Mythical creature debate in horror films

In a debate between the most mythical creatures from horror films, the vampire and the zombie are pitted against each other. Both return us to our anxieties about death, though they do not all hit the same spot that hurts: fear of dependence for the one who needs his daily ration of blood or the fear of degeneration for the one who is falling apart.

Zombie's historical roots

The zombie's origins are historically proven, with documentation dating back to the 17th century via the slave trade in Western Africa to Haiti. The vampire, on the other hand, descends from an authentic star, Dracula (or "son of the dragon" in Romanian), alias Vlad Tepes, a 15th-century Wallachian prince who inspired the famous novel Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897).

Zombie as a cultural symbol

The zombie is often associated with times of crisis, serving as a metaphor for social issues such as colonial power, racism, capitalist society, social exploitation, inequalities, and the condition of women. Unlike the vampire, the zombie is on the move, a hero of counter-culture and a Marxist trend, with "No future" as its slogan and George A. Romero as its leader.

Vampire's appeal and portrayal

The vampire is considered more fascinating, with death being sexy and the vampire capable of moving from seduction to nightmare. The vampire's charm is exemplified by actors such as Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman, who combined charm and terror in their portrayals. The zombie, while lacking in charisma, is seen as whole and exclusively devoted to its cause, the survival of its species, and is known for its infallible sense of smell, even when it has no nose.

Efficiency in horror

In terms of efficiency, the zombie stands out, moving in tribes and learning from its mistakes to refine its predatory intelligence. The zombie is also noted for its creative murderousness and gore, such as in Brain Dead or eye impalement by Lucio Fulci. The vampire, on the other hand, prefers quality to quantity, often opting for a cup of virgin blood over mass killings. Some vampires even prefer synthetic blood, as seen in the series True Blood.

Popularity and cultural impact

In terms of popularity, vampires have historically excited teenagers, with the sparkling vampires of Twilight led by Robert Pattinson. Vampires have been the elite of the supernatural people, played by stars such as David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve. Zombies, while not having leading men or leading women in the main role, have their share of pop attitude, with quality cameos from actors such as Bill Murray, Javier Bardem, Michelle Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, and Iggy Pop.

Draw in the undead league

The final score is a draw, with the international league of the undead waiting for its hour. The horror film Vampire-Zombies from Space, released only in VOD, had already announced the vampire-zombie rapprochement.