Celebrate Howl-a-ween with the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary hasn’t hosted a Halloween event since 2018, but they’re looking to come back in a big way this year.
Marketing Manager Katie Forbis explained that the pandemic and a “skeleton crew” prevented them from putting on a community event for the past five years. Funding also played a big role in the return.
“With 70 animals and only a few humans, most of our time does go to the animals,” Forbis said.
“But we were finally at a place this year where we said ‘OK, deep breath, let’s do it, let’s open it up and let’s try to make it bigger and more fun than we did before.’”
This year’s event will take place on Oct. 26, and guests can visit the sanctuary anytime between 11 am and 6 pm that day.
A HOWLING GOOD TIME
Families will get to enjoy a multitude of fun activities, including a bounce house, a photo backdrop, a raffle, a haunted maze, and a chance to make enrichment items for the animals. Enrichment items often involve food and give the animals something unique to play with. Forbis said some of the Halloween-themed enrichment items people could make include paper towels stuffed with goodies, hot-dog “spiders,” and, of course, pumpkin carvings.
“We’ll give these items to the animals [later] to create a novel and unique experience for them so that way they have something new and fun every single day to interact with,” Forbis said.
She said the sanctuary plans to post photos and videos of the animals playing with the items people made after the event.
Forbis said a star would also make an appearance. Leia is an 8-year-old mid-content wolfdog. Wolfdogs have varying percentages of wolf DNA, but mid-content wolfdogs have anywhere from 50 to 80% wolf DNA.
Forbis said Leia will be stationed at the front of the sanctuary to greet people. Staff will also take her out on walks to interact with people and pose for photos.
The sanctuary uses encounter animals like Leia to help people understand wolfdogs. But it’s not about having the animals perform. Forbis said they let the animals lead the interactions for the most part.
“For our encounter animals we do emphasize that everything is consent based,” she explained. “So if Leia decides all of the people or the bounce house or whatever is too scary to make her want to interact, we’re not going to force her to do it. We don’t charge anything extra [for the encounters] because we don’t want the expectation of the animal to perform. We don’t want to exploit them in any way.”
But Forbis doesn’t foresee that being a problem with Leia.
“When we take her out for encounters during the week, she will refuse to go back into her enclosure because she’d rather be stay with the people,” she said.
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WOLVES
With the legend of the werewolf being a
prominent fixture during Halloween, Forbis said the sanctuary staff wants to use the Oct. 26 event as an opportunity to show people that wolves aren’t as scary as they may seem.
“It really gives us an opportunity to show people that wolves aren’t as scary as the media generally makes them seem,” Forbis said. “That’s why we’re doing these Keeper Chats throughout the event to help educate people on who wolves actually are, how they actually work, and that they’re not as scary as fairy tales, movies, and stories make them appear.”
Staff members will be spread out during the event giving “Keeper Talks,” which serve as educational tools to help them teach people about wolves. Forbis will be focusing on the size of wolves when she gives her Keeper Talk.
The average wolf weighs anywhere from 65 to 90 pounds. Forbis explained that contrary to what people may believe, wolves are actually terrible hunters.
“They have this reputation of being excellent hunters, but they’re success rate is under 15%,” Forbis said. “So most of the time they’re looking to eat, they’re going hungry.”
Wolves can travel anywhere from 20 to 40 miles a day when they’re hunting, and they typically keep up a trotting pace while doing so.
“What I like to say when I’m giving tours is ‘If I was jogging 20 miles a day and only eating 15% of the time I was hungry, I would sure be a lot more slim than I am right now,’” Forbis said.
When it comes to height, Forbis likes to
compare wolves to Great Danes. They have very long legs. The tallest animal currently living at the sanctuary is 32 inches tall at the shoulder. Forbis said when they jump up on their hind legs they can measure up to almost six feet tall.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WOLFDOGS Wolfdogs, on the other hand, are about 26-34 inches tall on average, and they can weigh anywhere from 60 to 120 pounds.
The breed is created when a wolf is bred with a dog, typically one of the Northern breeds, such as a German Shepard, a Siberian Husky, or an
Alaskan Malamute.
A wolfdog is categorized by the amount of wolf DNA within them. An animal with only 1-49% wolf DNA is considered a low-content wolfdog. Mid-content wolfdogs, such as Leia, have anywhere from 50 to74% wolf DNA, any animal with 75% or more is considered high-content.
When it comes to the rescues at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, all of them were born and raised in captivity. Forbis said this makes them ineligible to be released into the wild.
“With the animals in captivity that aren’t successful, it is mostly human error that ends up being the reason they need sanctuary,” Forbis
said. “And it’s not a problem with the animal’s behavior but more so the human expectation for these kiddos to act like dogs when they have a lot more of that wild behavior ingrained into their DNA.”
DONATING TO THE SANCTUARY Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is a non-profit organization. Forbis said they rarely receive federal funding, so they mainly rely on public and private donations. The sanctuary is located at 378 Candy Kitchen Rd. in Ramah. For more information about the organization, or to donate, visit their website http://wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org.
Sox, a 7-year-old high-content wolfdog, plays with a pumpkin at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. The sanctuary uses food as enrichment items for animals can play with. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
Happy Halloween!
MONDAY, OCT. 28
HORROR MOVIE TRIVIA
4 pm @ the UNMGallup Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). You’ve seen every horror movie out there, but can you answer questions and win or will you fall victim to Horror Movie Trivia?
TRUNK OR TREAT
and children, a cake walk, a pumpkin carving contest, and a scary moving screening.
CASTLE FURNITURE’S TRUNK OR TREAT 5 pm - 7 pm @ Castle Furniture parking lot (1308 Metro Ave. Unit C).
SUNDAY, OCT. 27
TRUNK OR TREAT
4 pm - 7 pm @ Golden Corral parking lot (600 N. 11th St.) There will be candy, a cake walk, a bouncy house, music, and face painting
3 pm - 5 pm @ CYFD Office (7220 E. Aztec Ave.) New Mexico’s Children, Youth, and Families Department is putting on a Trunk or Treat event! There will be food, games, costume contests, a pumpkin patch, and info booths.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
HOWL-OWEEN AT THE LIBRARY
4 pm - 7 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).E njoy a Halloween-themed performance by storyteller Denise Gard and her two amazing dogs, Joey and Kira. Check out OFPL’s Open Makerspace time, where you can make some special Halloween-themed projects. Costumes are encouraged.
THIRD ANNUAL PUBLIC SAFETY
TRUNK OR TREAT
4 pm - 8 pm @ Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center (400 Marguerite Franco Dr.). Candy, a costume contest, an obstacle course, and a cake walk are all a part of this fun event.
THURSDAY, OCT. 31
GALLUP ELKS LODGE HAUNTED HOUSE 6 pm - 9 pm @ the Gallup Elks Lodge (1112 Susan Ave.). Gallup Elks Lodge is hosting a family-friendly haunted house to raise drug awareness in our community. This event is open to all ages but designed especially for kids, with plenty of fun, candy, and spooky surprises! Come in costume, learn about making healthy choices, and enjoy a frightfully good time!
TRUNK OR TREAT 4 pm - 6 pm @ Rio West Mall (1300 W. Maloney Ave.).
TRUNK OR TREAT
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm @ Springhill Suites (1105 W. Lincoln Ave.). This event, which is sponsored by P & P Landscaping, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Gallup Chamber of Commerce will feature free candy, hotdogs, and soda. Hotdogs and sodas will only be available for the first 200 people.
HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT
4 pm @ the UNMGallup Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). Zollinger Library will be showing Paranorman.
Make writing horror less spooky
By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor
Joining the ranks of Stephen King, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Edgar Allan Poe may seem like a daunting task to aspiring writers. But local writer Ky George has some tips to help get people started.
George grew up knowing she wanted to be a writer. She got her Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2017. She decided to use her degree to go into education and moved to Gallup later that year.
Now, she’s the Head Director at Dził Ditł'ooí School of Empowerment Action and Perseverance, a charter school in Navajo, New Mexico. She eventually went back to school and completed her Master's in Fine Arts in Creative Writing in 2021.
Her MFA thesis was a science-fiction piece that featured zombie-like creatures and focused on the themes of colonization and environmental segregation.
While she stays busy leading the DEAP charter school, George said she sees writing as more of a side hustle. She’s written a multitude of flash fiction stories in the horror genre.
Flash fiction is classified as short stories that are a maximum of 1,500 words. They typically only include one or two scenes.
George said her flash fiction was inspired by her
Monster
Local author provides tips
solo camping stories, which she then fictionalized and gave a creepy edge.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR WRITING HORROR
George hosted a workshop with the Octavia Fellin Public Library on Oct. 5 entitled “Scary Stories: An Introduction to Writing Horror.”
Part of the workshop focused on five key components of any story: Voice, Plot, Setting, Characterization, and P.O.V. George said that she often tells new writers to start by visualizing their characters.
“I think a lot of the time [characterization] is one of the easiest places to start for young writers or people who are getting into writing for the first time,” she said. “It’s easy for us to imagine characters, and I think sometimes it’s harder to start with something like plot.”
She said it’s important for audiences to be able to connect with an author’s characters because that’s who they experience the story through.
King once said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: Read a lot and write a lot.”
George agreed completely with that advice, especially the part about reading.
“That’s especially true in horror,” she said. “You’ll start picking up on certain story structures, and once you learn them you can play with them, you can make them your own, but
you have to learn the rules first to break them.”
Doing all that reading could put self-doubt in one’s head, but George said writers shouldn’t compare themselves to one another.
“Because there’s already so much horror out there, I think sometimes it’s easy to get in your own head and say, ‘Oh this isn’t an original story, nobody’s going to want to read this’ when really that’s not true,” she said. “As long as you’re staying true to yourself and true to the story, I think it’s something that people are going to want to read.”
George said she’s hoping to do more writing workshops in the future. While this one was geared toward people ages 12 and up, she said she’s also interested in offering workshops for both adults and teens alike. As an educator, she has a special interest in helping preteens and teenagers with their writing.
“Writing can be a therapeutic hobby, something that’s really fun to do on the side,” she said. “And of course for young people, I want to see young people making the media of tomorrow, learning how to write and how to structure stories.”
One such workshop opportunity will come in November. The month is National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is an annual creative writing challenge where participants write a novel in
By Patti Diamond
marshmallow kabobs: A spooky treat on a stick!
hat’s better than a bunch of mis
chievous monsters? Monsters made of marshmallows on a stick, of course! Because, let’s face it, everything is more fun when it’s on a stick!
These Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are a festive and frightfully fun Halloween treat the whole family can create together. All you need are marshmallows and a few inexpensive decorating supplies to craft your very own marshmallow monster mash.
Monster marshmallow kabobs
• Marshmallows (regular or jumbo for extra spookiness)
• Bamboo skewers, lollipop sticks or straws (for little goblins, opt for straws or lollipop sticks for safety)
• Assorted decorating supplies: gelatin powder, colored sugars, candy melts, candy eyeballs, edible markers and melted chocolate
Line cookie sheets with wax paper to keep things tidy.
Gather small bowls and fill them with your spooky decorating materials.
Now, let’s create your creepy creatures!
Here’s how we created our spooky squad:
— Frankenstein’s Monster: Coat
marshmallow with green candy melts. Press mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles on top while the coating is tacky for “hair.” Add candy eyeballs, then use a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate to draw stitches, eyebrows and a ghoulish grin.
30 days. George plans to host OFPL’s NaNoWriMo Writing Group, which will meet every Tuesday in November. The group will serve as a support group for anyone looking to take on the challenge. To follow George and keep up with her writing, you can follow her on Instagram @kygeorgewrites. Her poetry has been featured in the University of New Mexico-Gallup’s Red Mesa Review” and the Oklahoma Review. You can purchase an anthology that features some of her work entitled “Workingman’s Hands” on bookshop.com.
orange gelatin marshmallows + dark chocolate = delicious!
— DIY Colored Sugars: Don’t have pre-colored sugar? No problem! Toss white sugar into a jar or bag, add food coloring (start with 6 drops and add more as needed) and shake it up until the sugar is vibrantly hued. Roll marshmallows in your homemade sugar for a colorful sugary coating.
three candy eyes and draw silly monster faces with melted chocolate.
Once hardened, pick and chocolate faces.
— Bloodshot
Monster Marshmallow Kabobs: A Spooky Treat on a Stick!
Eyeballs: Use red food coloring or an edible marker to draw bloodshot squiggles on marshmallows. Top with a candy eyeball for extra spook factor
What’s better than a bunch of mischievous monsters? Monsters made of marshmallows on a stick, of course! Because, let’s face it, everything is more fun when it’s on a stick!
— Pumpkin Faces: Dip marshmallows in orange gelatin powder, then use a toothpick dipped in chocolate to draw jack-o’-lantern faces. Add green candies on top for stems.
— Mummies: Dip marshmallows in white sugar, then drizzle with white candy melts for “bandages.” Attach candy eyes using melted chocolate.
Whether you’re hosting a Halloween bash or just adding a little spooky fun to snack time, these Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are sure to be a hit. Get creative, make memories and enjoy every sweet bite! Happy haunting!
These Monster Marshmallow Kabobs are a festive and frightfully fun Halloween treat the whole family can create together. All you need are marshmallows and a few inexpensive decorating supplies to craft your very own marshmallow monster mash.
Here’s what you’ll need:
— Marshmallows (regular or jumbo for extra spookiness)
— Bamboo skewers, lollipop sticks or straws (for little goblins, opt for straws or lollipop sticks for safety)
— Ghosts: Coat marshmallows with white candy melts, letting the excess pool at the bottom to form a ghostly shape. Once hardened, use a toothpick and chocolate to create spooky faces.
— Googly Monsters: Roll marshmallows in green sugar, then attach
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@ divasonadime.com
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc
— Assorted decorating supplies: gelatin powder, colored sugars, candy melts, candy eyeballs, edible markers and melted chocolate
Monster mash time:
— Candy Melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave (30-second increments, stirring in between) and dip marshmallows for a smooth, glossy coating. Pro tip: A teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil makes the candy coating easier to work with. Once coated, let them harden on wax paper.
— Googly Monsters: mallows in green three candy eyes and ster faces with melted
— Bloodshot Eyeballs: food coloring or an draw bloodshot squiggles mallows. Top with a extra spook factor. Bonus tips for a smooth sticking experience:
— Butter your before impaling lows — it makes ference! A little I used just a 1/4 whole bunch of skewers.
— For younger boo skewers for straws. If using ends at an angle them easier.
— Avoid choking toddlers by serving marshmallows on instead of kabobs. on those sugar
Ky George is the Head Director at Dził Ditł'ooí School of
Here’s how we created our spooky squad:
— Frankenstein’s Monster: Coat marshmallow with green candy melts.
candy eyes using melted
— Ghosts: Coat marshmallows white candy melts, pool at the bottom shape.
These monster marshmallow kabobs are the perfect Halloween treat.
CONGRATULATIONS
Isabella M.
Aniston H. Cooper Y.
Deysia S.
Dakota J.
Ja’la W.
Nika S.
Azariah J.
Madyson R.
Dalilah C.
Daveah J.
Ryleigh C.
Marleigh S.
Carter Y.
Paul R.
Lucas L.
Chico
Titus H.
Carter Y.
Stormy
CinnaBun
Savannah T.
Nala
Cooper Y.
Caius H.
Ayden H.
They want to eat your brains…
ENJOY THESE TOP-TIER ZOMBIE MOVIES THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON
IBy Glenn Kay For the Sun
t’s almost time for Halloween, which means that horror pictures are all the rage. One popular subgenre is the “Zombie” movie. I know a great deal about the subject and even authored a book on it nearly a decade ago. So, here is a very brief history of these pictures, along with plenty of recommendations. The film definition of “zombie” has changed a great deal over the years and it’s not as simple as it might initially seem.
In fact, the creature has changed over the years and continues to evolve. Its origins can be traced back to Haitian folklore, when zombies were mindless, soulless, slow-moving corpses raised from the dead by “voodoo” to do the bidding of a master or sorcerer.
After the 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, the term came to describe a walking corpse devoid of intelligence that was not under any person’s control. It would also feast on the living. Thanks to movies like 28 Days Later
in 2002, they suddenly became fast-moving, living humans infected with a virus. Still, this zombie infection is incurable, transforming them into the same mindless, soulless creatures seen in undead films of decades past.
As mentioned, the zombie itself doesn’t have a big personality, which has allowed filmmakers to alter characteristics and use them as metaphors for societal issues. While there’s nothing wrong with making a scary movie just for the fun of it, the genre’s best
movies use the undead to tackle greater issues.
If you’re looking for a place to start, the very first title is White Zombie (1932). Set in Haiti, Bela Lugosi (from the original Dracula) plays a voodoo master named Murder(!) who is asked by a local to use his powers and special drugs to turn a beautiful woman into a zombie. The film was a hit and is notable for being one of the most successful independent features ever produced. While the performances are exaggerated, the movie uses camera angles, including Dutch tilts, dissolves and close-ups in new and imaginative ways.
More than a decade later, independent filmmaker George A. Romero reinvented the zombie genre with Night of the Living Dead (1968), a film featuring the dead rising and brutally attacking locals. The differences here is that they are not being controlled by anyone and crave human flesh. The original is a chilling, tense masterpiece with cutting social commentary. The living characters are their own worst enemies, fighting among themselves and adding to their problems. Another incredible fact about this little zombie picture is that it is one of the first movies to feature a black protagonist.
I Walked with a Zombie (1943) is a powerful thriller set on a Caribbean island plantation. A nurse arrives to help a woman who is in a stupor. This atmospheric picture is beautifully shot and manages to insert a few allusions to the horrible treatment of locals and make a subtle jab or two toward colonialism.
As times changed in the 1950s and the country became more fearful of atom bombs, the Cold War and aliens, zombies began appearing in science-fiction and horror. Oddly enough, the most memorable feature was the notorious low-budget independent Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959). Considered one of the worst films ever made, it features aliens attempting an invasion of Earth by resurrecting the dead, almost like voodoo masters. The dialogue is laughable and everything about the movie is low-rent, but director Ed Wood has a distinct style (or anti-style) that is entertaining to watch. And there is a memorable scene of a zombie rising from the grave and stumbling slowly (while trying not to knock over homemade tombstones). It even co-stars Bela Lugosi (from White Zombie) in his final role.
Romero would continue in a similar vein with Land of the Dead (2005), depicting a new, walled-in society. When the leaders move into a high-rise and impose a class system, they forget about those struggling on the streets below. After one of the leader’s spurned employees threatens to open the gates and let the zombies in if his demands aren’t met, things devolve into chaos. The undead also begin to show signs of learning, becoming even more of a threat. It’s another strong entry.
Diary of the Dead (2008) shows the pitfalls of a society dependent on social media, and the underrated Survival of the Dead (2009) details two families living relatively safely on an island. They have the zombie problem under control, but partisanship and their personal vendettas lead to the fall of their paradise.
Throughout his career, Romero would return to the genre, always incorporating political and sociological themes. Dawn of the Dead (1978) is a brilliant follow-up that may even be better than the previous entry. The plot is grander in scope and involves a group of survivors locking themselves into a mall. They soon become complacent consumers. Images of the plaza filled with zombies are what many first think of in regards to this subgenre.
Day of the Dead (1985) was a grim but extremely effective chap
ter, with a final group of scientists and soldiers locked in an underground mine/military base. Instead of trying to rebuild society, the two camps squabble bitterly. It turns violent and soon zombies overrun the base.
On a lighter note, Romero’s excellent anthology Creepshow (1982) contains two fun segments featuring the undead out for revenge. They are called Father’s Day and Something to Tide You Over (1982). He even produced a decent remake of his original classic Night of the Living Dead (1990) that was directed by the man who created many of his make-up effects, Tom Savini.
Going back to the 1980s, there were other solid zombie pictures. If you haven’t seen it, Dead & Buried ( 1981) picks and chooses elements from earlier zombie incarnations. It’s about a town filled with strange, homicidal individuals who may not only be under the control of a sinister local, but might not even be alive. The creepy picture, written by Alien scribe Dan O’Bannon, features jarring moments and a memorable final twist.
One curious bit of trivia about the subgenre is that when Romero parted ways with his co-writer and producer John A. Russo after Night of the Living Dead, Russo was allowed to make his own series of pictures using the “Living Dead” moniker. One effort worked spectacularly well.
The Return of the Living Dead (1985) was written and directed by Dan O’Bannon, noted
above. It’s a horror picture and biting satire about a canister of noxious gas developed by the U.S. government. Hidden in a medical supply warehouse, employees accidentally open it, resulting in a zombie outbreak. These monsters devoured brains and were faster than the Romero undead. The movie is also notable for its depiction of the right-wing military and government, who are more interested in covering up their tracks than helping citizens.
C6 about plague and viruses at the forefront of the story, director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, and the Academy Award-winner Slumdog Millionaire) turned zombies into still-living but infected maniacs who lose all touch with their previous selves. It begins with a man waking up from a coma in a hospital and trying to adapt to a decimated, empty county. There are haunting images of empty downtown London and the film adds a critique of the ineffectiveness of the military.
Other notable titles from the ‘80s included Re-Animator (1985) and The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), the latter of which marked a return to Haitian lore. Very loosely based on a non-fiction book, the story involves a doctor traveling to the country to investigate drugs used in zombification, hoping to adapt them for medical use. Directed by Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street) the movie has some truly horrifying hallucination sequences and features a character being drugged and buried alive. It only falters in the final five minutes when supernatural elements are inserted into the story.
Once again, zombie pictures and horror in general began to falter in the 90s, so these films took on a more humorous slant. One of the goriest horror/comedies ever made is the New Zealand effort Dead /Alive (1992) aka Braindead , which features a young man dealing with an overbearing mother. When she turns into a flesh-eating zombie and infects his hometown, the lead must stand up for himself and sever ties.
It’s grotesque, but also one of the funniest and most visually inventive low-budget films of its era. The movie’s writer/director, Peter Jackson, would go on to win Oscars for his adaptations of the Lord of the Rings books.
Everything would change once again with the release of the British feature 28 Days Later (2002). Placing fears
organism responsible for the outbreak. Followups to these films aren’t as strong, but the first two movies are chilling, action-packed and deliver critiques of the Catholic Church and military.
The makers also produced an underrated sequel, 28 Weeks Later (2007), which is set after the UK government has reestablished control. It deals with a survivor who left his wife to die during the outbreak. When she appears alive in a hospital, he’s forced to come to terms with guilt over his decision, its impact on his family and the possibility of another reemergence of the virus.
Of course, there were still laughs to be had during this era. Shaun of the Dead (2004) is a brilliant comedy featuring Romero-esque zombies. The plot focuses on a young man who is also forced to take control and responsibility for his life when zombies appear in England.
Zombieland (2009) was another title with a great sense of humor and talented cast, poking fun at zombie tropes. The hero is an introverted young man using a series of self-devised rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse.
And internationally, the Spanish Rec series combined the fast-moving infected and first-person video footage to great effect. Initially presented as a series detailing a series of demonic possessions in an apartment complex, Rec (2007) followed a news reporter quarantined in the building and struggling to survive.
The sequel, Rec 2 (2009), picks up with a military team entering the complex. It is revealed that this is an infection and that the team must discover “patient zero,” who happens to be host to a nasty wormlike
In recent years, Warm Bodies (2013) tried to add something new to the formula… romance. A young dead man narrates this tale, explaining that while his movements have been impacted by a zombie infection and that he craves flesh, his thoughts are still human and coherent. Lonely for company, he bonds with a living woman. Alas, she is the daughter of a Colonel wanting to wipe out all zombies. The movie is funny, sweet and unique in its presentation of the innermost thoughts of a walking corpse.
If you enjoy international films, the South Korean effort Train to Busan (2016) is a winner. It borrows elements from other virus-inspired zombie pictures and adds disaster movie elements. Thankfully, the movie places its emphasis on the relationship between an estranged father and his little daughter. The dad must protect his child in closed quarters on a highspeed train with others from various backgrounds after a zombie infection spreads. This title is fastpaced yet chilling and leaves an impression.
Of course, there are many other notable titles, including the anthology Tales from the Crypt (specifically, the “Poetic Justice” segment) (1972), Deathdream (1974), Night of the Creeps (1986), Death Becomes Her (1992), Cemetery Man (1994) aka Dellamorte Dellamore, Fido (2006), World War Z (2013) and many others. They all deliver chills and enough unique elements to be worth your while.
Yes, there are all kinds of zombie pictures including many different versions of the undead. And they all count, as these creatures have slowly evolved from the original Haitian origins to represent basic fears of various eras. Recent undead fare has been waning a bit, but just as it has in the past, a new take on the monster will eventually appear and revive things once again.
VISIT: WWW. CINEMASTANCE.COM
Taylar Bennett worked on her costume for the upcoming spooky holiday during the