Recently a friend asked me why I like zombie movies. On the spot I couldn't really pin it down, but it reminded me that I always wanted to write an elaborate, self-important and semi-ironic blog post about exactly that matter. So, here it is, my try at describing what fascinates me about the undead, the post-apocalypse and the people living in a world that isn't very pretty at first glance.

Just think about it: empty supermarkets that are open 24/7 and everything is free. Vacant streets. No more phone calls. No queues anywhere; no people blocking your path. To me that sounds pretty awesome. I don't know about you, but I'd love to have a bit more personal space in the subway cart…

Sure, all that comes at a pretty steep price, but we are talking hypotheticals and fascination here. Once it happened, I'd consider those some the (very) bright sides.

A zombiefied reality is a bit like a land of cockaigne – with zombies, unfortunately. But a society decimated by a zombie infection, essentially is a post-scarcity society: there's enough stuff left to live on, and there is no need anymore for a framework that forces people to do things. Yes, it isn't very sustainable and it's living on resources that are going to run out eventually – but who are we to talk about that.

I also think I'd prefer a world where people don't wear masks. Where nice people actually are nice, and where assholes aren't forced to pretend. I guess we'd have a much easier and less painful life, if we all were forced to be a bit more honest. And beit by flesh-eating zombie hordes.

Love is so very easy to find in zombie movies: Even if there are only 10 people still alive, protagonists will eventually end up with someone to hug and kill zombies with.

That's a very optimistic outlook on these things as far as I'm considered. I guess I'd accept a bit of zombie-infection if it would make finding true love easier… Thinking about it, the whole thing is pretty romantic, if you ask me: "You and me, against everyone else." – "You are literally the only person on earth for me." – And what could be more romantic to risk your life to rescue the one you love from certain death? Pretty much every day?

So, yeah. I think zombie movies sometimes are very romantic in their idealistic portrayal of love. I'm still waiting for a zombie romantic comedy, btw. (zom-rom-com ftw!)

The hacker in me is fascinated by the prospect of having a world to play with. The need to improvise some infrastructure from the abundance of another one. The imperative and ability to fix, build and invent your own, just because you have to.

If you are pretty much the only sentient being still around, the world becomes your playground. Yes, a zombie-infested playground, but still a playground, nonetheless.

It's a strangely attractive thought to just start anew, in an effort to come up with something better and more real.

Apart from obvious social criticism that is immanent in the concept of zombies, there is also an argument to be made that they ultimately force survivors to become better – or at least more honest – people.

In a world with zombies you better fucking carpe diem. There's no time to be depressed, to contemplate the fairness of life or to write inane blog posts. Zombies are a personification of our mortality. The danger that you or someone you love just isn't there anymore tomorrow. Or in an hour.

Zombies force people to set priorites. I never saw anyone in a zombie movie using a GTD app. Good zombie stories always reveal a lot about their protagonists, because the confrontation with immediate danger and no-win situations forces them to show who they are. There also usually isn't much cast to begin with, so character development is a must.

So, in closing, I think I like zombie movies, because they are utopian, romantic, empowering, revealing and idealistic. And I like them, because at their core the are always human interest stories. At least the good ones.