black Op’s version, claim it is a game in and of itself, and became very claim it is a game in and of itself, and became very popular due to its addicting survival-based popular due to its addicting survival-based gameplay.gameplay.

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