A Short History of the Zombie Film

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Zombie! Zombies! Zombies! Zombies are everywhere in our culture, in film and television, in video games, in books and comics, in boardgames. Since making their film debut stories of the undead returning to life have fascinated audiences since 1931 with White Zombie and since then they have featured in some of the most beloved films. I Walked with a Zombie, Night of the living dead, Return of the living dead, Shaun of the Dead and 28 days later to name a few.
This video tracks the history of the zombie film since it's inception, though the high points of the zombie film in the '50s and again the 70's and 80's, right through to the present day. It looks at the cultural influences of the zombie menace from magic, radiation and the spread of disease.
Thanks for watching One Hundred Years of Cinema, I will be writing a video essay about at least one film each year from 1915 onward to track the evolution of film over the last century. Please subscribe and share! Thank you!
You can support me on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/onehundredyearsofcinema
or follow me on twitter here: / 100yearscinema

[@brunobonatto4514]

Train to Busan was a great zombie movie from Korea that I found to be a refreshing take on the genre in a unique setting

[@daffyphack]

With the exception of One Cut of the Dead, Train to Busan might be the last great zombie movie I've seen.

[@SX1995able]

Why was everyone so big on that movie? It was pretty good but ruined by the melodramatic K Drama infused ending

[@braxtonslife7779]

I don’t see why people think Train To Busan is unique outside of its static setting. There have been plenty of fast zombie movies.

[@hidof9598]

The movie- "Maggie" was more unique and interesting, I have to admit

[@riowinaryo18_86]

Kingdom is one of the best it's on Netflix

[@fireflocs]

Two zombie films I was hoping you'd bring up: Fido and Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island.

[@onehundredyearsofcinema]

I cannot believe I missed Scooby-Do on Zombie Island! I feel like a failure.

[@sunshinesooperman5110]

You can’t see the future but HEAD/DEAD is coming.

[@patrickt.6492]

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is damn scary for a kids' film. Those wax voodoo dolls...

[@Hopla8800]

@@patrickt.6492 soundtrack was killer though

[@slaqualquercoisamemo5117]

@@Hopla8800 yeah you're right no 🧢

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

zombie films arent my thing generally BUT surely the best for quality (without having to be dtsgusting) is- THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES by HAMMER studios, they stuck to their faniliar formula but it worked so well in doing that, even thoug the...feel/atmosphere of it was Dracula, mummy, werewolf folklore etc the idea of an abandoned tin mine being mined by zombie slaves for the village...Squire, who has studied the subject whilst living abroad works well, all very atmospheric and differant from most other offerings. I didnt notice you commenting on this one

[@stevebloomer2920]

No Carnival of Souls. Another influence on Romero

[@IronMiddo]

The Zombie Flesh Eaters theme earned a hefty like alone

[@thepodbaydoors-amoviepodca4568]

Jerry here, Excellent work, Charlie. Please don't keep us waiting. We love this series.

[@mattheston9132]

You gave Forrest AIDS.

[@steveandortudge]

I don't know if it's underrated or just me being a huge mark for Justified, but I was slightly bummed not to see at least a screengrab from the Crazies. Nothing special but highly enjoyable for this guy

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Well i definitely applaud your work, and appreciate this video, i wouldn't feel right if i didn't point out that you left out a few films that helped push the genre along. The one being zombies of mora tao, and the other being the much more important living dead at manchester morgue. Living dead at manchester morgue was considered the first actual romero inspired zombie film, as well as partially the first italian zombie film. I do also want to point out that i definitely appreciate you mentioning lucio fulci, as well as kung fu zombie in the same breath. Billy chong is one of my favorite screen fighters, and he was awesome in kung fu zombie. And lucio remains to this day one of my top five directors of all time. Keep up the excellent work

[@chadmorrison3662]

Thank you for this. You reminded me of so many movies I watched as a child but had forgotten.

[@FelixGaffiot]

Fast forward to one year and a pandemic later, and we've got a whole new bunch of zombie movies flourishing across VOD platforms. Is it a social commentary genre or what.

[@danielfowler9553]

Please post more videos! I love cinema and this is one of the best channels ever. Please please please

[@DonCR3145]

Are you alive? It's a shame if this channel doesn't move on with new content...one of the hidden gems of KZbin.

[@riowinaryo18_86]

I am a big fan of zombie I almost seen all zombie movies The latest one is Kingdom it's a Korean TV Series Show and it scariest zombie ever watched in my life.

[@thepodbaydoors-amoviepodca4568]

Jerry here, again. One thing that you didn't mention was the shift that took place in the 1980s, specifically with The Return of the Living Dead in that with that film zombies shifted gears. That film introduced to a wide audience the idea of zombies being hungry for human brains, a trope that exists to this day, whereas before they were interested in consuming human flesh. Then in the 90s there was a shift to zombie transference, i.e., a person bitten by a zombie now BECOMES a zombie.

[@andrerichardsousa]

"a person bitten by a zombie now BECOMES a zombie" that was already on NIght of the living dead. Remember the basement.

[@daffyphack]

"Every dead body that is not exterminated becomes on of them. It gets up and kills. The people it kills get up and kill!" - Dawn of the Dead, 1978

[@Bulls3ye86]

@@andrerichardsousa That's a common misconception in Romero films, ANYONE who dies for any reason comes back. The bite just makes you sick cause it's super gross.

[@TFrail]

Another great zombie flick is Shock Waves from 1977. Excellent Nazi Zombie movie with Peter Cushing as the main villain!! Definitely worth the watch.

[@jacobylawhorn8063]

One of my favorites zombie films is Tombs of the Blind Dead from 1972.

[@pdzombie1906]

Very nicely done, you basically touched all the important milestones of Zombie Cinema. I wish you coulc have inserted a footnote on the importance of comics from the 50's and the postapocalyptic narrative of Matheson to give the subgenre its true form. Thanx!!!

[@brucey3852]

I am really grateful since you've brought up all of my favorite zombie films. However, I'd prefer if you'd stick up more into the Return of the living dead, because I think that it's one of the best zombie comedies ever made and inspires zombie comedies till this day. But that doesn't change anything on the fact that your video is pretty much flawless, keep it up that way! :)

[@robertzverina7181]

zombies will never die as for songs inspired by films mentioned in this video: Roky Erickson: 2 Tom Waits: 1 Roky for the win with “I Walked with a Zombie” and “Creature with the Atom Brain”

[@briangilmore6804]

Great video. Just a quibble, but I believe the first film to innovate with "fast" zombies was probably Re-Animator, though an argument could also be made for the original Evil Dead.

[@markuscriticus8278]

No way, I just watched the I Walked with a Zombie the other day! I'm glad to see another video from you. Everytime a channel like this has a longer break, I'm worried they are done for.

[@heavymetaldracula6788]

The film that I was hoping that you could talk about was survival of the dead that was the last time that Romero ever directed Before he passed away in 2017

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

2016's 'The Girl With All the Gifts' is a decent, modern inmovation of the zombie genre- A serious take that doesn't hide behind the tongue- in -cheek thing lots of low budget movies do, which can be fun... but can also be a bit of a lazy cop-out. It humanizes the zombie, and turns them into the movie's sympatetic, likable protagonist. Also 'Fido' from 2006 is decent, as a zombie movie parody of clean-cut 60s suburbia, and TV like Leave it to Beaver or My Three Sons. And also 2006, 'Black Sheep' is a low budget New Zealand horror/comedy; a decent homage to the 'Braindead'/'Bad Taste' era of the late 80s/early 90s, back when Peter Jackson was still making good movies...

[@dazzer1882]

Hope to see more videos soon. Its great to see a KZbin channel that doesn't just talk about modern films.

[@stellaan8325]

Anyone else having issues accessing a short history of Japanese Horror?

[@SamxHardscoperx]

A great pleasure to see a new video of yours and quite interesting at that!

[@mannyreyes9602]

You should have also added "The Last Man on Earth" (1964) and the 2 remakes that followed it, "The Omega Man" (1971) and "I Am Legend" (2007), to your zombie movie list.

[@daffyphack]

Definite yes to Last Man on Earth, but I Am Legend doesn't do anything special.

[@mannyreyes9602]

@@daffyphack I believe that "I Am Legend" is the biggest grossing zombie movie to date.

[@braxtonslife7779]

Manny Reyes I am Legend isn’t a zombie film. They’re mutated vampiric people.

[@asteroidkatfacts1036]

They're vampires.

[@sifatshams1113]

2 insanely underrated zombie films are Deadgirl (2008) and The Battery (2012). Seriously, check them out if you haven't already.

[@sylvainwaindezaki2.034]

my fovorite is italian spanish film Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, although nothing surpasses the shark vs the zombie

[@user-xu4ft7vo9d]

Always love your videos♥️

[@andrewpowell1734]

They’ll be back. You can’t kill what’s already dead.

[@hectd47]

Train to Busan might be one of my favourites! Amazing idea perfectly executed. Excellent vid!

[@a.e-mann8576]

Thank you so so much for this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@malachipeglow5291]

Such a great analysis

[@justdueit6199]

Have you ever been in a parking lot and warned by an old man that the zombie apocalypse is coming? He crawled into a vehicle advertising himself as a zombie first responder.

[@zmail8566]

this vid makes me wanna go on a zombie movie binge, starting from the 1930s and up to today

[@ericrenquist6494]

I had the same idea. I'm writing these down so I can watch all of them over a few weeks

[@zmail8566]

@@ericrenquist6494 I'd appreciate it very much if you'd send your list here as a reply

[@ericrenquist6494]

@@zmail8566 -White Zombie -Revolt of the Zombies -Quango -The ghost breakers -Zombies on broadway -King of the zombies -Revenge of the zombies -I walked with a zombie -Voodoo Island -Zombie of Mora Tau -Zombies from beyond the grave -A dead man stalked the streets -The man from planet x -Plan 9 from outer space -Teenage Zombies -The dead one -The earth die screaming -The last man on earth -The incredibly strange creatures who stopped living; -The plague of the zombies -Dr. Satan vs. Black magic -Night of the living dead -Children shouldn't play with dead things -Sugar hill -Shivers -Dawn of the dead -Zombie flesh eaters -Cannibal Apocalypse -City of the living dead -The beyond -City of the walking dead -Night of the comet -Day of the dead -Chopper chicks;zombie town -Cemetery man -Wild zero -28 days later

[@ericrenquist6494]

@@zmail8566 I don't think it's totally complete but that's what I got

[@zmail8566]

@@ericrenquist6494awesome, thanks man 👌

[@isabelaoliveira9270]

Really good video!

[@RaimarLunardi]

at 16:20 it says pontypool again, but it is Dead Snow

[@brianlamar223]

Can you do a history of the werewolves film please😋😊😄

[@MrPlasticSoul92]

The Last Man on Earth inspired George A Romeos technique

[@daffyphack]

I came here to say this. They call them "vampires" in the movie, but they're much closer to modern zombies.

[@thiccboss4780]

i hope you had a fun xmas/holidays, happy new years eve Charlie, i look forward to seeing more of you in 2020. Many old films to rediscover and new films coming out just as amazing, good luck on the next episode and take care out there. godspeed

[@Bavarian_Barbarian]

has anyone made a list of all the movies he mentioned?

[@thiccboss4780]

Charlie...i'm beginning to worry. Where the Fuck are you

[@janemba204]

How the hell do you not have more viewers and subscribers!!!

[@petergriffin7908]

Zombie films go back farther than Romero, were talking since Bela Lugosi. The recent zombie film "the dead don't die" had a scene with this nerdy movie buff who worked at a gas station and the only zombie films he could reference were George A. Romero's Zombie series, what a noob.

[@jonasdesean]

This was great. Thank you!

[@matildastanford7019]

Good vid. lt is fully my intention making the next zombie classic. l'm currently working on storyboard animates project series based on novels written by a UK author. And maybe, hopefully, the budget to produce direct live action feature series. ls a long shot, time'll tell.

[@cin3madelight]

ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER for 1946

[@thiccboss4780]

its a good day to be awake......

[@Balladov]

Brought them to western shores? Bro where do you think Haiti is?

[@josephlawson9950]

Make more videos

[@nobody6546]

👍. Pretty Good Charlie. And a very Great Showcase Collection of the Movies with this theme. Don’t know who may be helping you with your Research & Narration Writing- ( Kind of me Nitpicking here, but; You look a Little Young-ish to have First-Hand/ Personally Watched & Originally Witnessed in those THEN Released Classics) But TODAY’S “ Mindset & Movie Experiences “ don’t exactly fully Mirror or Capture the SHOCK & Societal Reactions of those 1st Witnessing Audiences in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. It’s like in 2023 attempting to Explain to a 17yr Old Of WHAT ( and ALL The THEN Included Cultural / Lifestyle Ramifications and Reflections ) a “ PAY PHONE “ was. After: CG, Green Scenes, Giant Acid-for-Blood Xeno-Morph Bugs? -Where else can Movies go Higher in the Horror/ Sci-Fi realm?! I personally feel after PIN-HEAD and FACE-HUGGERS; the SCHOCK FACTOR BAR has been raised too high! So Question #1- Would the Original 1932 “ Island of Lost Souls “ be considered a ZOMBIE Movie , by Definition? Mad Scientists we’re always trying to Create & Control Mindless Subservients! ( like my first 3 (Ex-) Wives ) and #2- What’s the Deal with the RELEASE DATING of your Episodes of 5,4, etc. YEARS in Stated POSTING Tine here? I know just how Long the Tine Wise it can take a Video Series to go from Production to a YUBBIE-TUBBIE Entry. Today’s Very Limited ATTENTION Span or New Movie WOOOWW Scare-Impacting Genes & Topics are pretty well Taped Out. If it wasn’t for TOP Name Actors/ Actresses- Sone Movies wouldn’t sell. Good Luck Charlie- Hope you keep your Contributions going up here! Hey?- Like your Catch-Title; Do a HUNDRED Past Movie “ PROPS “ episode! From : a Wizard’s Wand & Staff, Large Giant Chromed and Steel SWORDS, Death Laser Space Hand Guns, Viking Thor Lightening Sticking HAMMER, to Handheld Dueling Light-Sabers wielded by Moisture-Evaporating-Farm Hand Youths! Would be Interesting in looking back of the Development of Such Era-Reflective Themes behind them. Just a suggestion. God Bless. 👴🏼NoBody. ( and WHY did Hollywood even consider doing Re-Makes or Preachy/ “ Social Commentary “ High-Jacking of Past OLD Movie Greats Subject Plots??!!….😅🤣😂🤬. )

[@manuelperu-espino2320]

Rec is the first zombie film where the virus is supernatural.

[@steven401ytx]

This video seems to have catched everyone's imagination. Hasn't catched mine

[@begrabharat]

Train to busan. ... the letest I've seen.

[@riowinaryo18_86]

I bet you never heard Kingdom it is Korean too and it's on Netflix.

[@brighton22k]

invasion pf the body snatchers

[@thompson9400]

Yeah Democratic and Justice of the American empire there is no American empire never has been never will be coming in justice you must be talking about another country can be talking about the US

[@stevecox7075]

The voiceover is appalling and makes this unwatchable.

[@thiccboss4780]

that's your personal preference. there is't anything factually flawed with the video that's his fucking voice