There are many film genres that develop a good scare for the audience. In recent years, the hot topic has revolved around zombies. Everything from The Walking Dead to rewatching American films like Zombieland and Wolrd War Z. Outside of the U.S., there are more than enough foreign films to quench the need for a zombie flick.
Some are graphic, gory, and outright mind-bending. Some of these films may give audiences chills and have them put on every light in their house. There are the occasional foreign films that combine the fear of the undead along with some satirical comedy. Let's take a look at what films need to be put on the must-watch list when in the mood for a good zombie scare.
CANADA: Ravenous (2017) - 5.9
For those who want to see Ravenous (or Les Affamés), Netflix has you covered. While this French-language Canadian film received a lower ranking from IMDb, it got high praise from the Toronto Film Festival and the Canadian Screen Awards.
Ravenous takes place after a zombie outbreak in the rural areas of Quebec. Two friends and watch guards become entangled in a rescue mission to bring back survivors to safety. Along the way, they meet more allies and dispute the possibility of continuing their journey along Route 113.
FRANCE: The Night Eats The World (2018) - 6.0
Originally titled La Nuit a Dévoré Le Monde, this film is based on a novel of the same name by Pit Agarman. Critics felt that it explored aspects of the zombie genre that haven't been seen before, specifically the psychological burdens of being the lone survivor in a zombie apocalypse. However, some felt the film lacked the bone-chilling action needed for a zombie film.
The Night Eats The World centers around Sam, a musician in Paris who makes the journey to his ex-girlfriend's place. In a strange occurrence, he passes out as commotion erupts outside the apartment. He wakes up only to find himself in the midst of a zombie outbreak and shelters himself in an apartment for survival, where his crumbling sanity becomes as big a threat as the undead.
SOUTH KOREA: #Alive (2020) - 6.3
Released through Netflix for the international market, #Alive revolves around a video game streamer who finds himself in the worst possible situation. Just as he starts his day, his online friends notice a commotion on the news. He is trapped in his apartment as a zombie apocalypse breaks out across the nation.
He must now find a way to ration his supplies and survive as zombies roam the complex. He soon becomes friends with another survivor, but will they survive? The film received a high viewership count on its opening day in South Korea and rapidly made the top 10 watch list on Netflix after its online debut.
BRITAIN: The Girl With All The Gifts (2016) - 6.6
While The Girl With All The Gifts was released in the U.S. theaters in 2016, it's really a British film. The post-apocalyptic science fiction film took a different route to zombies than most viewers are used to. In this dystopian future, a viral fungal infection has turned majority of the population into zombies and wiped out almost all of mankind.
A group of scientists and soldiers try to protect a special second-generation child. She craves flesh but still holds the cognitive thinking of a normal human. The adults protecting her hope that she's the cure to the infection, though the truth she represents may not be what they expect. Critics praised the film for its thought-provoking morality and questions that were asked against the backdrop of effective scares and the fear of the undead.
THAILAND: Phobia 2 (2009) - 6.7
Phobia 2 is only one part zombie film, but that doesn't negate the fact that it's worth a watch. Specifically, it's an anthology divided into five shorts that are equally horrifying and scary. The story that focuses on the undead in the form of zombies is "Backpackers."
Two Japanese travelers are able to get help from a passing truck driver, but realize something is terribly wrong. It's revealed that the bodies in the back of the truck were used as drug mules but they soon become undead. The rest of the stories deal with everything from ghosts, spirits, possession and heinous killings. Phobia 2 was a major hit in Thailand and even had the country's highest opening week ever.
SPAIN: [REC] 2 (2009) - 7.4
Rec 2 was filmed in the form of found footage, similar to the popular and highly influential The Blair Witch Trial. The film is part of a film series with the first film, Rec having premiered in 2007. Both the first and sequel film received the IMDb ranking of 7.4.
The sequel takes place immediately after the events of the first. A deadly virus has turned the residents of building complex into ravenous zombies. Rec 2 continues the story of a doctor and a SWAT team entering the quarantined area to investigate. They find themselves trying to survive brutal attacks from zombies and something they never imagined.
SOUTH KOREA: Train To Busan (2016) - 7.6
Before the global success of Parasite, South Korean films have been on the rise. This explosion in popularity is often credited to Train to Busan, a highly regarded action-packed zombie film It tells the story of a man and his daughter trying to survive after a zombie apocalypse breaks out on their train. They and a group of survivors try to fight off hungry zombies while trying to reach a designated safe zone in Busan.
The film became one of the highest-grossing South Korean films in other Asian countries. Many praised Train to Busan for its thrilling take on zombies while still depicting societal issues, with its social commentary being regarded as one of its high points. A sequel, Peninsula, was released this year but it scored much lower compared to its predecessor.
BRITAIN: 28 Days Later (2002) - 7.6
28 Days Later details a failing society after the accidental release of a deadly virus, focusing on survivors as they try to piece together remnants of their old life while trying to remain human, both physically and morally. Truth be told, 28 Days Later's premise might sound a bit too familiar to zombie veterans but that's only because so many copied it in the wake of its success.
The film was praised for reinvigorating the bombarded zombie genre. Critics also felt the film popularized the fast-moving infected (not undead) that have since become a staple of the modern zombie tale. The film's success led to a sequel and comics, with a third film (tentatively titled 28 Months Later) supposedly in the works.
JAPAN: One Cut Of The Dead (2017) - 7.9
One Cut of the Dead is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys the gore of horror with some comedic remarks. The film was relatively low budget and had a cast of then-unknown actors, but has since gained traction after it was released internationally.
Here, a director and his crew are filming a zombie film at an abandoned facility. After a dispute, the director storms off but comes back to discover a real zombie apocalypse has occurred. Seeing it as an opportunity, he keeps the cameras rolling, documenting the entire experience of trying to survive. However, that's just where things get started.
BRITAIN: Shaun Of The Dead (2004) - 7.9
It goes without saying that Shaun of the Dead is one of the most popular satire/zombie/comedy films ever released. Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, who has no real purpose in life and resigns himself to a bleak and uneventful future. He's become so jaded that he's unaware of the havoc occurring around him. He and his best friend Ed only realize a zombie outbreak's happening when a zombie barges into their house, and they now must fight their way to a safe zone. Their sanctuary? The local pub.
Shaun of the Dead became a cult phenomenon and makes tons of references to many classic horror films and zombie tropes, but with a comedic twist. Critics described the film as being gloriously gory and witty. Shaun of the Dead proved to be so popular that it had two spiritual successors in Hot Fuzz and The World's End, both equally satirical deconstructions of different genres.