By Jim Harrington
The Mercury News
Missing “The Walking Dead”? Here are five great zombie movies that you can stream right now on Netflix. (Note: Some of these are also available through other services.)
“Train to Busan” (2016) — Let’s kick things off with director Yeon Sang-ho’s South Korean horror masterpiece, which ranks as the single best zombie movie of (at least) the last 10 years. The relentlessly emotional film manages to rise above the standard genre fare by showing extraordinary heart.
“Here Alone” (2017) — It’s an engrossing tale of a mother trying to survive in the woods after zombies have taken over the world. Director Rod Blackhurst does a splendid job in creating a convincingly horrifying world, rebuilt on dread, isolation and uncertainty.
“Cargo” (2018) — Martin Freeman is a great actor, who many know from playing the role of Bilbo Baggins from Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” movies, and he delivers another terrific performance in this Australian horror film. He plays Andy Rose, a father who has been bitten by a zombie and has roughly 48 hours to find a new caretaker for his daughter before he becomes one of the undead.
“Life After Beth” (2014) — Let’s catch our breath for a moment here, leaving the world of hardcore post-apocalyptic terror behind in favor of a little “rom zom com” (romantic zombie comedy). This fun flick addresses the difficulties that come with dating the undead and features an all-star cast of Aubrey Plaza (who plays Beth), Dane DeHaan, Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly, Anna Kendrick and Garry Marshall, in what was his final film appearance.
“The Girl with All the Gifts” (2016) — Melanie (Sennia Nanua) is part of a group of special children, who exhibit both human and zombie-like qualities. They are being studied by some government scientists, who hope these kids hold the key to saving civilization in a world overrun by zombies. Of course, things don’t quite turn out as those government scientists had hoped. (Shocker, we know.)