The zombie film is an unusual specimen even among horror movie standards. They rarely has much of a plot, it usually extends to how zombies were created and how to get rid of them. The zombie epidemic could start in a number of ways: radiation, a spell, a bite from an animal, it could be a man-made disease or in the case of Undead, the result of a meteor shower.

Important factors within a zombie film are: unlikely heroes, lots of gore, original use of weapons & killing style and most importantly, it must be made on a small budget (unknown stars and all). Films that do not follow these rules are never the cult classics, and are usually hated by true fans of the genre. For example, one of the most hated zombie films of recent times was Resident Evil, even though it was the eagerly anticipated screen version of the much-loved game. While to the untrained eye (such as mine at the time) the movie seemed like a good zombie film, but zombie fan clubs around the world were disgraced. It broke the rules; it was a high budget blockbuster, with a well-known actress in the lead, Milla Jovovich.

When keeping in mind these factors, it is easy to see why Undead holds it’s own within the genre, but never surpasses it’s masters like Night of the Living Dead, Evil Dead and BrainDead.

The hero in zombie films is usually an anti-hero, an unlikely or usual person in the context of what are typical heroes. Examples of this are Night of the Living Dead; a black man was the last living last survivor. The movie was made in the sixties; a time when African Americans were fighting for equality. The movie saw a black man as the survivor in a place where only the strongest survive. Undead lacked any serious social commentary like this, but it did make comments about issues like gun control and youth related crime and it did have an unlikely hero. Marion is a crazy, pot-bellied farmer hick and what sought of hero looks like Al Borland from Tool Time? Though he is calm and somehow cool, and even has some matrix moves up his sleeve (well not quite, but he did dig his spurs in a roof and hang upside down while killing lots of nasty zombies). The true anti-hero of zombie films though is Lionel from Peter Jackson’s BrainDead. He didn’t have any matrix moves, but this geeky mama’s boy did have a lawnmower strapped to his chest.

The lawnmower scene is the bloodiest battle seen in any zombie film. BrainDead is the goriest film I looked at. The FX are good, and don’t look fake, that is until the final scene where he battles his mother. Evil Dead also had some stomach turning scenes. In particular, when Ash’s girlfriend gets a pencil stabbed into her ankle, audiences everywhere were squirming in their seats. The special effects of Evil Dead were not really believable, especially the clay animation, but it was made on the tiniest budget of all my examples. Undead has it’s moments of pure gore. Rene’s fight scene with a broom and round saw blade is an impressive addition to classic zombie battles. The FX used in Undead are incredible and very believable.

When it comes to the gore in these films, a little creativity has to be involved. Each battle scene can’t be alike, therefore it is an essential part of a zombie film, that choice of weapons and styles of killing have to be original. Of course there are the classics, like guns, chainsaws, axes but to be a success, a zombie film must also have unique battles. Evil Dead for Example used a pencil as mentioned, but there is also decapitation by shovel and pushing fingers through eyeballs. When it comes to this category, BrainDead and Undead surpass Evil Dead, but BrainDead is a hard one to beat. The movie uses lawnmowers, blenders, light bulbs, hedge clippers and even a church statue as weapons. The most impressive use of weapons seen yet in zombie films. Though Undead puts in a fair effort, Marion carries a three-barrelled shotgun, Rene uses her modified broom and a steering wheel lock, and there is a very disgusting, very entertaining face removed via shovel.

The final factor to look at is Budget; Undead was made for just under $1million. This is a minuscule budget when compared to something like Resident Evil made in Hollywood. Zombie films are known for their small budgets, and at times, this adds to their appeal. Evil Dead was made for an unbelievably tiny $350,000 a lot less compared even with fellow zombie film BrainDead, whose budget was $3 million. Though unlike it’s comrades Undead and Evil Dead, it was not a debut movie for the director. Jackson had already had some success with Bad Taste.

When using these sorts of criteria to judge it, it is easy to see why merit must be given to Undead. Zombie films are not every one’s cup of tea so to speak, but it is a culture of it’s own. Undead has lived up to this culture extremely well, therefore it is considered a well made zombie film.