American Ghoul – Ten Best American Zombie Films

As July ends, so does our tribute to the red, white, and ghoul. Many of us wonder what we’d do in an apocalypse. How long would we survive? Would we lose our humanity or becomes the heroes we crave to be? Truth is, we’re already creating a nightmare dystopian society, casting aside freedoms and replacing them with fearmongering, discrimination, intolerance, and violence.

Back in 1968, George A. Romero foresaw this great nation descending into chaos as gun culture and extremist ideals gained more popularity because of easy access to guns and lack of education. He saw a nation at war with itself long before the monsters showed up. His movies often contained scathing critiques of class warfare, over-militarization, moral corruption, and empty consumerism, all of which Americans still suffer greatly today.

Dawn of the Dead, 1978

Romero may have been psychic, as he didn’t think adding zombies would really change the American landscape all that much and I tend to agree. If we continue down this treacherous path, we won’t have much further to fall. The day Americans unite may very well be the day they drop the bomb.

George A. Romero

There’s one thing for certain though, you can count on the fight in America. Even the quietest, most gunshy American has a sense of revolution instilled in their soul. Communists, terrorists, extremists, zombies, we’ll fight them all! We’ll never lose that pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. It’s truly the American way.

With that in mind, here are my picks of the best ten American zombie films, showing the world our American fighting spirit!

  1. Night of the Living Dead, 1968
  2. Dawn of the Dead, 1978
  3. Day of the Dead, 1985
  4. Land of the Dead, 2005
  5. Dawn of the Dead, 2004
  6. Return of the Living Dead, 1985
  7. Zombieland, 2009
  8. Planet Terror, 2007
  9. Warm Bodies, 2013
  10. Maggie, 2015

Haiku of the Week

Part III of the Red, White, and Ghoul series.

give me liberty
or give me death
patriotic way

Image made with Starryai.

Haiku of the Week

Part II of the Red, White, and Ghoul series.

guns, mayhem, and strife
zombies on every corner
American ghoul

Image made with Starry ai.

Monthly Haiku Corner – July

Happy July! Summer is in full swing and Halloween countdown is on. Code orange alerts (fan notifications of retailers displaying seasonal products) are already being reported. America will soon be celebrating its 247 birthday and there’s nothing more American than the zombie film.

Chicago born director, Victor Halperin introduced audiences to the Haitian mythos of zombies when White Zombie opened in 1932, and in 1968, New York filmmaker George A Romero changed the Hollywood landscape forever with his first horror film, Night of the Living Dead. Yes, indeed, the zombies as American as Apple pie, which is why the theme this month is Red, White, and Ghoul. All haiku in July will connect to tell the story of a good ole fashioned American zombie apocalypse.

toxic egg salad
small town picnic gone awry
red, white, and ghoul

Best Nautical Horror Movies

Happy Summer! Tis the season for visiting the beach and taking boat rides across the seven seas. The theme this month has been June Doom and as recent events has shown us (orca boat attacks, lost Titanic sub, etc.), the ocean is still the Earth’s most dangerous playground. But, for as much as I love Jaws, shark horror is a dime a dozen, so I decided to go in a slightly different direction by sharing my picks of the best nautical horror that doesn’t involve sharks. From vengeful spirits to alien creatures hiding in the depths of the trenches, this list will give you plenty of reasons to stay on dry land. Check them out and leave me comment here or on Instagram to let me know what you thought.

It Came From Beneath the Sea, 1955
The Fog, 1980
Deep Rising, 1998
Leviathan, 1989
Deep Star Six, 1989
Below, 2002
Ghost Ship, 2002
Underwater, 2020

Haiku of the Week

Part IV and the conclusion of the June Doom series.

an angry god wakes
abrupt end to the voyage
Leviathan

Haiku of the Week

Part III of the June Doom series.

mysterious fog
shadows under the water
Kraken’s graveyard

Haiku of the Week

Part II of the June Doom series.

disappearing crew
rumors of siren songs
sea witch’s revenge

Monthly Haiku Corner – June

The theme this month is June Doom. All the haiku posted every Monday will connect to tell the tale of a seafaring crew’s dangerous ocean journey.

dark and gloomy day
omnious journey ahead
June doom

Haiku of the Week

Part V and the conclusion of May Mutant Monster series.

hunting the beast
following the blood trail
captured