Fast Zombies vs. Slow Zombies

I don't know what happned to my original post but here it goes again.

Do you guys like fast zombies like World War Z, I am legend, 28 days later, or slow zombies like the living dead?

I just want to clarify that in the book of World War Z the zombies were actually slow shambling types, the movie broke the lore to appeal to the mass market.

The zombies that I really like the best are the slow shamblind ones from Max Brooks books Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z, and the movies by George Romero aka Night of the Living Dead, Dawn, Day, Land, Diary and Survival of the Dead.

It really depends on the core of the story to be honest.  Slow zombies are good because they give an air of slow impending doom.  Fast zombies are also good as they give off that adrenaline filled panic.  It's like comparing a roller coaster to a horror house, a roller coaster is a fast and wild ride designed to release your adrenaline, but the horror house is a deliberately slow ride that plays on the senses to instil fear and sudden shock.  Personally I like the slow zombies better because of that slowness, the shambler is like a flood, slowly creeping into town and inundating and infecting everything that stands between them and their next meal.  The other cool thing about the slow zombies is that they give some small spark of hope to survivors.  The slow zombie is fairly simple to outsmart, you can move faster than them and fairly easily avoid contact by keeping quiet and out of sight, however, just when you think you are safe, there is always one hiding behind a bush or just out of sight ready to bite down on that outstretched hand or exposed leg.

I am a huge fan of Max Brooks and I am so disappointed in the way that they "hollywoodized" his story.  If you get the chance read the book. It is fantastic. The humanism that he gives his characters is brilliant.

With that said. Slow zombies. I really don't think there is anything more terrifying than a creature that will never stop chasing you. You can go anywhere, but they will find you. Scary suspense > then quick action in my opinion.

Slow zombies. Nothing irritates me more than a zombie movie with fast zombies, this new type of zombie is only made to appeal to the ADD, high-strung, Michael Bay generation. By definition a zombie is a reanimated CORPSE, which means the body is in an active state of decay, there is no blood flow to the muscles, which means fast movement is not possible on a biological level. Only "infected humans" (people alive but infected by a virus, parasite, etc... think 28 days later) should be fast.

I see it as two separate types of Zombies.

Fresh Zombie from recently infected barely injured person are fast.  This is why you check each other for wounds ;)

As they get past their sell by date they'd slow down more and more, eventually becoming members of that shambling horde.  Bits don't keep moving, though they may freeze in clamped on mode when chopped off.

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Risen corpse models from supernatural forces start slow and shambling, and get faster as the fleshy bits drop off.  Bits keep moving and can be reattached to each other in strange combinations.  Dead things left in their midst rise up and join them.

I like my zombies slow and inevitable. :)

While I do enjoy rage virus movies/books as well I prefer the "Romero Rules" when it comes to Zeds.

Exactly what Craythur stated.

I actually had the pleasure (said tongue in cheek) of seeing Night of the Living Dead at its original release in the movie theater.  I have never been so terrified in my entire life (from a non-R/L event) before or after that.  Fast moving zombies just don't build any suspense - they are like any other horde that goes on a rampage.  If you really want to scare me - which should be the intent of a horror movie... give me a slow moving zombie; a slow moving mummy; a stalking werewolf; a stalking grizzly bear; a stalking - dam-dam-dam-daaaaa shark.   Fast moving might be entertaining .... slow moving and stalking is scary.  IMHO

Slow shambling zombies for me too.

As Morigana says, the slow zombie is all about building suspense, which most directors seem to have long since forgotten how to do. They are slow, but inevitable. You can always outrun them, but they never tire, never stop and sooner or later catch you up. You can always outfight them, but they get back up and will overwhelm you with numbers if you stop too long. They are an oppressive ever-enclosing trap.

While I don't mind the existence of fast zombies in the more modern "virus mythology", I'm also always left wondering - if you want your monsters fast, why use zombies in the first place?

I am not a zombie fan, but zombies should be slow and shambling. If you want to write/film a story with fast zombies, call them something else - 'cause they aren't zombies...

I feel the same way about glittering Twilight vampires. Vampire lore is they can't go out in sunlight. If you want glittering undead, call them something else - 'cause they aren't vampires...

Sorry to break from the Zombie norm here...

FAST Zombies! Nothing gets in their way! Head first through whatever they can, not regarding personal damage to themselves to eat BRAINS! I loved World War Z movie zombies...whenever I see slow zombies, I LOL unless there is a reason in the story for it.

Unless their bodies are damaged, there is no reason for them to be slow.

I don't care how fast as they move, as long as I'm able to move faster.

Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but zombies aren't biologically possible :P

BUT! I prefer the slow zombies. Much more scary. Except in games like black ops, where you turn around and the speedy zombies are right in front of you. But, by the same token, the slow zombies are fun to kite and laugh at. However, I don't watch a ton of horror movies or play frightening games, like dead space, cause I'm pretty easily scared. 

Biological proof that Zombies are in fact, possible:

Click me for story!

Has anyone here played Project Zomboid by Indiestone?  The game is still in development but you can purchase it through Desura (A steam like application for Indie dev's).  The gameplay of that game is amazing and really captures the survivalist nature of trying to get by in a living dead scenario.  I purchased it about 2 or 3 years ago for around $10 when it was just a demo in a tiny map, but it has really progressed since then.  It's not a triple A game with awesome graphics, but it is a great indie game with amazing gameplay.

More Zombification in real life... http://www.ehow.com/about_6112449_lancet-fluke-life-cycle.html

zombies are slow and not as brain active - pretty much one track mind.  Why else would they keep walking around looking for brains?  ;)

Ghouls are the fast and smart version.  You don't want to mess with these guys.  Think ghasts fall in here on the faster, smarter side, as well.

Ragmar said: However, I don't watch a ton of horror movies or play frightening games, like dead space, cause I'm pretty easily scared. 

I cannot play the Ocean House sequence in Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines at night at all. I have never seen a game sequence so brilliantly done that they can scare the pants off of you with absolutely no monsters whatsoever. I've played through that part at least 10 times, and it creeps me out perfectly every single time.

That was beautiful Ragmar:

"...slow zombies are fun to kite and laugh at..."