Kristie vs. AJ: 6 Films That We Think Define Zombie Horror

If there’s one thing horror fans love arguing about, it’s zombies. Slow or fast? Viral or undead? Social commentary or straight-up chaos?

Since AJ and I sometimes don't agree (in the best way possible), we decided it was time to settle our differences the only way we know how. We will be going head to head over some of our favorite film picks, starting with zombie horror. Now, we're not saying these films are the best of the genre. Just ones that we love. White Zombie (1932) started the subgenre off, Night of the Living Dead (1968) revolutionized it.

But let's get into these picks. I’m bringing the dread. AJ’s bringing the destruction. Let’s see who survives.

Kristie's Picks: Anxiety, Claustrophobia, and Realism

28 Weeks Later (2007)

When I think zombie horror, this film immediately comes to mind. 28 Weeks Later takes the raw panic of its predecessor and throws it into pure nightmare fuel. It’s not just about survival. It’s about what we’re willing to sacrifice for control. The opening chase alone? One of the most intense sequences ever filmed. The speed, the guilt, the loss; this movie feels like an outbreak.

REC (2007)

Found footage horror is hit or miss, but Paco Plaza's REC hits hard. The confined space, the chaos, and the slow unraveling of truth turn a simple “virus story” into a living terror. The sound design and night vision finale still get under my skin. It’s horror you feel in your chest. The entire second half feels like the walls are closing in and the fear of the unknown is lingering. Found footage and zombies? Why, yes. 

MaDs (2024)

This one’s lesser-known compared to the other films on this list but it's unforgettable. MadS is bleak, grounded, and terrifyingly human. There’s something special about smaller zombie stories that don’t rely on spectacle. MadS proves you can do apocalyptic horror with intimacy and still make it gut-wrenching. The scariest thing in the film isn’t the infection itself but how quickly we turn on each other, something that feels a lot like the world we are living in right now. The performances and the gritty, on take filming make this one a must-watch for zombie fans. 

AJ's Picks: Scale, Emotion, and Chaos

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

If you grew up on the original Romero films, Zack Snyder’s remake might’ve shocked you because these zombies can sprint. This film injected adrenaline into a genre that had gotten a little too slow (pun intended). It’s stylish, action-packed, and full of memorable, gory kills. It doesn’t overthink the metaphor; it just drops you into survival mode and dares you to keep up.

World War Z (2013)

Say what you will, but World War Z is global horror at its peak. From the Jerusalem wall scene to the swarm chaos, it captures scale like no other zombie movie. The pacing is relentless (until it isn't). This one isn't as much about character depth as it is about the overwhelming scope of infection. AJ loves that kind of world-ending spectacle, where humanity’s fragility is on full display which serves the main thread holding this narrative together. 

Train to Busan (2016)

This one is an emotional juggernaut in modern zombie cinema. Train to Busan reminds you that amidst all the blood and screams, horror can still make you feel. The pacing, the emotional stakes, the social commentary; it’s devastating in the best way. It's also an adrenaline-fueled, high energy ride. When it hits, it hits and doesn't let up. 

The Real Debate

What makes a great zombie film? Is it the claustrophobic fear of infection closing in, or the epic, heart-pounding chaos of civilization collapsing? Where for me the horror lies in the small human moments, for AJ it's the big picture of the world falling apart.

That’s the beauty of this genre: zombies can be a metaphor for anything: disease, capitalism, isolation, love, grief. Every infection story says something about us. 

Now it’s your turn. Whose apocalypse are you surviving? What are your top 3 zombie films?