Few video game franchises have played such an important role in the inception and development of a genre as Resident Evil. Its perplexing puzzles, eerie environments, and spine-chilling scenes remain unrivaled in the world of gaming even today. That’s not to say though that there aren’t other ways to experience the same measure of macabre.
While the Milla Jovovich movies aren’t a bad jumping-off point, there are plenty of better supernatural horror movies out there for those seeking those signature Resident Evil vibes. Not all of them center around zombies, but they each offer some truly terrifying moments and are a great way to get in the mood for Resident Evil 8.
10 Dawn Of The Dead (2004)
While nowhere near as influential as the 1978 original, Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead is still a fantastic movie. The zombies are much faster than the ones found in the original and this helps to create a much more immediate threat, albeit at the cost of dramatic tension. It does work well though and leads to its fair share of truly disgusting moments.
Where the movie falls a little flat, however, is in its plot, which begins to feel somewhat irrelevant after the first thirty minutes or so. That said, those who choose to watch the movie probably aren’t looking for an intricate narrative and so the lack thereof shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
9 REC (2008)
Following the success of The Blair Witch Project, found-footage movies became incredibly popular around the turn of the century. Few, however, have been able to recapture the brilliance of the 1999 classic quite as well as REC.
The movie takes place in an apartment building in Barcelona and documents the spread of a deadly virus that turns people into flesh-hungry cannibals. Manuela Velasco’s performance as Angela is incredibly believable and the shaky camera work really helps viewers to sense Pablo’s fear without ever needing to see his reactions.
8 Alien (1979)
The feelings of dread that the Xenomorph evokes as it stalks the cast of Alien are somewhat reminiscent of the ones brought on by the likes of Nemesis and Mr. X. Granted, their appearances may be incredibly different, but they are every bit as terrifying.
Much like the facilities and mansions through which players are made to navigate in the Resident Evil series, the cold and deserted corridors of the Nostromo are the perfect setting for chaos and do a wonderful job of creating a feeling of real isolation. It’s not all about tension though, with some terrifying jump scares and gory fatalities periodically reminding viewers of the ever-present danger.
7 World War Z (2013)
Although loosely based on the 2006 novel of the same name, World War Z bears all the hallmarks of an action movie rather than landing squarely in the horror genre. It certainly has its fair share of terrifying moments, but its mile a minute pacing and explosive encounters lead to a somewhat indeterminate experience.
While the movie may lack a real sense of identity as a result of this, the non-stop action did help to make it one of the most commercially successful zombie movies ever made. Those looking for an engaging story are better off elsewhere, but anybody who just wants to see some zombies and be entertained is definitely in the right place.
6 I Am Legend (2007)
There have been several movies based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel I Am Legend, but the 2007 Will Smith adaptation is perhaps the most exciting. Sure, it’s not as faithful to the source material as The Last Man on Earth nor is it anywhere near as charming as The Omega Man. As a post-apocalyptic thriller, however, it ticks all the right boxes.
While the darkseekers are more like vampires than they are zombies, the threat that they pose is every bit as real. The special effects are a little weak in places, but a strong Will Smith performance and some beautiful sequencing more than make up for this. Dog lovers may want to give it a miss though.
5 28 Days Later (2002)
Set 28 days after a deadly pandemic causes society to breakdown, 28 Days Later is one of Danny Boyle’s finest movies. It may not have received the same level of acclaim as the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting, but the wonderful pacing, top-notch cinematography, and unapologetic violence really do make for a great viewing experience.
It’s one of the few zombie movies out there that offers a coherent narrative rather than relying solely on cheap jump scares and graphic scenes of violence. That’s not to say there’s no gore to be found in the movie, but it’s used a little more sparingly which in turn helps to make it a lot more terrifying when it does eventually occur.
4 Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Night of the Living Dead might not be the best zombie movie ever made, nor is it even the best one made by George A. Romero (that honor goes to Dawn of the Dead). It is, however, an incredibly important movie that has both led to and inspired some of the greatest horror movies ever made. Put simply, Night of the Living Dead is to zombie movies what Resident Evil is to survival horror games. It’s worth watching for that reason alone, although it’s still a very good movie in its own right.
It’s quite a bit more subtle than some of the genre’s more recent offerings and the dawdling pace of the zombies presents a very different kind of threat. They’re just as deadly when they do catch up though and the realistic gore does a fantastic job of demonstrating this fact. Every shot is purposefully composed and the editing offers a masterclass on how to build tension using cuts.
3 Wyrmwood (2014)
The team behind Wyrmwood did not have the luxury of a big budget or an all-star cast. What they did have, however, was a wonderfully original idea and the passion required to bring that idea to fruition. The resulting movie is one of the hidden gems of the past decade.
As well as the hordes of mindless zombies, the movie’s main protagonist, Barry, must also contend with a troop of sinister soldiers as he attempts to rescue his sister. When he finally catches up with her, there’s an interesting plot twist that helps to provide a unique and satisfying climax.
2 Underworld (2003)
Although centered around vampires and werewolves, there are a lot of similarities to be drawn between Underworld and Resident Evil; the most notable being its gritty tone and foreboding atmosphere. It also provides a healthy dose of graphic violence and some fairly interesting characters too.
There’s not too much of a story to speak of, but the stylized visuals provide plenty of bite and make for a highly entertaining – albeit incredibly one dimensional – action-horror flick. Both a prequel and a sequel were later released, but neither one quite managed to top the original.
1 The Evil Dead (1981)
After finding and reading a mysterious book, Ash Williams and his friends accidentally unleash a wave of evil upon the woods in which they’re staying. As one by one his friends become possessed, Ash has to make some incredibly difficult decisions in order to keep himself alive.
The deserted cabin in and around which the bulk of The Evil Dead takes place serves as the perfect setting for some truly terrifying scenes whilst the fantastic prosthetics and makeup help to make every scratch and slash feel real. Its over the top gore and brutal action scenes led to the movie garnering a cult following as well as two fairly successful sequels and numerous video game adaptations.
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