Zombie 101 by Matt Zoller Seitz

This is a great Cliff Notes of the undead by Matt Zoller Seitz. Am especially pleased with the montage that crosscuts Penelope Wilton’s death with Roger’s resurrection in Dawn Of The Dead (’78 natch). The latter is one of my favourite zombie moments.

Also much respect for the clips from LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE - hugely underrated and my favourite non Romero zombie film.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve got it in me to shoot my flatmate, my mum, and my girlfriend all in the same night,” says Shaun, one of the beleaguered non-ghouls in Shaun of the Dead. That 2004 film is a send-up of zombie movies, but you know what they say about every joke containing truth.

Ever since director George A. Romero released his 1968 shocker Night of the Living Dead—which reimagined zombies, the dark magic-entranced slaves of voodoo folklore, as shambling fiends that crave warm flesh and can only be offed with a head shot—the zombie genre has displaced the western as cinema’s most popular and durable morality play. As the video essay “Zombie 101” demonstrates, while the genre’s superficial appeal is the spectacle of torn and mangled flesh—living and dead—its deeper resonance lies in its portrait of ordinary people struggling to survive in extreme circumstances.

Matt Zoller Seitz | http://www.movingimagesource.us/

  • Pingback: unreal estate by Matt Zoller Seitz « supervillain()

  • This is so true! Everything I’ve always said about zombie movies, most recently in a review of “Colin”, which I’d recommend as a fresh take on the genre (though not perfect). And he mustn’t have seen Dead Set before composing this essay, because that is fooking AMAZING. Think Mr Zoller Seitz should consider these for a follow up essay. Or perhaps appendices, at least. And the original Assault on Precinct 13 as zombie-by-proxy - same deal.

    Also, did you know there’s a new version of The Crazies out soon? I’d never heard of it until I saw the trailer for the new one. I may have to seek out the original so that I can decry this latter day version in true movie-snob style.

  • This is so true! Everything I’ve always said about zombie movies, most recently in a review of “Colin”, which I’d recommend as a fresh take on the genre (though not perfect). And he mustn’t have seen Dead Set before composing this essay, because that is fooking AMAZING. Think Mr Zoller Seitz should consider these for a follow up essay. Or perhaps appendices, at least. And the original Assault on Precinct 13 as zombie-by-proxy - same deal.

    Also, did you know there’s a new version of The Crazies out soon? I’d never heard of it until I saw the trailer for the new one. I may have to seek out the original so that I can decry this latter day version in true movie-snob style.

  • joy

    It’s going to be around 2 am in NM, USA and me and my best buddy just finished our costumes and pumpkin. We are going as the joker and two face( the animated versions of the villians). Ready to head the sack and wake up early to help my friend dye hrler hair green and put my other face on… I can’t wait! It’s finally here XD

    Hey edgar, are you dressing up? If yes, as what exactly you going be?

    HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

  • joy

    It’s going to be around 2 am in NM, USA and me and my best buddy just finished our costumes and pumpkin. We are going as the joker and two face( the animated versions of the villians). Ready to head the sack and wake up early to help my friend dye hrler hair green and put my other face on… I can’t wait! It’s finally here XD

    Hey edgar, are you dressing up? If yes, as what exactly you going be?

    HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

  • Val

    Great video!

  • Val

    Great video!

  • Annabelle

    Fantastic 🙂 It seems like this stuff is common sense but I was walking by myself to the streetcar to go out, and I was dressed as a zombie. A random guy called me over, all concerned and asked if my boyfriend had done this to me (fake blood all over my face). I’m pretty sure he was serious 😛

  • Annabelle

    Fantastic 🙂 It seems like this stuff is common sense but I was walking by myself to the streetcar to go out, and I was dressed as a zombie. A random guy called me over, all concerned and asked if my boyfriend had done this to me (fake blood all over my face). I’m pretty sure he was serious 😛

  • Amber G

    Ah Zombie Movies!!

  • AmberGrindstaff

    Ah Zombie Movies!!

  • Scott

    That was really good, got to try and hunt a few of those down - especially braindead, always wanted to see it, never got around to it.

    • Slick

      Oh, you HAVE to see BRAINDEAD!! So wonderful in so many ways…brilliantly funny and gory. Can’t say enough great things about it!

      • Agreed. Braindead kicks ass for the lord.

        • Great video gets me in the mood for tonight.

  • Scott

    That was really good, got to try and hunt a few of those down - especially braindead, always wanted to see it, never got around to it.

    • Slick

      Oh, you HAVE to see BRAINDEAD!! So wonderful in so many ways…brilliantly funny and gory. Can’t say enough great things about it!

      • Agreed. Braindead kicks ass for the lord.

        • Great video gets me in the mood for tonight.

  • Eva

    Happy Hallows Eve Edgar!! This soo got me in the Spirit, Can’t wait to roam the streets as Bear Jew this year! whoo hoo

  • Eva

    Happy Hallows Eve Edgar!! This soo got me in the Spirit, Can’t wait to roam the streets as Bear Jew this year! whoo hoo