Zombies: End of Days vs Evil World Domination?

Posted by Ms Harker | Filed under Horror Films, Horror Genres, Horror Reading, Horror TV

I’m opening this post with a ‘pardon my ignorance’ disclaimer. I am a little unfamiliar with the Zombie side of the horror genre. It seems that those of a flaky, gooey decomposition are all the rage lately. The zombie renaissance is here. Whether they be lightning fast, fury filled decaying parts-pieces (aka 28 Days Later ). Or ambling leper like brain/neck/arm/whatever munchers (aka George Romero ). These mobs of masticaters amble or dash about infecting those around them often leaving a choice (and often stereotypical) group of survivors which always includes a hot looking final girl as per horror ye olde lore. The current banquet of zombie material tend to lean towards the ‘end of days’ world infection (see Dead Set which was a great concept and full of black humour), which from what I understand is due to the films trying to also comment on society and its hopes (or lack thereof) of survival.

Now to reveal my hidden shame… My name is Ms Harker and I read the ‘Anita Blake Vampire Hunter’ novels. There I said it! Bite me! Hang on no don’t! Those of you who are unfamiliar with the series, they are the work of Laurell K Hamilton. Based on the premise that Anita has inherited the ability to raise the dead, she is a Necromancer and is coming to terms with her powers whilst solving preternatural crimes. She solves crimes in between raising corpses/zombies for cash to settle will disputes, allow people to confront their abusers, murderers or just to say a proper farewell to their loved ones, and screws a string of men inbetween work duties. My best friend and I exchange these books in brown paper bags and only refer to them as ‘the raunch’. Now, there is a point to my shameful disclosure.

In the Anita novels, she is often confronted with the dichotomy of good and evil within her fellow Necromancer’s. One of the story lines sets up a pre-eminent necromancer planning to raise an army of Zombies in order to throw out the balance of power within the preternatural community and start to dominate the human populace. So my question is put to those who are better versed than I in all things Zombie: why is the Evil World Domination plot line not appearing in the latest intestinal string of material? I would be more interested in the genre if this was the case. Is it the social commentary thing? Or is it just not the done thing within the sub genre? Meaning I have over shared my Anita Blake shame to no gainful end…?

Ms Harker

P.S Just to redeem myself, I am currently reading John Avjide Lindqvist’s ‘Handling the Undead’ in order to increase my zombie knowledge.

Davina from 'Dead Set'

Davina from 'Dead Set'

Permalink | April 24th, 2009

7 Responses to “Zombies: End of Days vs Evil World Domination?”

  1. hagiblog Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Dead Set was just about the best zombie movie (TV series in this case) I have ever seen.

    I think I’ve seen some flicks where the purpose of the original zombies was for military use and then it gets out of control. Not exactly world domination but close.
    Zombie flicks, to me, are always best when they portray the end of humanity. They just keep spreading, you can’t stop them but someone always tries and fails. I guess if you threw an evil mastermind in there you’d have the world domination thing going already!

    And that Anita Blake sounds alot like this manga I read, Reiko the Zombie Shop, where Reiko raises the dead for a few minutes so they can give information on who killed them or who they killed. Very violent manga.

  2. King Unicorn Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 12:30 am

    It would seem that zombies are all the rage right now (and, as such, run the gamut from the wholly interesting to the downright banal).

    I believe the issue with the world domination theory is that there must be a pyramid of control - a necromantic hierarchy. This would seem to indicate some kind of supernatural link that’s not frequently explored outside of certain fantasies.

    In typical zombie-genre fashion (especially in late 20th-century cinema), outbreaks are not described as being of a supernatural nature. As hagiblog has pointed out, outbreaks can stem from weaponized chemical/biological agents purposely developed by the military (Planet Terror/Return of the Living Dead). They can start with simple lab experiments that are intruded upon by the ignorant (28 Days later). They can even exist as ancient plagues released through inquisitive, yet careless investigation (http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/hierakonpolis/zombies.html).

    Perhaps the “hard science” approach stems from our fears of unregulated experimentation, WMDs, and social disorder. Perhaps the writers/creators/producers just want to avoid supernatural overtones which eliminates the peak control element in the hierarchy that’s directing zombie efforts to control/contain nations.

    Whether of supernatural or man-made origin, zombies exist as uncontrollable, unyielding creatures with a single purpose. By setting up a plot that there is an entity (or group) that when overcome will cease the zombie dominance of the world mutes the edge that makes the genre so attractive: They have no master but The Mob. And where The Mob goes, so do the zombies.

    That activates a number of social fears that, again, make the genre so attractive: We live in a time and place where we’re more focused on what our celebrities are doing, than being prepared for a zombie outbreak (or other emergency response event). We’ve clustered together in such densities that escape is nearly impossible. We might have to put a bullet, spike, or ax into the skulls of the people we love the most in this world. And, lastly, there’s little chance that we’ll survive long enough to see a positive resolution.

    I’d certainly like to see someone (skillfully) tackle the world dominance angle. I’m not one that cringes from the supernatural. And I’m also not one to frown on your reading material. I’m familiar with Hamilton’s work.

  3. jessbo88 Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 8:54 am

    I loved Dead Set! It hit just the right balance of gruesome and hilarity! The scene with the champagne bucket, the dumb ass girl and the dump hilarious! I am off to the comic shop today, will keep an eye out for Reiko the Zombie shop. Coincidentally, the Anita Blake series has been produced in graphic novel form, the first two novels Guilty Pleasures and The Laughing Corpse. I don’t like them much, the illustrations are not to my liking.

    Ms Harker

  4. jessbo88 Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Thanks for such an informative response King Unicorn. This necromantic hierarchy you speak of interests me. I haven’t really thought about horror and its creatures in that way, but it does explain the complexity that the ‘world domination’ plot would pose to an author/film maker. I definitely think, as you point out, the rise in Zombie material is intrinsically linked to societies sub conscious fears of the current day, whether they be environmental, or based in suspicion aimed at science or government. However also the fear of humanities apparent death wish and how this may play out is an important aspect within the human response in this genre. I think I have pointed out previously I am a fan of horror with more of a super natural bend, but the zombie genre is growing on me (not in a fungal extra limb type way though). Oh, thanks for not judging my recreational reading ;)

  5. hagiblog Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Yeah, when browsing the listings for the upcoming comics (cause I’m that much of a comic nerd I have to plan my weekly trips) I saw the Anita Blake comic listed. I thought it sounded familiar.

    I really wish we could have something like Dead Set produced. I really found it hard to believe that it was on TV anywhere. If only something that great could be made in Canada so I could enjoy it every week.

  6. hagiblog Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    I think the rise in the zombie film nowadays is a response to the ever looming terroist threat people feel. No amount of preparation could make one feel safe from either threat and the result would be devastating. The zombie could also be the representation of war itself. Zombies are the perfect single minded foe intent on the destruction of everything.

    I find it interesting how film (typically horror or sci-fi) has always played off the fear of the moment. The mutant creatures that went along with the fear of nuclear power as an example. It’s obvious that you can get alot of information on a generation of people by viewing the films of that time.

    I think the closest I can think of the zombie film having an evil genius in it would be Day of the Dead where you have the scientist trying to pacify the zombies to make them productive members of society. Not exactly plans to take over the world but a perfect example of what lies in store for anyone who thinks zombies are the way to rule the planet. A quick end at the hands of your own creation.

  7. Topics about Apocalypse » Archive » Zombies: End of Days vs Evil World Domination? « Musings across a … Says:
    April 25th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

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