After breaking all the PlayStation records and benchmarks, “The Last of Us” is just a couple of days away from making its television debut, thanks to HBO. There’s still time, and if you’re yearning to brush up on your knowledge of the zombie-survivor genre, this list has everything that you need. Here are six movies and series you can enjoy while you wait for “The Last of Us” to bless your screens.
The Walking Dead
From TV series to tale-tale video games, “The Walking Dead” has established itself as the staple of zombie-survival horror. After premiering in 2010, AMC’s The Walking Dead has become synonymous with the post-apocalyptic genre. It’s intense, factual and foreboding, transporting us to a universe where mankind is on the verge of extinction and is slowly moving towards its end. Those who haven’t turned must decide whether to abandon all hope or keep fighting for their lives, hoping that the sun will shine on them again. The show follows the story of Rick Grimes, a cop who, after waking up in the hospital, discovers that a sinister infection has swept the world, making humans turn on one another.
Army Of The Dead
“Army of the Dead,” directed by “The Watchmen” alum Zack Snyder, is one of a kind and isn’t your average zombie survivor. The movie brilliantly portrays that even in the face of adversity, there are some who’ll use the situation to further their own interests. After an outbreak of blood-thirsty zombies infected the Las Vegas populace, the authorities seal off the metropolis with a ramshackle barrier made of cargo containers, condemning the unfortunate citizens imprisoned to a horrible fate. A Japanese conglomerate meets up with Scott Ward (played by Dave Batista) and offers him a big prize to recover his $200 million, sitting inside a highly-secured vault. The only problem is that the above-mentioned vault is housed inside a Los Angeles casino, a town infested with civilized zombies.
Zombieland
Zombieland deters being a traditional zombie survivor by adding a clever touch. Starring the likes of Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin, the movie follows the story of a group of four who navigate through the zombie-infested world, all the while having fun and looking out for one another. The film’s great ensemble of characters, dark sense of humor, and mostly pleasant romantic dynamics all help make it an acceptable guide to surviving the zombie holocaust. Even with a few tried plot devices, this film is highly recommended. There isn’t so much blood and guts on display with the undead that it takes away from their realism; instead, there’s just the appropriate amount. In addition, the movie also has a highly celebrated sequel, dubbed Zombieland: Double Tap.
Dawn Of The Dead
“Dawn of the Dead” is also the product of Zack Snyder’s brilliant mind and is often hailed as one of the best zombie movies ever made. I watched this film when I was a teenager, and it stayed with me all these years until I revisited the horror genre. For some reason, the feeling of someone being trapped with a bunch of strangers in a shopping complex while a horde of flesh-eating undead lies in wait for them to venture out stands out in my mind. The movie chronicles the story of Ana, who, after losing her husband and daughter, is forced to take shelter inside a shopping complex. I believe the picture did a fantastic job developing its characters. Nearly everyone in this film was given sufficient screen time to establish their usefulness and show who they really are or become in the face of adversity.
Seoul Station
The only animated entry on this list, the film follows a runaway teen and her gigolo lover as they try to make a new life for themselves in the big city. Although I like the film’s apocalyptic elements as well as the humanizing of the one vagabond character, I found it offensive that the film used the victim’s experience of sexual assault and mental bruises as a plot device. This movie succeeded in captivating its audience by establishing a compelling plot and a likable protagonist. It taught us about social stratification and how individuals might be written off as useless based on their circumstances, even though they are still regular people who yearn to be cherished and appreciated.
Train To Busan
For as long as anyone can remember, Korean filmmakers have never shied away from making a good horror movie, be it “The Wailing” or the highly successful Yeon Sang-ho’s “Train to Busan.” Starring Gong Yoo and Kim Soo-Ahn in the leading roles, the movie tells the story of a workaholic father who, along with his daughter, boards a train to Seoul to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. Their trip was cut short when the people onboard the train slowly began to turn into flesh-hungry zombies. Sang-ho made excellent use of the crowded quarters of the train and strategically positioned exits so that the audience was on the edge of their seats for the whole ride. The writing wisely balances touching moments with fight scenes, so the movie’s violence and decapitations don’t seem like overkill.
See more: ‘The Last Of Us’ Release Date And Where Can You Stream In India?
