The Official Rules of Zombie Horror

[Jumpman]

ok, so its pretty much taken for granted that, where zombies are concerned, certain unspoken rules apply. From classics like night of the living dead, to the games like dead rising and left for dead (lots of death references) there are some aspects of the genre that tend to remain the same. The purpose of this post is to narrow down some of these aspects and hopefully come up with a set of laws that nearly every zombie story follows. It can also be used to discuss what actually qualifies as a zombie, ie: 28 days later.

To start with, I think there are two primary issues that all the stories agree on. First, Zombies feast on the flesh of the living, with a possible emphasis on the brain. In some instances it appears this is neccessary to their survival, while some of the older ones seem to make it more an act of malice (NOTLD for instance has more than one zombie smiling and even using tools to kill their victims, making it seem less like a pure survival instinct)

The other is perhaps the most universally accepted, how to kill a zombie. To quote my personal favorite zombie film, Shaun of the Dead, they can be stopped only "by removing the head or destroying the brain" I cant really think of anything that disputes this. I suppose if one did enough damage to the rest of the body, a zombie could basically be rendered harmless.

Anyway, these are two of the many rules. I can post more, but I'd like to hear what you guys think. So, be it resident evil, the Romero films, or your favorite horror comic, what are the other laws that all true Zombie stories abide by?

 

[Scunner]

The one thing I can think of is that one of the supporting characters will die. At least when applying the rules to a movie.

What I have thought over the last few days is that I find it interesting the in most modern films/games/etc. that the Zombies come about by some sort of disease which turns them undead, when the traditional Zombie is a diseased person raise from the dead before their body has been totally decomposed. I suppose you can say this is what happens with these diseases but it does lack that traditional feel.

 

[edargh]

One of the charecters will either get infected and insist the others leave him/her and die a hero, or insist that they are fine and later have a human buffet.

 

[Marv21]

Zombies should follow these codes,
1. They decompose, takes 5-8 months for them to become incaped by their rotting flesh, however feasting on flesh however subsides this effect. They die absolutely within 1 year, no exceptions.

2. The Fresh dead run fast, like Dawn of the Dead fast, however they lose their speed after about 10-15 days on infection.

3.IF they follow complete undead law, like Voodoo, or virus, their brain must be destroyed to guarentee death, however if they are rage virus, and all that it will take is a few shots to the body in fatal spots. In virus zombies, will die with 3-4 shots through the chest poring out all of their blood, and spilling out organs will cause to zombie to die slowly, within 2 hours of total blood loss or partial organ loss or damage.

4.Their disease can pass into animals, but only through direct biting.

5.Zombie intelligence varies on how long they are dead, intelligence dimishes to the level of toddler after 3-15 days because the body is slowly shutting down.

6.Zombies don't perfer the sun, and heat because it will acellerate their decompostion.

7. Will pass to animals who eat the infected by simply eating the current flesh or the 2 day old dead zombie flesh. However the virus cannot live in a cadavar for over 4 days of the inital full brain stopping. This is called the 4 day rule, it applys to all animals big and small.

8. Maggots are not effected by the 4 day rule.

9. After 3 days of inital death zombies lose the brain capacity to use weapons, but only such of caveman, like hammers, and peices of wood and sticks.

10. The virus can only be transmitted via, salivia, due to a special virus that feeds on the teeth of the zombies.

11. In the first 2 days of infection they retain normal human memories, and intelligence, via Marvel Zombies, however their intelligence does wear off.

12. They leave a faint heat signature.

13.They normally eat humans, but animals will do in a pinch, however when they are stacked out for humans they will not chase or hunt for other animals.

14. Zombies has a moderate sense of smell, if they have a peice of clothing, they can track you up to 2 miles. Without clothing, up to 50 yards, given time to cordinate their scent usually 5-10 minutes.

15. They are lured by the dinner-bell rule, this rule states that any noice to the amplitude of gunfire will bring their attention.

16. Slightly different strains of the diease will appear, and lead to small mutations however not large scale ones, but such mutations as better eyes, more invulnerable, stronger muscles, intelligence of a normal humans without regard to the diminishing intelligence rule. However this mutations happen to 1 in 50,000 zombies.

17. All rules my vary slightly because this strain/strains of virus are currently being tested.

 

[wordsmith]

Zombies can run at normal, human speed for a few days after they are infected. This is because when you run, your muscles tear slightly, however new cells are grown in their place. As zombies do not regenerate, their muscles eventually degenerate to the point where they lurch everywhere.

 

[Radelaide]

The two love sick teens ALWAYS die. Also, the blonde, the jock and their best friends are on the meal ticket.

The nerdy kid saves the day. And no one can get Zombie Horror right any more. I giggle at them nowdays...

 

[VoleurdeThym]

Zombies should follow these codes,

Abbreviated for the sake of this thread.

As far as rules for actual zombies themselves, this just about covers it all... bravo!

 

[Radelaide]

The two love sick teens ALWAYS die. Also, the blonde, the jock and their best friends are on the meal ticket.

The nerdy kid saves the day. And no one can get Zombie Horror right any more. I giggle at them nowdays...

The complete jackass always dies

I thought I mentioned the jock?

 

[Jumpman]

The other is perhaps the most universally accepted, how to kill a zombie. To quote my personal favorite zombie film, Shaun of the Dead, they can be stopped only "by removing the head or destroying the brain" I cant really think of anything that disputes this. I suppose if one did enough damage to the rest of the body, a zombie could basically be rendered harmless.

I disagree with that, why should they have to be only killed by damage to the brain. Especially when it comes to the Infected variant of zombies. Besides, it would be a total game breaker.

Frankly dude, I would argue that any movie or game that breaks this rule isn't a true zombie genre title. All of the classics agree on this and it seems blasphemous to do otherwise. I understand of course that it makes for more interesting game play to be able to shoot other parts of the body, but I think if the designers want variety in their types of kills, they should avoid the zombie genre altogether. One of the biggest factors in zombie horror is the lack of variety, or uniqueness, to all the zombies. they lose the things that made them unique in life and become just like every other zombie. Thats part of why its so creepy. If this means that in a game, all the enemies feel about the same, I think they should just make it about ninjas or terrorists. Or, put a different spin on it like halo did with the flood. it was still sorta reminiscent of zombies, but by making it their own, they had more freedom to expand the possibilities.

 

[Jumpman]

Zombies should follow these codes,
1. They decompose, takes 5-8 months for them to become incaped by their rotting flesh, however feasting on flesh however subsides this effect. They die absolutely within 1 year, no exceptions.

2. The Fresh dead run fast, like Dawn of the Dead fast, however they lose their speed after about 10-15 days on infection.

3.IF they follow complete undead law, like Voodoo, or virus, their brain must be destroyed to guarentee death, however if they are rage virus, and all that it will take is a few shots to the body in fatal spots. In virus zombies, will die with 3-4 shots through the chest poring out all of their blood, and spilling out organs will cause to zombie to die slowly, within 2 hours of total blood loss or partial organ loss or damage.

4.Their disease can pass into animals, but only through direct biting.

5.Zombie intelligence varies on how long they are dead, intelligence dimishes to the level of toddler after 3-15 days because the body is slowly shutting down.

6.Zombies don't perfer the sun, and heat because it will acellerate their decompostion.

7. Will pass to animals who eat the infected by simply eating the current flesh or the 2 day old dead zombie flesh. However the virus cannot live in a cadavar for over 4 days of the inital full brain stopping. This is called the 4 day rule, it applys to all animals big and small.

8. Maggots are not effected by the 4 day rule.

9. After 3 days of inital death zombies lose the brain capacity to use weapons, but only such of caveman, like hammers, and peices of wood and sticks.

10. The virus can only be transmitted via, salivia, due to a special virus that feeds on the teeth of the zombies.

11. In the first 2 days of infection they retain normal human memories, and intelligence, via Marvel Zombies, however their intelligence does wear off.

12. They leave a faint heat signature.

13.They normally eat humans, but animals will do in a pinch, however when they are stacked out for humans they will not chase or hunt for other animals.

14. Zombies has a moderate sense of smell, if they have a peice of clothing, they can track you up to 2 miles. Without clothing, up to 50 yards, given time to cordinate their scent usually 5-10 minutes.

15. They are lured by the dinner-bell rule, this rule states that any noice to the amplitude of gunfire will bring their attention.

16. Slightly different strains of the diease will appear, and lead to small mutations however not large scale ones, but such mutations as better eyes, more invulnerable, stronger muscles, intelligence of a normal humans without regard to the diminishing intelligence rule. However this mutations happen to 1 in 50,000 zombies.

17. All rules my vary slightly because this strain/strains of virus are currently being tested.

wow, thanks dude. thats alot of them. not sure I agree with 100%, but still, very nice.

 

[Arsen]

Everyone dies. Either at the end or after the credits.

 

[Erana]

Oh yeah, and the nerdy chicks are allowed to be hot, and still survive.

 

[Corven]

This is a very improtant rule that Left 4 Dad had broken, you never actually call them zombies, but they can be reffered to as ghouls.

 

[Jumpman]

yeah, you dont say the Z word. unless your specifically trying to spoof the genre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfDUv3ZjH2k

 

[Iron Mal]

As far as I am aware (or even concerned) the following are the laws of zombie kind:

1- Zombies hunger for the flesh of the living (and as such will persue them relentlessly to the best of their ability)

2- Zombies are slow, shambolic and not overtly bright or adept (what the hell happened to this one? yes, I'm looking at you 28 days later and Left 4 Dead)

3- Zombies are either the result of a virus reanimating a corpse or black/evil magic reanimating a corpse (they are actually dead, none of this 'infected' crap that 28days and l4d tried to give us)

4- The only ways to dispatch a zombie are as follows: decapitation/destruction of the brain, being set on fire and holy icons/objects/materials (for voodoo zombies) (emptying a crate full of shotgun shells into a zombie's stomach will do nothing besides piss said zombie off and waste time)

5- One bitten by a zombie, you must either kill yourself by decapitation/gunshot to the head or resign yourself to becoming a zombie (after all, there is no cure for being dead and immunity to a virus is gained by surviving infection...which clearly isn't going to happen here)

They don't make zombies like they used to...

 

[Erana]

This is a very improtant rule that Left 4 Dad had broken, you never actually call them zombies, but they can be reffered to as ghouls.

Which reminds me-
Under no circumstance can there have ever been any zombies in the media. Actually, no horror genre whatsoever. It must be a completely unprecedented surprise.

 

[Marv21]

Thx for the nice feedback on my rules, if some1 wants to create a voodoo zombie rule guide/rules, I would dig that.