Ask any movie or television buff to talk about the most common sub-genres of horror, and they will inevitably point to zombie films as one of the most prominent examples. That’s natural, given the huge number of zombie films, not to mention contemporary television series like The Walking Dead. Zombies represent one of the pillars of the horror universe, perhaps the most important pillar, although that’s an argument for another day.
And yet, there is an argument that zombie films and television subvert the horror genre, or at least may be viewed as multi-faceted in genre. When you step back and look at it, this also feels like a natural assumption. Many zombie flicks are set in post-apocalyptic worlds, and that in itself lends itself to the survival and action genres. It’s also clear that many zombie shows have the intention of placing a mirror in front of human nature. None of this is new. In fact, J’accuse (1919), which is widely viewed as the first zombie film, or at least a precursor to the genre, was a thinly veiled riposte at the horrors of the First World War.
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Reimagining Horror: The Evolution Of The Zombie Genre Into Action-Packed Narratives
No Rules For Zombie Content
Of course, if we are to dive into such an exploration, it should be set out from the start that there are no strict rules for creating zombie content. It could follow a stricter horror formula like Train to Busan (2016), lean heavily into comedy like Shawn of the Dead (2004), or be thematic explorations into ideas like morality, ethics, family, and the nature of leadership all overarching with the study of human nature itself, as is the case with The Walking Dead. The gaming world largely follows a similar pattern, ranging from ‘serious’ horror like Resident Evil to fun and casual games like Zombie Carnival and Plants vs. Zombies.
But as a general rule, zombie films tend to attempt to say something else beyond the normal boundaries of horror. Sure, they can share tropes with other horror films, not least the ubiquitous “jump scare” that seems to be mandatory in every modern horror flick. But we would argue that zombie films, more than most, tend to explore other ideas. And that’s a positive that makes the genre more interesting.
Some of this is not by design but by necessity. To explain, we should note that the idea of the zombie as a “character” is part of the classic horror canon, joining the likes of vampires, werewolves, and mummies. We have been watching these horror creations on screen for over a century and for a lot longer in literary form. As a consequence, we become desensitized to the idea of them. They are, in short, less scary to modern audiences. As such, the filmmakers need to add other elements, including action.
The Power Of The “Unseen”
Modern mainstream horror largely relies on the idea of the unseen force lurking in the shadows. Sure, there can be jump scares and a big reveal of the lurking menace, but the bulk of the story will deal with the horror of the unseen. A good example of when this is done well is The Haunting of Hill House Netflix series, particularly the first season. Of course, we might also argue that the trope has become repetitive, which you can’t help but agree with when you see yet another addition to the Conjuring Universe or another reboot of Paranormal Activity.
Yet, the point still stands. Zombies represent an overt threat, and that is less scary to modern audiences. That isn’t to say zombie films and shows aren’t scary – far from it. But they have to lean into other cinematic genres to support the horror elements. This can be so extensive that we might even argue that the action – or the other theme – supplants the horror. It’s not a criticism. In fact, it provides the zombie genre with a rich backdrop, and it will ensure the survival of the zombie genre for many years to come.