There's a hidden meaning in a lot of zombie stories that many might not notice. While people watch zombie movies for the thrill, there's a deeper allure: the fantasy of living in a zombie apocalypse. Ryan Ary from Screen Crush explains how zombie tales have shifted from horror to wish-fulfillment fantasies.
Zombies originated from Haitian folklore, where they symbolized slavery. George Romero's 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead" redefined zombies as mindless, aimless creatures, bringing forth the concept of a zombie apocalypse. Following that, movies like "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead" reflected societal fears like consumerism and disease. These films highlight a greater threat: humans themselves.
The genre evolved as humans were depicted as the real antagonists, focusing on paranoia and fear of outsiders. In the 1990s, "Night of the Living Dead" remake marked a shift toward wish fulfillment, portraying characters who become heroes amidst the apocalypse.
Films like "Shaun of the Dead" and "Zombieland" embody the wish-fulfillment aspect of zombie stories. These narratives show how the apocalypse allows individuals to escape their mundane lives. They no longer worry about societal expectations and instead define themselves through survival. The freedom in a zombie apocalypse taps into the audience's subconscious desire to stand out as the "lone survivor" and escape the complexities of modern life.
In essence, while modern zombie tales can still terrify, they often serve as a canvas for viewers to project their wish-fantasies of being exceptional amidst a broken world.