Zombies!!!! AHHH!!

There is something about the undead that fascinates us. Just the thought that we could come back from the dead and feed on other humans is frightening to think about. I can see why there is scary movie after scary movie made about zombies.

So we may ask what is a zombie exactly? A zombie is an animated human body devoid of a soul. Today we see them more as undead corpses.

Stories of zombies first originated with those that practiced Voodoo. According to their beliefs a corpse can be revived by a boker or by a voodoo sorcerer. The person that brought them back would have control of them. According to Haiti folklore there are reports of such beings. This of course has never been proven. But interesting all the same. The word Zombi came from the word nzambi which means "god". Zombi is another name of the Voodoo snake god Damballah Wedo. Haitian cultures state that there is a "zombie drug". Research has been done on some powerful drugs that can make a person seem like a zombie. This is done through brain damage and slowed bodily functions due to the drugs.

Today's zombie is most known for being a mindless decaying human corpse that preys on the brains and/or flesh of other human beings. This being the aftermath of some kind of scientific drug or experiment. The movies "Return of the living Dead" and "Resident Evil" follow this plot. In this case there was some sort of genetic alteration that caused the mutation of humans into the undead.

Sometimes the zombie being portrayed is not some mindless moaning creature wondering around. The best example of this was the movie "The Crow" in 1994. He came back to get revenge on those that murdered him and his girlfriend. Not to mention, he wasn't drooling and looking to eat brains. Majority of the time they come back to right a wrong that was done to them.

There are occasionally zombies that walk the earth due to some evil or satanic force. They are here to torture us that are living. "Evil Dead" a movie from 1982 had evil entities that possessed the living. Thus turning them into the zombies.

Zombies can be used for comedy relief too. Best film I have seen do this is "Shaun of the Dead" from 2004. The movie is based in a town where zombies are roaming the streets and contaminating others by biting them. I think one of the funniest scenes in that movie is where one of the main characters has his picture taken with a female zombie in his backyard. The two buddies go about saving those dear to them and finding a place to hide out until reinforcements arrive.

There is a new game that just came out for you XBOX 360 junkies. It is called "Dead Rising". This is what I call good zombie fun. Here you play a reporter in a mall that is infested with zombies. You can practically pick up anything in the mall and use it as a weapon. I suggest trying the lawn mower. You won't regret it. Of course there are always missions to beat and people to save. But I do love to occasionally go on a zombie killing spree.

Zombies have really become a craze in the media. I am looking forward to seeing what they come out with next!