As you probably know by now I love a good zombie film. The idea of a post-apocalyptic world and flesh eating zombies hungry for human brains, for some reason is hugely fascinating to me, I’m not entirely sure why.
Ever since playing Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare years ago, I’ve wondered why we haven’t had a decent zombie movie set in the old west.
If you’re unfamiliar with the game, it’s an expansion pack to the original Red Dead Redemption released in 2010 by Rockstar Games.
This is what it’s about:
In the early 1900s, former outlaw John Marston must find the source of a zombie plague that’s swept across the frontier in an attempt to find a cure and restore order.
This game is amazing! I’ve played it several times over the years and it’s easily one of the best games I’ve ever played (beware of the headless glitch on Xbox though!). It’s so good in fact that I’m amazed it didn’t inspire a movie that plays on the same themes.
Love it or hate it, the 2011 Jon Favreau directed film Cowboys & Aliens (based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name) explored the idea of aliens coming to earth in the late 1800s in an attempt to take over the planet. The dastardly aliens however, foolishly begin their attack in the old west, which is promptly thwarted by a posse of cowboys and natives, with the help of some acquired alien technology.
I wasn’t overly impressed with the movie but I liked the concept. Most films from both the alien and zombie genres tend to be set either in present day or somewhere in the future. Few have been set in the past. Why not then make what could potentially turn out to be one of the greatest zombie movies ever made..?! It just seems like such an obvious idea!
Interestingly enough there is actually a film in existence that played with the idea I’m proposing. Sadly though it’s a low budget straight-to-video attempt made in 2011 called Cowboys & Zombies (original title The Dead and the Damned). I haven’t seen it but with a rating of 3.1 out of 10 on IMDb I can’t imagine it’s the movie I’ve dreamt of all these years.
I’m not even a big fan of the western genre, but if you’ve played Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare you’ll no doubt understand why I’m so keen to see a movie (or tv show) based on the idea of zombies in the old west. I just think it’s a great idea yet to be realised, especially in light of shows like Yellowstone and 1883, not to mention The Last of Us being so popular at the moment.
What do you think? And while you’re here let me know what your favourite zombie, and western films are in the comments.