I honestly think the majority of zombie movies have more or less abandoned their horror roots. The Walking Dead, Zombieland, Resident Evil, even Warm Bodies... basically all the most prominent zombie genre outputs are either action, drama, or comedy with perhaps some sci-fi elements thrown in for good measure, all revolving around a zombie apocalypse. The same could be said for the majority of zombie scripts posted here (with a few exceptions). Some of them have scary moments but most of them are essentially post-apocalyptic survival dramas where zombies are everywhere constantly and you get used to seeing them around.

World War Z didn't feel much different IMO. I think the scale is bigger and the characters aren't in the trenches so much compared to the others but the backdrop is the same.

I have my own zombie script, but it was never intended to break any molds. The opposite, actually. When I set out I wanted to "embrace the cliche". So I did some genre blending with Prohibition gangsters and a mad scientist. I had just started writing, and one of my goals was to learn how to write action.

I haven't seen all of the movies you mentioned, but I think something to keep in mind is that familiarity is not always the enemy. For example, if you invent a new mythical creature, you'll need all kinds of exposition to explain it to the audience. With zombies, vampires, and such, people already know the legends, which lets the focus be on the narrative.

People expect the apocalypse with zombies. What World War Z maybe did different was it made it more realistic and believable, gave it a more scientific basis. The big budget really helped make it feel real, along with the actual plot. That's also why there were no decayed corpse zombies, which would make no sense.

I think sometimes people who love film put too much emphasis on the value of a film being cutting edge original. That kind of originality is so hard to come by that often when it does other parts of the story are lacking. Originality is great and should be appreciated, but nothing wrong with just a good story well told.

Anyway, your opinion appreciated as always, thanks for sharing.

Agreed in regards to familiarity. I'm honestly starting to think that the obsession with originality is one of the key things budding writers need to get over. To me, it's all about interpretation. Jim Jarmusch has had some really excellent words on the subject.

It took a while to get over the PG13 rating but after that, I'd really hoped World War Z could indeed be a good story well told. I wouldn't say it was poorly told per se but it felt incredibly empty and dispassionate. I'm not a Walking Dead fan but as generic as the show is, it feels like it has some flair. I didn't get that impression from World War Z (for whatever reason).

Well, it definitely shares nothing with the book, except small bits from the Israeli subplot. I read the second draft of the script and I'm just surprised at how much changed, there's literally nothing similar about the final film and this draft. For better and for worse. I heard somewhere there was some kind of side kick in the third draft and I'm stumped at who thought that would make the story better from the second draft. Which although a little boring, wasn't too bad at all. I can't fault the film, except maybe the shaky first act, not what I was expecting and thrilling and fast paced enough to enjoy the film. Interesting production process though, I remember hearing they scrapped the third act after filming it.

I think if you gave me a gazillion dollars and said make a movie about an apocalyptic zombie plague, the first and possibly the most important thing I would want to do is create a sense of experiencing that apocalypse...let the audience experience what that would feel like.

In most zombie movies, I think, we pick up the story after the apocalypse. Dawn of the Dead gives a sense of the actual disaster, but most others pick it up after, and for very good reason: it's cheaper. And zombie movies are generally low budget.

In World War Z, we are quickly given this experience when they are stuck in a traffic jam in Philly. I thought it was over the top but effective. Giving the zombies super human strength and speed Ramped up the threat and the feeling of desperation to get out.

That's why it reminded me of Spielburg's War of the Worlds.

Quoted from KevinLenihan That's why it reminded me of Spielburg's War of the Worlds.

Kevin, are you saying that as a good thing or a bad thing?

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Kevin, are you saying that as a good thing or a bad thing?

I thought Spielberg's 2005 War of the Worlds was pretty good stuff, beleive it or not.

Are you saying you hated it, or what?

I'm saying it was a horribly written movie (naturally because it's David Koepp), with the exception of the first fifteen minutes. Now, normally I like Koepp on a bad but entertaining level (Snake Eyes, Mission Impossible, The Trigger Effect, etc), but War of the Worlds was a pretty terrible movie all around.

More disappointing than that, though, is that (in my opinion, obviously) Spielberg hasn't made a good movie since 2002 when he made two in one year (one of them was almost destroyed by a horrible ending, though). It's kind of a shame.

I wasn't thrilled about War of the Worlds when I first saw it, and it was one of those rare movies I actually saw at the cinema. But since then, and especially since I've taken up screenwriting, I have a much increased appreciation for the film. I think they did a good job with it.

Quoted from KevinLenihan But since then, and especially since I've taken up screenwriting, I have a much increased appreciation for the film. I think they did a good job with it.

I liked it as well.  Far from perfect or even close, but it did deliver what they intended.  I also thought Cruise was good and playing against his usual character.

I hated WOTW! I remember being all keen for it and went to the cinema. The opening was great but it became utterly tedious. I very nearly walked before the end..

It would have been SO much better filmed as a period piece as per HG's original story

Saw WWZ this weekend and I have to say, overall, I was impressed and genuinely liked the ride, the visuals, and even the story to a degree.

Like James, I was very leery about a PG13 big budget zombie flick and I basically boycotted it because of this.  But, after seeing it, I didn't have a problem with the PG13 rating or how the violence was handled.

In fact, I frequently said, "WOW", or "DAMN", when a Z got hit by a car, or shot in the head, and often when they swarm was running and smashing into walls or jumping off buildings, etc.  It was all handled well, IMO, and even though we didn't get the usual splatter and close ups of extreme violence, I still felt it.

I also felt this was pretty intense when it wanted to be.  The opening scene in Philly, the scenes in Jerusalem, and the ending in Wales - these were all intense and had me at full attention.

Character-wise, I was less impressed.  Actually, I think there were too many characters and only a hdnful stood out.  Of course, Pitt's Gerry Lane, being the main character who had by far the most screntime stoff out, but he really wasn't much of an interesting type in terms of his dialogue or even his actions.

Plot-wise, I was far less impressed, as there really wasn't much of a plot.  It was almost like a video game where you have to go here, then there, then somewhere else to complete certain tasks and move forward.  The problem, for me, at least, was that those tasks weren't really there and nothing came of going to Korea or Jerusalem.  The whole big deal at the WHO in Wales really came out of Jerry simply saying, "Let's try this...".

What made this all work was the large scale and the very impressive (and expensive) FX work.  The Z swarms were so well done.  The chase scenes were all top notch.  And, finally, the PG13 rating allowed this to be seen by the masses and allowed the makers to spend whatever  they needed to, inclduing completely scrapping the 3rd act and rewriting and reshooting a whole new ending.

Grade - B+

During the first act I wasn't sure this was going to be any good at all. It was a bunch of dark shots at first ...had no clue what was going on really... but after about 20 minutes it got better for me....and I ended up liking it a lot.

As far as it being zombies...they've been done to death but let's face it, they aren't going away!   At least they were a little different with their FAST movement. The chase scenes were killer great. When the zombs piled on top of each other and crossed that wall ...wow

Not my fav of the year but one of my  fav zombie movies. *and I don't like zombies*