Fancy a fright night? Here are 9 great zombie films and series you can watch in the UAE

'The Walking Dead' and 'Zombieland' are among the dramas and comedies that make for some of the most entertaining watches in the genre

A scene from season four of 'The Walking Dead'. Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Anyone who enjoys a good zombie flick will know that American filmmaker George A Romero is the king of these. His films include Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985).

This list does not include any of those, though. Instead, this is a round-up of some of the best options that are easily available to us here in the UAE, via one of our video-on-demand services.

Some of the subject matter may feel a little close to home at the moment, as many take place amid or after a pandemic, but remember: it is all pure entertainment in the name of escapism.

So, Enjoy.

'The Walking Dead'

This highly-rated series is available on Netflix Middle East and follows a group of survivors led by police officer Rick Grimes, as they search for a safe space to live during a zombie apocalypse in the US. It is has had fans of the genre riveted for a decade and after 10 seasons, it is still ongoing. The major draw is its focus on character-driven plots.

'Zombieland'

This 2009 film, which is also on Netflix, is more of a comedy than a horror, but it's no less a zombie movie than any other – and it is just as enjoyable. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) are survivors of a zombie epidemic in the US. We follow them as they make their way across America, heading towards Pacific Playground, a theme park the sisters loved in their childhood. They must play by Columbus's carefully considered set of rules in order to survive.

'28 Days Later'

Danny Boyle directed this post-apocalyptic horror film back in 2002 and it's still as good as it was back then. The opening scene in particular, when survivor Jim (Cillian Murphy) walks through an empty London following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus. The film hones in on the stories of four survivors, as they cope with the breakdown of society as they know it and the creatures that lurk in the shadows. The film is available on OSN.

iZombie

The name of this show might be a little off-putting, but it's actually a really entertaining watch. The American comedy-drama ran for five seasons, ending in 2019, and they are all available on Netflix. Doctor-turned-zombie Liv (Rose McIver) takes up a job in a morgue to satisfy her craving for human flesh, but she is also helping the Seattle Police solve crimes. Soon, she finds she is absorbing the memories of the people she eats.

'Santa Clarita Diet'

This Netflix Original comedy show was cancelled after three seasons, but it was a genuinely good watch, so we are not sure why. Drew Barrymore plays Sheila, who dies and wakes up as a zombie with a taste for human flesh. Her doting husband, Joel, played by Timothy Olyphant, helps her stay under the radar by aiding her in her mission to only slay and feast on bad people. At the same time, they are trying to remain good parents to their daughter, who eventually learns the truth.

'Shaun of the Dead'

This is a classic British comedy from 2004 that never gets old. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up to play pals Shaun and Ed, as London finds itself in the middle of a zombie uprising. Shaun is an electronics salesman with no direction (metaphorically a zombie in his own life), and Ed is his best friend, who has even less ambition. Suddenly, they find themselves battling the "undead" and trying to get across London city to find refuge in their favourite pub with their loved ones. You will have a good laugh as they do. Find it on Amazon Prime.

'The Evil Dead'

True zombie fans will already know this 1981 film well, as it spawned a whole franchise, including two sequels, video games, comic books and a TV series, Ash vs Evil Dead (which is available on Netflix). The American supernatural horror film, which you can rent or buy on Apple TV from Dh14.99, was written and directed by Sam Raimi. It follows five friends as they travel to a remote cabin in the woods where they inadvertently manage to release a legion of monsters and demons and undead. One by one, they succumb to the deadly forces.

'Z Nation'

This TV series on Netflix is no Walking Dead, but it is a down-to-earth, low-budget watch for diehard fans of the genre. There are five seasons in total, and it all takes place several years after a zombie virus has swept through America, leaving only one known survivor: Murphy. Turns out, he is everybody's last hope at creating a vaccine. The mission is to get him from New York to the last functioning viral lab in California, and save the planet. There is even a zombie baby in this one.

'Cargo'

Martin Freeman stars in this 2017 Australian zombie horror-drama that is based on a 2013 short film of the same name. It takes place in the aftermath of a pandemic, as an infected Freeman searches for a new home for his child and a way to protect her from his own fast-evolving nature. Ultimately, it brings some fresh ideas to a genre that can be fairly formulaic.