Which would you prefer - a classic zombie film or a modern zombie film?

[TMac]

Well, the title pretty much says it all. If you ask me, I'd have to go with a classic. In specific, Zombi 2.

http://analogmedium.com/blog/2007/08/zombi2-3.jpg

[CENTER]http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/zombie-2.jpg

[crabapple]

Well, Zombi 2 is from '79 so technically it's modern (according to the forum definition), but.....

Overall, generally speaking, I prefer an older zombie movie to a newer one. Absolutely. The new stuff just isn't as much fun!

[neverending]

I'll have to agree. White Zombie will always be my fave zombie film.

[ManchestrMorgue]

It depends on how you define classic zombie films. When I think of classic zombie films, I think of movies like White Zombie, I Walked with a Zombie, and even Plague of the Zombies.

For me, Night of the Living Dead heralded the birth of the "modern" zombie film.

But as far as Zombie films are concerned, I prefer Romero's trilogy, Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, and others of that era to the older zombie films or films of the last decade or so.

[Anthropophagus]

Modern,classic,where is that line.?

For me its Romero`s films up to Day of the Dead,not his later ones.

And the best zombies for me are the Fulci ones,though how they actually catch anyone to eat whilst moving no quicker than a slug is beyond me but i love the look and pacing of those zombies over the running ones of modern movies.

[crabapple]

http://www.horror.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Check this page out, as it defines "Modern" and "Classic" horror films basically as newer or older...up to 1970 or from 1970 and onwards. Odd definition, of course, but that's what the forum uses.

[CopperShark]

For me personally modern would be 80's-present. And classic anything before the 80's. Not sure why; thats just how I see it. As for what I prefer? The classics of course. Though I have to admit fast zombies are more frightening. There is nothing scary about Night of the Living Dead and the way people allow themselves to be eaten in Zombie is just ridiculous and hilarious. Of course it is that ridiculous and hilarious nature that make those movies so great.

[TMac]

http://www.horror.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Check this page out, as it defines "Modern" and "Classic" horror films basically as newer or older...up to 1970 or from 1970 and onwards. Odd definition, of course, but that's what the forum uses.
The reason I would consider Zombi 2 to be a classic is because its very well known.

[urgeok2]

the old classic zombie films werent about the end of civilization - they were about individuals controlling the dead to do their work for them ..
they are atmospheric .. but they dont grab me.

I like the 'end of the world' survivor type themes of the modern zombie flicks.
and the gratuitous gore adds an element i like as well.. (if done properly - a la romero)

[Ferox13]

Yeah - films before NOTLD were Zombies in the voodoo tradition (White Zombie, plague of the Zombies, King of the zombies etc) - Romero pretty much redefined the word whenhe depicted them as flesh eating ghouls.

Is there a film before NOTLD where they're show like that? Not that i can think of?

So old school Zombie vs New School Zombie are very different type of films.

[Despare]

the old classic zombie films werent about the end of civilization - they were about individuals controlling the dead to do their work for them ..
they are atmospheric .. but they dont grab me.

I like the 'end of the world' survivor type themes of the modern zombie flicks.
and the gratuitous gore adds an element i like as well.. (if done properly - a la romero)

That's what I love in a zombie movie. A few people trying to survive what is rapidly approaching the end of the world. Also, to add to the list of things I like (which include those Urge mentioned), the group dynamic of people trying to survive and the way people always end up getting themselves into more trouble because of greed or power.

[urgeok2]

That's what I love in a zombie movie. A few people trying to survive what is rapidly approaching the end of the world. Also, to add to the list of things I like (which include those Urge mentioned), the group dynamic of people trying to survive and the way people always end up getting themselves into more trouble because of greed or power.


and how regular joes become leaders, and previously upwardly mobile 'big men' are useless in the new world.

having worked in a corporate environment most of my life - i fully understand why this theme continues to pop up.
I'm sure things are the same in the hollywood machine.

[Despare]

and how regular joes become leaders, and previously upwardly mobile 'big men' are useless in the new world.

having worked in a corporate environment most of my life - i fully understand why this theme continues to pop up.
I'm sure things are the same in the hollywood machine.

Yep, I loved Hopper's character and his fall from the top in Land of the Dead (say what you want about it but even an ok Romero zombie movie is better than 90% of the crap being churned out).

[urgeok2]

(say what you want about it but even an ok Romero zombie movie is better than 90% of the crap being churned out


that's exactly what i do say about it :)

[Marya Zaleska]

I'll have to agree. White Zombie will always be my fave zombie film.

I agree. I also liKed I Walked With A Zombie as well..

The classic zombie films for me!

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk191/TheCostumer/zomb2.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff213/buckybeau/IWalkedWithAZombieScene.jpg

Two great classics of the zombie genre!

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff213/buckybeau/Countess-Dracula.jpg

The Countess

Will you join me in a cup of blood?

[Doc Faustus]

I prefer a cup of hot cocoa and a good book.

[trx1]

have u ever noticed, theres NEVER any ball/cock ripping off?? always the guts.

[Mr. Zombie]

I don't know if anyone else see's it this way, but i wreckon horror or zombie movies became modern when they all started using CGI, and we all know how crap most CGI turns out, so I would go with a "classic" zombie film.

I would probably have to watch Zombie Holocaust every time i see that asian doctor randomly standing there I start to laugh, especially when he jumps out the window.

[vampira]

have u ever noticed, theres NEVER any ball/cock ripping off?? always the guts.


Yeah what's up with that?? That should happen one of these days; though if I ever make a zombie or horror film, I would try to do somethng to make the guys cross their legs!

On topic, I would go with classic zombie films anyday! I dunno why, but to me, they look more real you know? Like, you watch it, and you can really imagine it happening you know? Now, what with all the CGI, they look fake and...not horrifying at all to me =p

[Hilti88NYC]

Classic, Slow moving flesh eating zombies.

I dont like the running zombies at all.
Style wise I prefer Zombi2 type Zombies or Zombies similar to what Fuci did in The Beyond,the end in the hospital.There are no Zombies like Fulci's Zombies.

Well Savini's Zombies in the NOTLD rmake were fantastic. To bad they cut the shit out of that movie.

[Axx]

I can appreciate both modern and classic, though generally I prefer classic zombie flicks, as I do with most horrors.

Noticed how the "Making of..." documentaries for modern horrors seem to focus on how great the make up and CGI is in the film?
Classic Horrors didn't have an massively inflated budget to fall back on, and thus, seem to be more character driven in my opinion.

[CrimsonFiend138]

Classic as in slow flesh eating, not vodoo. Although I did see White Zombie and it really was cool and atmospheric. My friend and I were walking in a nature park and talking about zombies coming from both sides of the trail(we'd have to run through all the brush and prickers LOL as fast as hell....and STONED) and if they were fast that would really suck and that's pretty damn scary.

I've always loved the classic stuff 80's and before(to me classics are the 70's and before but for zombies case i'm using 80's). Although some new stuff is pretty good. I liked Land of the dead....well some aspects.....and the talking zombies sucked. Except vox in, was it The dead next door?

[MisterSadistro]

Personally, I think the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake was the best of the modern zombie films (yes, a remake :D ). I think the original had it's strong points, but dragged on way too much in trying to over emphasize it's point and that took away from it (besides, I've always hated the Goblin score as well except for the opening tune since it feels out of place to me). Zack Snyder did a wonderful job of keeping the tension and scares. True, the buses were very over the top and made the ending feel like a 'Road Warrior' movie, but I feel like the overall effort was terrific and paced extremely well.
Other than that, there is no comparison. IMO, 'NOTLD' is THE quintessential zombie movie, bar none. It was more about scares and ghouls than blaring heavy metal tunes over a barrage of gore shots that seems like every indie zombie movie has done since. It drives me nuts that so many of those filmmakers say that 'NOTLD' and Romero are such an influence on their work when they don't seem to have a clue as to why the film was so effective to begin with as if the lowest common denominator is enough. Seeing someone getting bit by something doesn't compare to the fear of getting bit.
CK

[Festered]

Personally, I think the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake was the best of the modern zombie films (yes, a remake :D ). I think the original had it's strong points, but dragged on way too much in trying to over emphasize it's point and that took away from it (besides, I've always hated the Goblin score as well except for the opening tune since it feels out of place to me). Zack Snyder did a wonderful job of keeping the tension and scares. True, the buses were very over the top and made the ending feel like a 'Road Warrior' movie, but I feel like the overall effort was terrific and paced extremely well.
Other than that, there is no comparison. IMO, 'NOTLD' is THE quintessential zombie movie, bar none. It was more about scares and ghouls than blaring heavy metal tunes over a barrage of gore shots that seems like every indie zombie movie has done since. It drives me nuts that so many of those filmmakers say that 'NOTLD' and Romero are such an influence on their work when they don't seem to have a clue as to why the film was so effective to begin with as if the lowest common denominator is enough. Seeing someone getting bit by something doesn't compare to the fear of getting bit.
CK

I agree on DOD, it's one of the rare instances where the remake may have surpassed the original. I had one logic problem with it, tho. If they had those gas containers already, why didn't they just catapult them off the roof, blow up as many zombies as possible, and then just casually drive away. Instead of fighting their way thru the herd.

By the way, wouldn't films about vampires(they are undead), Frankenstein's monster, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and mummies qualify as zombie movies? The only 2 monsters I can think of, that aren't dead already, are werewolves and the Phantom of the Opera.

[illdojo]

I dig anything and everything Zombie...but I choose old school over new.
Like Crabby said...they're just more fun.

[mrwhitethc]

Old School 80's zombie movies for me, no cgi gore or blood please.

[ZombieCombatClub]

If "classic" is voodoo, then I would imagine the 70s-80s is "Mid-Century Modern" era, and Romero the Eames and Jacobsen of the MCM zombie.

And its never about the zombies.

[The Photographer]

In all honesty for the most part zombie films of today are in no means like the zombie films that predate hammers Plague of the Zombies and Night of the Living Dead. I prefer the classics for there storytelling and the more modern Zombie films for there underlying social themes and fx.

[Jacky Fiend]

I'd have to say modern. Modern being, post-Night Of The Living Dead. I haven't seen enough Classic Zombies Films to even begin to love the genre.