MovieChat Forums > The Walking Dead (2010) Discussion > Something that can refresh the Zombie ge...

Something that can refresh the Zombie genre (without using runing Zombies lol)

posted 6 years ago by EmperorOfDragons (291)
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I think there's certain things that still haven't been explored when it comes to this genre, likely because of budgetary constraints (and probably the reason FearTWD abandoned the concept eventually). But i feel that, in order to refresh the genre they should concentrate on the Apocalypse in-progress aspect of the genre, instead of rushing through it to get to the decayed post-apocalyptic parts. I think this is one of the reasons World War Z (the BOOK!) was so popular, the whole middle part was dedicated to the actual apocalypse. Me personally, i was always intrigued by the first 10 minutes of chaos in the world of Dawn of the Dead. Especially the raid on the housing projects. I think a film, or TV show should go that direction, kinda like a Third Watch, meets the early part of Dawn Of The Dead, meets Ubisoft's The Division meets "The Great Panic" chapter of World War Z. Hell even a anthology series taking place around the world with this concept could work.

[–] Sandoz (2021) 6 years ago

That was supposed to be the premise of Fear The Walking Dead, at least according to the pre-debut information that was released to the public. A lot of people--myself included--were really looking forward to that show because we wanted to see all the pre-apocalyptic build-up that would occur as the zombie epidemic spread throughout a city.

Well, we got about 3 episodes of that, and then FTWD just became a clone of the parent show...West Coast Dead, so to speak. It didn't help matters much that the lead characters on FTWD were a bunch of unsympathetic jerkwads, either. But that's a separate criticism.

If you want to watch a story that REALLY does portray accurately the scenario you're interested in, hunt down a copy of the TV adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. It's not a zombie tale, but it has similarities in the sense that most of the world's population dies and the few survivors remaining gather on opposite sides (good and evil) and battle each other.

[–] MadamShogun (232) 6 years ago

I would argue The Stand covers the OP idea for about the first half, then it goes straight to the post-apocalypse part. Still a great mini-series though. But i think Fear-TWD did abandone it's direction because of budget. Same with films, as well. Depicting the actual apocalypse is probably too expensive.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 6 years ago

I agree about The Stand, however, I didn't see the mini series, but rather read the novel. One of KIng's finest, IMO.

I am royally disappointed with Fear, as it decided NOT to show us the advent of the ZA.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

There are many films that show post apocalyptic worlds , I'm a big fan as I think we are headed that way imininently. not that I want that. The best ones dont have zombies in . I think the current craze for zombies has polluted the Post-op genre with too many zombies. Shouldve left it to Romero.

You're right that Theres not too many films that show the actual decay-in-progress.
Threads is one. Thats a barrel of laughs (nuclear apocalpse)
The triffids movies
A few films are set in a kind of "half way there" world - but the world remains at that level for the film.
Mad Max 1
Harley Davidson and the Marlborough man
Children of men

[Edit] ooh - the British TV series Survivors , shows the defragmentation of society - but only the first 2 or 3 eps - then its gone - like Fear TWD.
Thing is - any society is 3 meals from revolution , and when the truck stop filling the shops and the gas stations - thing will go to shit real fast.

Not like in the movies where they just "go on a run" like theyre popping to the effing supermarket for food fuel and ammo.

[–] EmperorOfDragons (291) 6 years ago

Some of the Romero films show the decay in progress, (like Diary of The Dead), but Romero tends to avoid that, cause that's not his thing. Max Brooks has a whole section of his novel dedicated to this concept. Then the movie happened and kinda threw everything out the window.....

[–] Sandoz (2021) 6 years ago

Oh yeah...World War Z. The movie.

Don't even get me started on how much I hated that adaptation of Brooks' epic and great book. A film adaptation of that could have been the start of a zombie franchise that would have honored and rivaled George Romero's early zombie films, only this time with a budget to really do the story justice on a global scale. And--fool me--I thought when it was announced that Brad Pitt was going to star (someone who's B.O. clout could guarantee a big production budget)--that would be a good thing.

But what we got was PG-13 action film with Pitt saving the world. But I'm sure all the twelve year-olds who could pay to see it without having to worry about sneaking into the theater were happy with it.

[–] EmperorOfDragons (291) 2 years ago

I'm still pissed over it. 😤

[–] Ed (523) 2 years ago

Try Black Summer, on Netflix. It’s based on the start of the apocalypse. Only two seasons but pretty good and better than Walking Dead for years now.