It isn't. It really isn't. It's not even a good popcorn movie! You want a good popcorn movie? 1985s 'Commando' is the template. As a zombie film, it's okay. It's not brilliant, it's not suspenseful, it's not terrifying, it's just okay.
So guess what, here are my top ten zombie films which are infinitely BETTER than 'World War Z'. The film, not the book, I just want to stress that. I will only be looking at films by the way, not books or games or TV shows. Though Robert Kirkman's 'The Walking Dead' is much better.
Oh and '28 Days Later' will NOT be featuring on this list. Pretty much because THEY'RE NOT ZOMBIES. And '28 Weeks Later' will NOT be featuring on this list. Because it's shit.
10. Resident Evil (2002)Before you start; I know. I know how the only connection between the films and the games are names (Even then they only start appearing in the sequels) and zombies, and I know how fast it went downhill. But then again 'World War Z' has little to do with the book so it balances out.
And, as a stand alone movie despite its flaws, 'Resident Evil' is actually pretty damn good. It has some interesting characters, including Alice before she unlocked God mode, great acting, and some pretty good effects. But it also has the tension and the action, it has the claustrophobia element, you get the feeling that the characters are trapped.
If you can ignore the sequels, this film as a stand alone is actually pretty damn good.
9. Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)When you're discussing zombies films, or zombies in general, one of the first things to crop up will be the 1979 film 'Zombie Flesh Eaters', also known as 'Zombie'. And 'Zombi 2'.
The film which features a zombie fighting a shark, it sets the dark tone immediately with what appears to be an abandoned boat heading towards New York. From that point we get some of the most cringing and horrifying images in cinema history, including the infamous scene where a woman is pulled slowly towards a certain splinter.
Story wise it may be pretty meh, but the make-up is superb, the zombies actually look real. Add a last stand climactic scene and you've got yourself a damn good film.
8. Braindead (1992)Okay, when there's a line that says "I kick arse for the lord", you know this is a brilliant movie. In fact, THIS is the popcorn film people want 'World War Z' to be.
More of an over-the-top comedy then a solid zombie film, it's been known as the most goriest film of all time. And it pretty much is, with the scenes making you burst out in laughter at how far they are willing to go. You can tell everyone was having loads of fun, as will the audience.
I cannot think of the words to describe this film. Not in a short summary anyway. Believe me, this film is a LOT of fun.
7. Dawn of the Dead (2004 remake)Yeah, it's a remake, hear me out. This is actually really good. The characters can be...a bit hard to get used to, shall I say, but at least they're colourful, at least there's a good mixture. Like the original you learn a lot about them, you care for them, you get the feeling that they're trapped. And the action is actually action, things don't conveniently happen.
It's not often that you can say you've thoroughly enjoyed a remake. Heck, this is probably one of the best remakes ever done, pretty much because it actually gets the remake formula right; it sticks closely to the source material but at the same time it makes its own story. The same could be said about the 1990 remake of 'Night of the Living Dead'. In fact, let's put that on here.
7. Dawn of the Dead (2004 remake)/ Night of the Living Dead (1990 remake)There we go.
The 1990 remake is kind of an almost copy, but there's a fair few "what if" moments to completely change the setting, the main one being "what if Barbara is a tough girl?". Now, I was perfectly alright with the Barbara in the old version, the version where she was in shock and helpless, but I also like the strong Barbara who adapts to her new environment.
Either film you will enjoy.
6. Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)It's kind of weird how most zombie films nowadays go down the comedy route, and boy does it work for 'Cockneys vs Zombies'. You may remember my previous review, but short story is it's a fantastic film.
Some truly eccentric and well thought characters truly bring this film to life, the comedy is golden, but it still manages to deliver serious moments. The acting is great, the story is good, and their zombies are actually threatening. Especially the zombie with the metal plate in its skull.
And when a film manages to make me like Michelle Ryan's acting talent, you know a film is good.
5. The Return of the Living Dead (1985)The unofficial sequel to 'Night of the Living Dead', we see Dan O'Bannon take the zombies in a different direction. Like 'Braindead' we see some over-the-top violence which make you love it.
Following in the steps of its unofficial predecessor, the film manages to expand greatly on its characters, even minor supporting ones. Not only that but the film is a true 80s spectacle.
Add in a fantastic 80s soundtrack, a great story line, and the infamous tar zombie, and you have a brilliant fun film. A TRUE popcorn film.
4. Shaun of the Dead (2004)Ah one of the best British films to emerge in recent years. Like the old Romero films we see a fair bit of character development, as well as tension and claustrophobia. And like the old Romero films, it is suggested that humanity are already basically zombies...by literally showing people acting like zombies in the opening credits.
And like the other zombie comedies on this list, the film is hugely funny, it's got that clever wit. A good example of this, combining it with the people acting like zombies bits, is when Shaun walks to the shops on a normal day, then on the next day when zombies have taken over he doesn't notice a single thing wrong.
A film which successfully combines the zombie, comedy, and romance genre? Instant cult classic.
3. Zombieland (2009)I think it was quite a surprise how successful this film got. It took cinema goers by storm, and there's a very good reason for that; it's bloody brilliant.
Like the old Romero films we get some really interesting and fascinating characters, which is made even better when you see we don't even learn their real names; with the exception of one of them towards the end, for example Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is the identifiable character, while Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is the one we wish we were.
The humour is brilliant, the zombies are threatening, the action is outstanding, this is one of the best zombie films out there. In fact, hey, 'World War Z', THIS is the popcorn film you wished you were.
Wow. Prior to this zombie films were at an all time low. There's the odd zombie hit, with 'Shaun of the Dead' probably being the biggest, but until 2007 we had some really awful zombie films. You know, like 'Zombie Attack', 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse' (Only Nemesis and the setting of Raccoon City save it), 'Vampires vs Zombies', 'House of the Dead', etc etc.
And along came 'REC', a film which basically came out of nowhere and became a huge hit. The film was downright scary, and the film does shows this effectively by doing its trademark first person camera view; which the third one decided to scrap. And like a few of the others on this list, you can feel the tension, the action, the claustrophobia. And the ending leaves you wanting more.
Just don't see the sequels. They leave you wanting less.
1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)/Dawn of the Dead (1978)/Day of the Dead (1985)Okay I think you were all guessing this. I mean, I did put 'Night' and 'Dawn' on my top twenty favourite films list. Looking at other top ten/fifteen/whatever lists online though I see the old zombie holy trilogy listed as separate entities, so I decided, in order to get more films on the list, I'd list them as one entry. And, like for my top twenty films, I couldn't really decide which is better.
These films have some of the most memorable characters devised, some of the best effects and make-up for the time of release, brilliant story lines, great messages, what is there to not love in these films?
And those are my top ten zombie films. In addition those are the films I feel are BETTER than 'World War Z'.
I suppose in all fairness I should now do a list of zombie films I believe are WORSE than 'World War Z'.
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