I think slow zombies make more sense.
You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.
Comments (90)
sorted by:
IMO: Slow. With an explanation.
Depends on if the universe sticks to the observational rules the characters witness.
Slow zombies will be there for awhile. Not that scary, but always a background threat, for potentially months, maybe even a year. Slow also means far more quiet. No big footsteps, a bit more stealthy, harder to hear coming unless in large groups.
Fast zombies should in theory be easier to hear coming. They're also usually not zombies. It was a virus in the 28 days/weeks movies. They'll also burn their reserves out faster, unless they can find food. So, many at first, but there will be a lot less of them each and every day as they burn out and starve.
But the whole adenosine triphosphate issue would make neither of them actually be able to move if they're going with a science angle.
Not to mention that most zombie survival movies/comics/whatever don't have people searching for potable water very often. A bigger issue than the zombies.
So, slow if you're looking for more of a character driven story with heart and emotional connections, a sort of family bonding through shared experiences.
Or fast zombies for a more visceral action oriented thing like a movie where every moment to moment is won by being not killed by them until you find a clever macguffin solution.
Personally, I'd go with slow. More options, more zombies. They'll in theory last longer, always a threat, even a minor one. Going out from your safe spot to look through a store could mean the end of you if you are not careful. Even months after the incident that brought them about. If you use all the resources in one area, you can move to another and start from scratch with what you have and repeat what you've learned. Make a new safe zone, find food and water, etc.
Not entirely true, as slow zombies are usually also shambling and dragging either broken legs or simply unable to to lift their knees that far up to begin with. Which is why they are slow.
In a post-zombie world, where most background noises aren't as common, that sound will be easy to pick out. Especially if you are even slightly on guard.
I will forever be annoyed by movies or TV shows where the characters have realistic noise levels and you can hear the loud leaves shuffle and crunch in the Autumn forest...
But if a zombie is walking in said forest, it must be hoovering over the ground because they never make a fucking sound.
Even worse when they point out that the zombies will hear them but somehow they cannot hear the same zombies moving in the same minefield of noises.
Double so because the vast majority of slow zombies are also the "groaning and moaning" kind, but suddenly can just cease that noise to set up an ambush. Despite being shown to be otherwise braindead and acting on reflex or some other low form of thought, they can suddenly manage that.
Oh God you reminded me of a Walking Dead episode where there is a zombie outbreak in a crowded, silent building at night and, I shit you not, a zombie FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS didn't bother a single living meatbag.
Zombies only make sounds when dramatically appropriate. So many movies have ridiculous zombie jump scares and reveals that make zero sense.
Slow zombies are one of the worse things to be laid siege by. All they have is numbers and time. And almost all zombie stories are people fortifying themselves in someplace.