Next week the Resident Evil 6 game comes out. My roommate and I have been playing the demo and we are inexplicably excited about it. We are not alone. This is one of the most anticipated games of the year. Thousands will line up for the midnight release.
I could sing praises for this game all day. Spectacular graphics, phenomenal voice actors, an enticing story line (from what we’ve seen in the demo), and intense, riveting gameplay. But looking beyond all of that I am curious - what is the appeal of zombies anyway?
 |
| One of the mutating zombies from the new Resident Evil. It's really quite disgusting actually. |
America is zombie-obsessed. Not only is our media infected with zombie movies, zombie video games, zombie books and all the corresponding merchandise, but this obsession has spread to the point that we’re dressing ourselves as zombies not just for Halloween, the usual time when it’s acceptable to douse oneself in fake blood, but for zombie walks (for charity or as protest), zombie proms (for charity), and zombie tag (purely for the fun of it).
College campuses across the nation are being overrun by the zombie obsession, but I’m not sure what the appeal of zombies really is, not only for others, but for myself. I am not a fan of violence in general. Borderline pacifist, I do not condone using violence against people or animals, yet there is something intoxicating about blasting through hordes of zombies in the Resident Evil or Left 4 Dead games.
Within the circles of gamers and zombie fanatics, there is intense discussion and debate about one would actually do if a zombie apocalypse were to happen. I myself have participated in such discussions, but only as a theoretical sort of thing I wouldn’t actually wish to happen. I have met several people who adamantly proclaimed they wished a zombie apocalypse would happen, that they hate the world as it is and things would be much better off afterwards. When I’ve heard such things, I find myself wanting to point out to these gamers that they would likely not survive such a catastrophic event. It would most likely be the jocks that they hate so much that would fare the best, or maybe boy scouts?
 |
| Some of the more appealing aspects of Resident Evil 6. |
The idea of running around shooting and looting things with no consequence might sound appealing to these zombie fanatics, but in fact, it would be terrifying. People everywhere going mad, trying to eat you while you are still very much alive...
That is a nightmare.
Having to gun down friends and family members who get infected by the virus...
Again, that is my definition of a nightmare.
Yet still, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Resident Evil 6 just like all the other zombie fans. So what is it about zombies that we love so much?
I always thought that as far as horror goes, zombies are pretty cuddly. You get the thrill of the chase but they aren't particularly evil. They can't help themselves. They aren't evil in a sentient way. There is no calculation in their act, no psychopathy to deal with.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe its some sort of latent desire to act out our aggression on people we know. Like Homer Simpson...
Ned Flanders: Hey, Simpson. I'm feeling a might peckish. Mind if I chew your ear?
[Homer kills Flanders by blasting his head apart with a shotgun]
Bart: Dad! You killed the zombie Flanders.
Homer: He was a zombie?
I don't know about you guys, but scary movies freak me out. Even if it is about something unrealistic. I just stick to comedy :DD
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday I watched the horror movie 28 Days Later, which is, you guessed it... about Zombies. I am the biggest chicken when it comes to horror movies so usually I hate them. The most gruesome and horrifying stagnant images replay in my mind and deprevate me from any sleep whatsoever. However, because to me the concept of zombies is so unrealistic and unbelievable I was able to have the experience of watching the movie and STILL being able to sleep. Therefore... zombie horror movies are the best for me :)
ReplyDeleteI must admit I myself am a bit of a zombie fan. My brother got me hooked on the tv series walking dead and we waited with baited breathe every week for the next episode. I even went as far as to tell my mother if it came down to a zombie apocalypse and she were to get infected, I wouldn't hesitate to put two in her head! Jokingly of course... or was I?!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that's one of the big questions we like to scare ourselves with when it comes to zombies. If a friend or a lover or family member was infected, would it just be survival instinct that kicked in and saved us? Or would we hesitate because of our emotions and end up being infected because of our hesitation? That's something they touch on in "28 Days Later," which yes, I do own.
ReplyDeleteI never stopped to think if I could ever actually pull the trigger on a familiar face. I think I could with one exception. I wouldn't want to live without this person. So if they were infected, I would willingly become a zombie snack. You think I should put that on the next Valentine's Day card? "I love you so much that if you were a zombie, I'd let you eat my brains?"
ReplyDeleteThere is a song that your comment reminds me of. I'll add it to my next post for you!
ReplyDeleteYay! More zombies!
ReplyDelete