Slublog: Pegg: Zombies are not Fast

November 10, 2008

Pegg: Zombies are not Fast

Another thing: speed simplifies the zombie, clarifying the threat and reducing any response to an emotional reflex. It's the difference between someone shouting "Boo!" and hearing the sound of the floorboards creaking in an upstairs room: a quick thrill at the expense of a more profound sense of dread. The absence of rage or aggression in slow zombies makes them oddly sympathetic, a detail that enabled Romero to project depth on to their blankness, to create tragic anti-heroes; his were figures to be pitied, empathised with, even rooted for. The moment they appear angry or petulant, the second they emit furious velociraptor screeches (as opposed to the correct mournful moans of longing), they cease to possess any ambiguity. They are simply mean.

I'll admit - I liked the "Dawn of the Dead" remake and think the Romero movies can be cheesy at times. Still, I'm not completely anti-slow zombie. "World War Z" is a fantastic book, and the thought of a crowd of slow zombies closing in can be far creepier than one fast zombie screeching. I also like "28 Days Later," (which now, of course, I have to watch again) but of course the creatures in that movie are not zombies. They're still scary as all heck, though.

Pegg's article is an interesting examination of the difference between startling and fear. Dread is not a reflexive reaction to sudden stimuli; it's the result of allowing one's imagination to run free and venture into dark places. Despite the 'fast zombie' feel of "28 Days Later," the movie does induce dread - the first scenes of an empty London are creepy, and we don't get to actually see the creatures in full until a half-hour into the movie. The wait and anticipation increases the scare factor.

Okay, I've thought far too much about this for one night. I guess my brain is too tired to process anything but pop culture. This sort of thing fascinates me, though. It's interesting to consider how culture and current events influence what we consider to be scary. I'd spend more time contemplating it, but I just put "28 Days Later" into the DVD player. (h/t: My brother)

Posted by slublog at November 10, 2008 09:36 PM

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Comments

Shawn of the Dead was an awesome movie. This guy is an authority!

Posted by: Deuce Geary at November 11, 2008 12:08 AM

scariest movie every (well, maybe excorcist and rosemary's baby, with a dash of omen) "When a Stranger Calls." No gore, just suspense.

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