I like it if someone were to make different types of zombies instead of ones that can only kill someone once they surround them.
I dunno, there's a trailer out for a new movie, the zombie is the human girl's love interest. He's apparently learning to be human again and he will protect her. Wrong, just wrong.
Zombies represent, among other things, our fear of being a faceless entity, losing our free will, becoming just another person in the group...so the group killings are here to stay. I did like 28 Days Later, even though they weren't technically zombies (but zombies that are dead simply won't ever come to be, so a hyper rabies seems scarier, because it is likelier). That could get you through any fluid contact, like a drop of blood to the eyeball.
This. True of everything really. Things comes in and go out. Then something good comes again and people take notice, then they go out. And so goes the cycle.
If I had to guess, I would say that as of now, at least, zombies are never going to be an outgrown idea. I would write your story. And it will probably be good because look at what people have already started with the idea of zombies, imagine what you can do.
I disagree with most posts in this topic. To begin with, the idea of zombies as a credible threat is intrinsically idiotic. They're slow-moving, weak, dumb mammals. If zombies are a menace, then why aren't there stories about an apocalypse of wolves or lions? After all, a single lion is more dangerous than 20 or possibly even 100 zombies put together. And once you realize how absurdly moronic the premise is, you will understand why zombie films, until recently, never took themselves seriously. Instead, they focused on the carnage, blood, and dark humor of the situation. It was strictly exploitation appeal. (And yes, I'm including all of Romero's films in this category) Nowadays, with the popularity of the genre, there has been every spin imaginable on the zombie tale. Humorous, serious, and even romantic. Usually, when you produce a tale, you have one of two goals; 1. Write something good. 2. Write something financially profitable. 1. is impossible to do with a serious story, as zombies are so ridiculous and unrealistic. You have to go a strictly humorous route, and surely there are better, less-played out subjects than that? As for 2., with the copious amounts of zombie-related media we have been plagued with for the past 7+ years, audience fatigue is going to set in very soon. Not to mention, your story will be one of hundreds similarly themed works. I would tap into a new genre, or at least one that hasn't been so exhausted if you want to score a hit.
Your idea is interesting but remember zombies aren't always weak undead wandering corpses, for example in I am Legend the creatures were very advanced in combat and difficult to kill, although they were closer to vampires than zombies. But yeah, generally zombies are just cannon fodder, in all depictions including games, RPG, TCG, zombies are the weakest undead and are usually under the influence of something bigger that summons them.
The most original take on zombies that I've ever seen was on some anthology show called Masters of Horror. The episode dealt with dead soldiers rising from the grave to vote in the upcoming election against the war. Interesting premise, but not well executed because it was basically just a propaganda piece telling people to vote Democrat. But perhaps the way to go would be a story where the zombies aren't strictly villains: they would retain some form of humanity and morals and humans would have to figure out if humans and zombies could co-exist peacefully. Possibly the usual premise could be reversed with the zombies as victims of human prejudice. This kind of story could also reference zombie fiction, with humanity's genocidal attitude being caused largely by the stereotypical zombies in fiction.
I personally wouldn't write a story about zombies right now. I've been a fan since way back with the original Dawn of the Dead (yeah, I'm old). But the market's so saturated right now; what else can be done? Again, that's only my opinion and certainly, just because I can't think of an original zombie thing doesn't mean someone else can't. I'll tell a story and try to be short-winded about it. Back in the mid to late 80's I was a fledgling musician. We were trying to write songs like all the popular rock acts of the day (Yes, hair metal). We dressed the part, we played the part, our songs sounded the part. But nothing ever came of it. And the thing is, I didn't even like that kind of music. I liked much harder stuff. That was the stuff that I wrote in my bedroom and then threw away because it didn't seem like anyone would like it. BUT I LIKED IT. And dammit, not that I would have ever become a rock star but at least if I would have been playing what I wanted and I would have had a better time (and not looked so silly). So write what you think is good because you can't really do anything else anyway... I guess some people can but the vast, vast majority can't just pick out something and decide to be a best selling novelist.
Zombie's are still very relevant - the glut of bad books the op mentioned, the movies, the constant arguments between friends/family/internet users about how to survive a zombie apocalypse etc, all means that lots of us love the zombies genre. And yea, we're dying for good projects, be it books or movies.
Have to disagree with you here. Firstly, have you watched 28 Days Later? The zombies there are not slow moving. They run at you like insane bulls and ravage you mindlessly and furiously. Also, even slow zombies can be a threat. In World War Z, for example, the real threat is the zombies' numbers, the panic of humans, lack of information about the zombies(people going crazy and believing zombies can fly, gulping down Phalanx like mad, turning into quislings etc.) and the fact that the zombies keep on coming. This is the real horror about zombies. They have endless numbers and they WILL come at you until you are dead, until you run out of bullets or your blade snaps and then they will come at you some more until their cold, dead feet have trampled your corpse.
Nice post. Also I remember in a Romero film the zombies become more and more dangerous over time since they learn how to fight and use weapons more effectively.
^ Intelligent zombies, yes. I seem to remember there was one zombie who the humans tried to "tame" and it ended disastrously.
I honestly think people have insane ideas for zombie stories, such as zombies being more human or more intelligent. I just want those things to stay dead and slow if they have to. I'm writing a zombie story myself actually and it focuses more on humanity than the zombie conflict. I think that's where you can make a good zombie story out of all the over-used ones. Think Walking Dead as a good example. Sure, it's popular but there's no other storyline where they get that indepth of human characters. Even the old Romero Films didn't get too much to that point.
I'd agree with what most are saying. If it meets the demand. Do it. I personally don't like zombie stories. Always the same thing. Dead guys walking slowly trying to eat your brains. I haven't watched a zombie movie or show in years, and an episode of "The Walking Dead" was just filmed right around the corner from me. The only zombie movie that recently caught my attention was the one where the zombie actually thought he was alive and had feelings for some woman. I didn't watch it, but I might someday.
Lots of things have been "overdone" in writing, especially in Hollywood, but if you can write it well enough, it doesn't matter. As for the fact that it's a zombie book, write it if that's what you really want to write, no matter the reasons why you want to write it. Sure there may be a good amount of people who may disagree with your decision to do so, but if you give in to them and decide not to write it because they dun want it, then how are you going to get anywhere as a writer if you keep letting people control your decisions? Writing is as much for yourself as it is writing for other people. Personally, your idea for a zombie book is something different from the traditional "I'm an undead person that's going to eat our brains out", which in my opinion is definitely something I would check into reading. I am a zombie fan, and the Walking Dead is one of my favorite series (its mostly for the emotional humane part of the struggle), but the thing that bores me sometimes about zombie works is the lack of connection we have to the zombies. If it's all about zombies ripping into people and eating their guts then I'm most likely going to get bored with it. I would love to see something new and original on the subject, even if its pre-apocalyptic. I honestly want to see Warm Bodies (aka the movie about a zombie falling in love with a living girl) because it's something different from the traditional zombie works. Point being, write it. If it's well written, then it'll become popular in some part of the world.
It sounds good to me, and, although typical zombie fiction may be becoming a drag, there is always room for something different. I think that the film Warm Bodies worked because it was different to the rest (if a little bizarre) . It sounds like it would be a welcome and refreshing change from the norm to have something like you are suggesting. The only problem could be that zombies can be cheesy if not done right, so be careful with that. Good luck!
The Addams Family is not a family of zombies. In fact, they are difficult to characterize, other than diverse and wildly eccentric. The show was based on the satirical cartoons drawn by Charles Addams.
"the monsters are us" zombie films are away overdone I want to see some nice sci fi actual monster films
I'm aware that the Addams (not Adams, as I wrote) family is not a family of zombies. I was referring to the fact that they have bizarre characteristics, like a zombie family would presumably have.
I'm sorry all, zombies are a fad that will soon burn out. At the checkout counter at Target this week, I saw at least four magazines focusing on the latest crop of Zombie series. Even Mythbusters has an episode on them - whether you can outrun a herd of zombies. If you are a journalist - fine, you may still be able to tap into the zeitgeist. But if you are a novelist, by the time your work comes out I am almost 100% certain that this fad will already be one the wane. Truth is, people are getting tired of zombies - they're stupid and not much fun. Which monster will be next?
Well I can agree with that but there are some zombie movies I watch for the political themes and messages, not the undead monsters. I think the show The Walking Dead is misunderstood by it's mass audience.
I have to agree that the genre is overdone. In fact, I decided to stop a zombie story I had been tinkering with for a couple years because of that fact. I do agree with some of the other posters, though; If you write a great story, the genre shouldn't matter. A great story is a great story. I think one of the biggest issues with today's zombie media is that everyone tries to make zombies the threat. They aren't; they're the backdrop. The real threat is the remainder of humanity. The Walking Dead focused on this concept and became wildly successful, but as Uberwatch said above, I think most of its audience doesn't understand or realize this.
