Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Planet Terror introduces NQD to yet another type of zombie: the biochemical-warfare induced mutant! Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror was released as one-half of the Grindhouse production alongside Quentin Tarantino's Deathproof. Arguably and demonstrably the more successful of the two, Planet Terror follows a ragtag group just trying to survive: a go-go dancer, her ex-lover, an unhappily married pair of doctors, the town sheriff, and the sheriff's BBQ-joint running brother. Discussion points include: tongue abscesses, campy quantities of blood, unnecessary director self-inserts.

NQD tackles their first Uwe Boll-directed movie, and it lives up to his reputation! House of the Dead (2003) is a zombie movie of contradictions - so much death, yet so very boring. A group of friends are going to a rave on a remote rainforest island, but quickly discover zombies are on the rampage. With help from the smuggling boat crewmen that took them to the island, a handful of ravers, and a harbor patrolwoman, the friends attempt to kill as many zombies as they can. Discussion points include: video game cut scenes, immortal Spanish priests, movie references or ripoffs?

The Girl with all the Gifts is a beautiful, thought-provoking zombie movie. We loved it and we think you will too! It's a criminally under-watched film, so make sure to add it to your rental queue! Melanie, a zombie-human hybrid child, escapes the military compound she's lived her whole life in and helps guide a group of humans across London. Discussion points include: alignment charts, military compounds, next-generation zombies.

Milla Jovovich, how we love you. NQD is bringing you the original 2002 Resident Evil, the very first in a five movie franchise. Special guest David Celarie from the horror movie podcast Knight Light joins us to discuss all of the gruesome action and play a special game! Jovovich fights off amnesia, zombies, and a shady tech company in this horror-action flick. Discussion points include: video game adaptations, memory loss, evil mega-corporations.

It’s World War Z, the blockbuster sensation filled with the fastest zombies we’ve ever seen.  Based on a global best-selling book, WWZ is an action-packed jaunt around the world with Brad Pitt at the helm as UN special investigator.  Discussion points include: plane crash scenes, traumatized spare children, unnecessary family plot. 

A remake that’s…pretty good! Dawn of the Dead is already a zombie classic, and while this version doesn’t update much, it does place us squarely in the early 2000s. Special guests High on Film’s Brad Davis and Chris Maxwell join us for this action-packed episode!  Before he was releasing cuts of DC movies, Zack Snyder directed the remake of Dawn of the Dead. Featuring the iconic mall setting and a creepy little zombie baby, it’s a modern classic!  Discussion points include: mall theft, power-tripping security guards, and the saddest chess game ever. 

Lupita Nyong'o stars as the cutest zombie killing teacher ever in the Hulu-released horror-comedy flick Little Monsters (2019). Slacker Dave joins his young nephew on a field trip strictly to get closer to his cute teacher, Miss Audrey. Dave quickly learns he needs to take at least a little responsibility when the field trip has to face a horde of zombies. Discussion points include: disrespectful houseguests, the slacker-to-hero storyline, children's entertainers.

Train to Busan was director Yeon Sang-ho's gift to the world in 2016. Edgar Wright of Shaun of the Dead fame calls it the best zombie film ever made - and who are we to disagree? Gong Yoo (known now for Squid Game) plays Seok-woo, a hedge fund manager who prioritized work over his family - until a zombie apocalypse traps him and his young daughter on a high speed train. They are up against zombies and the selfishness of their fellow passengers, making for a thrilling horror film. Discussion points include: undead animals, Korean horror themes, multiple villains.

Edgar Wright wraps his love of the zombie genre in many layers of era-specific humor in the buddy horror comedy Shaun of the Dead! Guest Jason Burk from Hemispheric Views joins us again to reminisce on this not-so-cult classic. Shaun is your typical Gen X slacker who shirks responsibility at every available opportunity. That is, until a zombie apocalypse arrives in his garden. With the help of his equally lame best friend, Shaun embarks on a quest to save his mum and ex-girlfriend, and maybe do a little bit of growing up along the way (but, probably not). Discussion points include: the loser hero's journey, hot skeletons, witty dialog, and - oh, wait, you've got red on you.

Director Danny Boyle reinvigorated the zombie genre with 2002's 28 Days Later. Cillian Murphy wakes up alone and naked in a hospital bed 28 days after a rage virus decimates England. Zombies, lack of resources, and some really gross military dudes round out some real horror in this episode! Discussion points include: how quickly men become terrible in a disaster, falling in love in an apocalypse, how to flag down help.