2013: Year of the Zombie

Written by Kyle Slagley

By now you should be finished rolling your eyes, groaning, banging your head against the wall, or whatever else you do when subjected to an onslaught of really, really bad puns.

Yesterday, I presented the idea that 2012 was the year of the vampire, and today I would like to posit the theory that 2013 will be the year of the zombie. Here’s a look at what’s in store.

World War Z (Released June 21) – Based on the New York Times bestselling book by Max Brooks, this film stars Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a U.N. employee tasked with stopping a deadly pandemic that turns the infected into deadly zombies. The book is written in journalistic style as Brooks compiles his fictitious historical account of the outbreak that nearly wiped humanity off the planet, complete with testimonies from faux witnesses. The movie, on the other hand, is an edge-of-your-seat war/action thriller packed with adrenaline.

Warm Bodies (Released February 1) – It was only a matter of time before someone dreamt up a zombie romance. Nicholas Hoult stars as a zombie who becomes involved with a human girl, and their romance, as it turns out, could change the game for zombies all over the world. Based on the breakout novel by Issac Marion, this film offers a lighthearted twist on an otherwise dark fascination.

Evil Dead (Released April 12) – A remake of the famously low-budget film from 1981, a group of friends take a trip to a remote cabin in the woods where they discover the Book of the Dead and accidentally release a zombie hoard. Sam Raimi probably had no idea what he was unleashing when he made it, but fans of the original film and the two sequels, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness, rank this trilogy among the most “Awesomely Bad Horror Films” of all time. It was so awesomely bad, they even made an off-Broadway musical about it!

R.I.P.D. (Release July 19) – Based on a Dark Horse comic, a “recently slain” police officer joins the rest of the undead cops of the Rest In Peace Department and tries to discover who murdered him. With actors like Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Jeff Bridges, and Mary-Louise Parker in the cast, this one will definitely be worth seeing.

The Walking Dead – If you don’t watch this AMC drama, you’re missing out on one of the best shows on cable. This series doesn’t just cash in on the zombie craze; it redefines primetime drama. With a slew of awards, this series will most likely finish out the third season as strong as ever, leaving fans anxiously waiting for a fourth.

In the meantime, be sure to prepare yourself in case the zombie apocalypse does descend upon us. The Zombie Combat Manual and The Zombie Survival Guide are good places to start, and if you need inspiration for how to fend off attacks, look no further than the ordinary-yet-above-average folks of Lake Woebegotten, Minnesota.