Try not to wake the undead with Netflix’s zombie movies

We can get obsessed with very weird things, so it’s hardly surprising that we find the undead fascinating, too. A walking dead creature, who we refer to as a zombie, has found a special place in pop culture. Movies portray zombies in a plethora of narratives. From evil monsters to comical brain-eaters, zombies run the gamut. 

Zombies, therefore, make for a rich character that can surface in a variety of ways in movies. They can be the typical hideous undead people, they can be the exaggerated brain-eating versions, they can be strong characters with a human backstory. . . you get the drift. Whatever the case, zombies have been fuelling movies of all genres — action-packed epics to intimate dramas & dystopian fiction. 

Let’s have a look at some of the best zombie movies on Netflix.

#Alive

We’ll never stop saying this: living through a pandemic, there are few things more terrifying than being forced into isolation when the outside world is going through an apocalyptic zombie attack. Cho Il-hyung’s #Alive follows Oh Joon-woo as he gets stuck in his apartment while the world battles a mysterious infection. 

Initially, Joon-woo is able to combat the isolation & quarantine with video games, but it soon becomes hard as his supplies run out & isolation takes a toll.

Resident Evil: Extinction

The entire Resident Evil franchise has an apocalyptic arch, but the third installment, Resident Evil: Extinction, follows Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, as she goes through the Mojave Desert in a post-apocalyptic scenario. 

Like Sandra Bullock in Bird Box, Alice is also looking to reach a safe haven. Only, her path is riddled with obstacles in the form of villains like Dr. Isaacs & his zombies. The evil Umbrella Corporation plays a part & we see hordes of undead in varying forms.

Army of the Dead

Isn’t the name self-explanatory? Honestly, this Zack Snyder direction is one of the most path-breaking movies in the zombie genre. Army of The Dead is a zombie heist film starring Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Tig Notaro, and Huma Qureshi. Like other movies in the genre, we’re well into an apocalypse, and this time the site of the battle is Sin City Vegas. 

If you thought zombie movies could only be borderline horror, this thriller will prove you wrong. Another offering in the post-pandemic world where even the mention of infections & quarantines gives us goosebumps, Army of The Dead is the perfect concoction of VFX tricks, gory violence, and a great soundtrack.

Cargo

Cargo is likely an overlooked movie in the genre, but this movie evokes an emotional tangent in the zombie genre. There is, of course, a pandemic, in the aftermath of which this infected father in Australia tries to rehabilitate his infant daughter. A pandemic may not be our favorite topic, but this zombie-infested new-normal can make you thankful for the post-pandemic reality of your life. 

There are scenes not for the weak of heart — someone gets impaled, someone gets bit by a rabid human, someone succumbs to the virus (and we’re not telling you this was just one person) — so you should come prepared.

It Comes At Night

One of our worst fears during an apocalypse is having to stay quarantined alone. The second worst fear is having to stay quarantined with another family. Not only does the survival instincts kick in — making it a fight for the survival of the fittest — but the whole premise is a breeding ground for stress & distrust. 

With Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough, among others, It Comes At Night forces us to examine the intricacies of human nature & selfishness. This psychological thriller makes for a scary flick.

Zombieland

If there’s one movie that nailed the intersection of two unlikely genres — zombie horror & comedy — it was Zombieland. A very popular choice in the genre, it’s a memorable one from the genre. Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone give memorable performances.