Thesis Statement:
This paper intends to discuss how the concept of zombie evolved over the time and impacted Hollywood cinema. Paper will also describes influence of zombie on Hollywood cinema over past few decades. Over the past ten years Zombies impacted Hollywood cinema in great way hence paper will also discuss that aspect.
Discussion:
Zombie impacted Hollywood by showing existence of neither dead nor alive people. The word, ‘Zombie’ is used for dead who is resurrected. If Zombies have been a concern of curiosity and fear, they have also entertained people by their portrayal in stories, comic series, and video games and in Hollywood movies. Zombies have been one of main themes of Hollywood movies since 1930’s. A number of Hollywood movies are made Zombies and these movies have frightened and entertained people like other movies. “The substantial overlap among the various movie monsters precludes the possibility of an all encompassing definition of zombie” (Platts).
History of Zombies and Their Impact on Hollywood:
1930’s:
Zombies made their first appearance on silver screen in the year 1932 and ‘white zombie’ became the first movie that frightened and entertained audiences. The movie was directed by Victor Halperin and tells a story of Haitian zombies. Zombies then were not resurrected because of any virus but to resurrect them black magic was used. In this movie a mill owner resurrects dead by using black magic so that they could work in his mill as slaves. Victor made another zombie movie in 1936 having world war in background. In this movie, an army colonel is portrayed using black magic to resurrect dead.
1940’s:
‘King of zombies’ hit silver screen in 1941 wherein a scientist is portrayed resurrecting dead with the help of black magic. The story was knitted in shades of World War II on Caribbean island. ‘I walked with a Zombie’ hit theaters in the year 1943. This movie was made on subject of complex human relations with a touch of effective voodoo on Caribbean island. ‘Voodoo man’ came in the year 1944 portraying a story of a man whose wife was a zombie. ‘Zombies on Broadway’, made in the year 1945 was a first comedy movie portraying zombies. “Zombie films in the early 1940s also echoed a trend that was seen in the wider scope of American horror films” (Waves).
1950’s:
Time affects everything and zombie movie makers also changed the way of making their movies. Creature with a brain was first of this kind movie that was made in 1955. In this movie a scientist, who works for a gangster has been portrayed creating zombies to kill gangster’s foes. Interestingly atomic power was being used by the scientist to resurrect zombies. Voodoo woman came in 957 which portray the story of a scientist and a man who tries to save a woman from scientist who is expert in resurrection and wants to convert the woman into a zombie. Plan 9 from outer space came in 1959 which can be considered first zombie movie that became famous. Ed wood presented a new story wherein extra terrestrials came onto earth and started converting humans into zombies.
1960’s:
Nothing much was changed in zombie movies in this decade. Voodoo and science was still catered before audiences in the name of zombie movies. ‘Eat your skin’ came in 1961 portraying a writer and a scientist in zombie business. ‘Horror plague on the zombies’ came in 1966. George A. Romero made ‘the night of the living dead’ in 1968 and made a new record in zombie movies.
1970’s:
Dawn of the dead’ another mega hit by Romero came into theaters in 1978 with a very good story. The adventurous story portrays a group including two SWAT men who is playing hide and seeks with living dead. Brilliant direction of the movie attracted huge audiences in cinema halls. Zombie 2 came in year 1979.
1980’s:
This decade saw huge production of zombie movies. Evil Dead came in year 1981. The movie introduced a new idea in zombie movies. Return of the living dead came in 1985 with half comedy. Evil dead 2, a continuation of earlier version came in 1987. “The waning popularity of classic horror was furthered by new fears awakening in the world” (Waves).
1990’s:
After release of re-animator, Bride of re-animator it silver screen in 1991. Evil dead III and brain dead released in 1993. “Through almost seventy-five years of evolution on the big screen, the zombie can be read as tracking a wide range of cultural, political, and economic anxieties of American society” (Neail).
2000’s:
‘28 days later’ hit theaters in 2002 and people liked the movie. 28 weeks later came in 2007 and was a big hit like its prequel. Shaun of the dead came in 2004. All these movies were big hit. Quarantine, Land of the dead, Diary of the dead, Blair witch project, Resident evil and Zombie land are great movies based on zombies with some innovative idea. “It’ll be interesting to see which, if any, of the zombie conventions Zombieland follows” (Steele). “Maybe Zombieland will begin a Zombie mythology of it’s very own, with a whole new list of rules. You never know, it could be the next great evolutionary leap of the Zombie movie” (Steele).
Works Cited
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Neail, Elizabeth. "The Signification of the Zombie." 2013. huichawaii. 20 October 2013 <http://www.huichawaii.org/assets/neail,-elizabeth---the-signification-of-the-zombie.pdf>.
Platts, Todd. "Locating Zombies in the Sociology of Popular Culture." 2013. academia. 20 October 2013 <http://www.academia.edu/2076353/Locating_Zombies_in_the_Sociology_of_Popular_Culture>.
Steele, Barry. "A Brief History of the Hollywood Zombie – Part One." 30 September 2009. heyuguys. 20 October 2013 <http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/a-brief-history-of-the-hollywood-zombie-part-one/>.
—. "A Brief History of the Hollywood Zombie – Part Two." 2 October 2009. heyuguys. 20 October 2013 <http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/a-brief-history-of-the-hollywood-zombie-part-two/>.
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