Movie recommendation request: (Zombie) outbreak movies

[Jandau]

My friends, I'd like to ask for your help. I've a craving for some movies or series, of fairly specific subject matter. Namely, Zombie movies that deal with the start of the whole thing. Basically, how it starts, how people try (and likely fail) to cope with it, how government institutions attempt to approach and contain the issue. Most Zombie movies deal with the apocalypse that's already well under way, but I'm interested in depictions of how it starts.

For instance, the first season of Fear the Walking Dead, where you can see the disaster slowly approaching, see people fail to identify it, see the misplaced attempts to deal with it, etc. Cops shooting the early Zombies being misinterpreted as police brutality, leading to riots that only help the spread of the infection through total chaos.

Or World War Z, only not quite so mediocre.

It doesn't HAVE to be Zombies. The Strain springs to mind, which interpreted Vampires and their spread as a disease outbreak that needed to be contained.

 

[Breakdown]

You should try Lifeforce. It has zombies AND space vampires.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

There was the absolutely terrible Ghosts of Mars. It had cannibalistic neanderthal Martians. And dudes with guns and Ice Cube.

 

[tippy2k2]

I think the biggest problem is they generally don't exist because zombie movies don't make a lick of sense. The slowest moving predators in the world up against...well...everything else. It'd be amazing if a zombie hoard could decimate a city, let alone the entire world. That's why all the movies start AFTER the zombie apocalypse because the actual zombie apocalypse would be laughed out of the theater.

That being said, the only one I can really think of off the top of my head is something like "The Crazies [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455407/]" but that's just one town rather than the world (and it was good but not great). Does "Slither [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439815/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1]" count? Again, small town rather than the world but it has Nathan Fillion in it which instantly makes it better.

 

[william1657]

I seem to remember "28 Weeks Later" being kind of like that.
It was actually about an outbreak re-occurring, but I figure that was close enough.

 

[Evonisia]

I can legitimately only think of "Shaun of the Dead", and that was a horror-comedy, with the transition period being used as a joke.

It's basically an entire Zombie outbreak condensed into one film (pre-outbreak, outbreak, overrun, solution, return to normality).

 

[Vanilla ISIS]

Zombie (a.k.a. Zombie Flesh Eaters) - a classic that has been ripped off many times.
It features a zombie fighting a shark underwater.

Spoiler

Demons - technically it's not a zombie movie but the demons behave a lot like zombies so i think it counts.
It features a guy riding a motorbike through a movie theater and cutting demons with a katana.
The sequel is also decent but not as good.

Spoiler

Night of the Creeps - it has zombies, aliens and a serial killer (all the good stuff).

Spoiler

Return of the Living dead - a more comedic take on a zombie outbreak, also a classic.

Spoiler

Dead Alive (a.k.a. Brain Dead) - Peter Jackson's epic horror comedy, one of the bloodiest movies you'll ever see.

Spoiler

That should be enough.

 

[FalloutJack]

Well, of course Night of the Living Dead is the actual beginning of George Romero's work and of the phenomenon that started it. Before that one day, visiting a cemetary in Pennsylvania, the Earth was a normal place. And of course, I have to recommend Evil Dead.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

"Maggie" is a really good movie if you fancy a drama. "Zombieland" is a pretty good, if forgettable, comedy. Good horrors suggested above

 

[Orga777]

Almost every zombie movie is the same thing. So... just pick one. <.<

 

[Faaip]

If you haven't I'd check out 28 Days/Weeks later.. imo some of the best portrayals of a recent societal breakdown (or whatever)

Also I'd check out Contagion.. not a zombie movie but it focuses on a massive outbreak of a deadly disease. Honestly I think its scarier than most horror movies because its so possible

 

[william1657]

Oh, I just remembered "Cooties". It features the start of a zombie apocalypse that was started at an elementary school by bad "chicken" nuggets.

Not that memorable, but I think its on Netflix Streaming.

 

[Frezzato]

I'm super into scary movies, so a few come to mind that fit your criteria. Mind you, one or two will be a stretch, but if you're willing to play into the fantasy (which you no doubt probably will if you're into games), these will do the job:

.


Dawn of the Dead - 2004. Zack Snyder. I know, right? There's not much explanation in this movie, but it does show the beginnings of the end through the eyes of a select group. For some reason I'm fond of this movie, but I can't really explain why.

The Last Days on Mars - 2013. Unsurprisingly, this takes place on Mars. Not so much the beginning of the end, but it does somewhat fit your criteria. It's almost passably mediocre as entertainment, but at least it's different.

Contracted - 2013. This one is a REAL stretch because it becomes a better viewing experience if you imagine that it's a prequel to something bigger and better. It's almost allegory in the same vein as It Follows.

Contagion - 2011. This is not a zombie movie, but damn it does a fine job of showing just how things spiral out of control when a virus is on the loose and governments are struggling to catch up. This is a movie that will scare a 'prepper' but their children will find boring.

Warning Sign - 1985. This is an 80's movie, and not bad at all if you can believe it. I wouldn't buy it on Blu-ray, but it's still worth a watch, at least once. It's limited in scope compared to what you want, but surprisingly well made.

Without Warning - 1994. Think War of the Worlds. This was a surprisingly well done TV movie. Doesn't fit most of your criteria, but I think you'll appreciate the fact that it can be viewed on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9xMTA7qhZM].

-

*EDIT*

Ooooh right, I forgot the classics!

If you haven't seen The Thing (1982), watch it, like now. Again, it's limited in it's scope, but The Thing is a classic!

And finally, if you haven't seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) you must MUST watch it, especially if you want to have nightmares.

Both of these classics sort of fit the bill, and oddly enough, they're remakes. Hmm.

 

[Frezzato]

[...]
That being said, the only one I can really think of off the top of my head is something like "The Crazies [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455407/]" but that's just one town rather than the world (and it was good but not great). Does "Slither [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439815/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1]" count? Again, small town rather than the world but it has Nathan Fillion in it which instantly makes it better.

Oh yeah, I liked the remake of The Crazies.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

I'm also going to back the aforementioned "28 Days Later," "28 Weeks Later," "The Crazies" (either the original or the remake), and "Contagion." They're all quite good.

I'll also add "Outbreak" and "The Andromeda Strain" to the list. They're not zombie flicks, but they're still some great outbreak movies nonetheless. There's also a fairly recent TV mini-series remake of "The Andromeda Strain" that's decent too.

That said, my absolute favorite movie along these lines is John Carpenter's 1982 film "The Thing." It's an alien lifeform that takes control of its victims sort of like a virus - but it otherwise meets most of your criteria. It's also one of my absolute favorite movies just in general, regardless of genre. Shout Factory is releasing a pretty slick Blu-Ray of it later this year with a ton of new bonus features, so I'm pretty psyched about that. Already have my deluxe edition pre-ordered.

 

[Kyrian007]

A kind of obscure one that's still on (us) Netflix, "Pontypool." It's everything that's the typical "spam in a can" zombie movie, with classic "shambling" zombies, but with some cool twists. Including a "viral" transmission type that is unique to that story and some very vague multiple worlds leanings (until the post-credits sequence.)

I was bone-tired when I first watched Pontypool. I work 3rd shift, and had stayed up helping one friend move nearly all day. Then after only getting an hour of sleep or so a friend needed me to pick him up from work... at a bar so I had to stay up till 2 a.m. It had been over 24 hours since I'd had any real sleep. When we got back my bartender friend kicked on Netflix and I resolved to hang out for a while figuring he was just going to kick on a 30 Rock or an Archer or something and I could be hospitable for a half hour. Instead he started Pontypool which he had heard was good.

And we were glued to it. Every second. Until even the post credit sequence was over.

 

[chadachada123]

Since basically every zombie example has been posted already, I'll suggest another vampire one, in anime form: "Shiki."

Like Resident Evil, the series takes place in a town in the middle of the woods. Following a number of strange deaths...you get the idea. It's more of a horror-mystery than a typical apocalypse series, but I think it might suit your interest.

Unfortunately, I can't much describe whether or not shit hits the fan without spoiling, but human interaction in the face of this vampire crisis is a key factor later on.

 

[mardocOz]

Might not be exactly what you're looking for, but if you're after a good zombie flick I'd recommend Wyrmwood. Australian, relatively low budget, but very good. Definitely worth a watch.

 

[pookie101]

yeah right at the start is my favourite part of the zombie genre and one of the areas shows and movies normally miss

dawn of the dead movies both the original and 2004 remake are a good start, also worth tracking down is the dvd special that came with the 2004 version, its from the point of view of a news caster.

there is also a british tv series called dead set.. picture a zombie outbreak that revolves around a big brother set. very good series