Zombie Enthusiasts?

[GothicRavenGoddess (3)]

Ok, no offense GRG, but SH didn't have zombies in it.

there was a zombie-ish creature, in the beginning, after the chick and the cop crash.... you know, explodes and acid stuff gets everywhere....

then the first time the "the darkness" takes over the town and those things come after her....

how about when she's trying to find the evil thing that the ppl in the church fear, and she comes across what appears to be nurses, all grouped together... and they start slashing at her, and end up cutting each other's throats, and she ends up leaving the flash light behind?

they aren't traditional zombies, but they weren't ghosts, or whatever... Zombie-ish... i liked them... better than most zombies that i have seen. I know that you aren't going to agree with me, but that's okay. I still love ya.

[livininxtcgoth]

I don't think we're denying that silent hill was a great movie, but I really dont think it can be classified as apart of the zombie genre.

I'm also in the category of Mark's wife--I LOVE zombie movies but zombies scare the shit out of me. On the rare nights I have to go back and sleep at my parents' house (instead of safely at slaugh's side) half the time i sleep with my clothes and shoes on, my keys next to me, and the heavy metal bedside lamp unplugged and ready to do some damage. I'm now having re-occurring zombie nightmares, just to make it worse. My parent's house is virtually the WORST house to be in during a zombie attack and therefore my family is under explicit instructions that if they should need to pee, get a drink of water, or let the dog out during the night they are to come directly to my room and speak intelligibly to let me know that they're not undead. We've also had a family meeting to discuss the importance of bite marks and NEVER letting anyone, no matter how distressed they may seem, in through any bedroom doorwalls.

There's a reason my myspace name is zombie paranoia 101...

Honey you forgot to mention how awesome Fido was, btw, and if anyone comes across "i,Zombie" GET IT and let us know where you found it!!

And seriously... we call the sugar gliders "the kids" and we treat them like they really are our babies. How many people do you know that name their offspring after horror movie gods? Thats right. We really are that warped.

[bav]

I don't think we're denying that silent hill was a great movie, but I really dont think it can be classified as apart of the zombie genre.

I'm also in the category of Mark's wife--I LOVE zombie movies but zombies scare the shit out of me. On the rare nights I have to go back and sleep at my parents' house (instead of safely at slaugh's side) half the time i sleep with my clothes and shoes on, my keys next to me, and the heavy metal bedside lamp unplugged and ready to do some damage. I'm now having re-occurring zombie nightmares, just to make it worse. My parent's house is virtually the WORST house to be in during a zombie attack and therefore my family is under explicit instructions that if they should need to pee, get a drink of water, or let the dog out during the night they are to come directly to my room and speak intelligibly to let me know that they're not undead. We've also had a family meeting to discuss the importance of bite marks and NEVER letting anyone, no matter how distressed they may seem, in through any bedroom doorwalls.

There's a reason my myspace name is zombie paranoia 101...

Honey you forgot to mention how awesome Fido was, btw, and if anyone comes across "i,Zombie" GET IT and let us know where you found it!!

And seriously... we call the sugar gliders "the kids" and we treat them like they really are our babies. How many people do you know that name their offspring after horror movie gods? Thats right. We really are that warped.

I do own a copy of I, Zombie on VHS. Some friends picked it up for me at some video store a couple of years ago as a gift.

[bav]

Oh, for all you zombie movie lovers -

Some friends of mine in Brooklyn made this a few years ago. Enjoy.

[Homicidalheathen]

I love zombies.......have studied actual (its a plant that knocks ya out and lowers breathing and blood preasure and can cause brain damage) zombies....and have seen every zombie movie ever made.

Oh and I go on zombie walks.

[Homicidalheathen]

Haitian Zombie Powder

Salt and Zombies

According to Haitian folklore, feeding salt to a zombie will return it to its senses. Often the zombie then attacks the bokor who created it or returns to its place of burial and dies. Ironically, tetrodotoxin works by blocking the sodium channels in muscle and nerve cells. However, there is no known cure for tetrodotoxin poisoning, and the amount of sodium in a few grains of salt is unlikely to have any physiological effect on a poisoned person.

Davis traveled to Haiti at the request of Dr. Nathan S. Kline, who theorized that a drug was responsible for Narcisse's experiences as a zombie. Since such a drug could have medical uses, particularly in the field of anesthesiology, Kline hoped to gather samples, analyze them and determine how they worked.

Davis learned that Haitians who believed in zombies believed that a bokor's sorcery -- not a poison or a drug -- created them. According to local lore, a bokor captures a victim's ti bon ange, or the part of the soul directly connected to an individual, to create a zombie. But during his research, Davis discovered that the bokor used complex powders, made from dried and ground plants and animals, in their rituals.

Davis collected eight samples of this zombie powder in four regions of Haiti. Their ingredients were not identical, but seven of the eight samples had four ingredients in common:

Photo courtesy MBL Marine Biology Laboratory

A puffer fish, an ingredient in zombie powder.

One or more species of puffer fish, which often contain a deadly neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin

A marine toad (Bufo marinus), which produces numerous toxic substances

A hyla tree frog (Osteopilus dominicensis), which secretes an irritating (but not deadly) substance

Human remains

In addition, the powders contained other plant and animal ingredients, like lizards and spiders, which would be likely to irritate the skin. Some even included ground glass.

The use of puffer fish intrigued Davis. Tetrodotoxin causes paralysis and death, and victims of tetrodotoxin poisoning often remain conscious until just before death. The paralysis prevents them from reacting to stimuli -- much like what Clairvius Narcisse described about his own death. Doctors have also documented cases in which people ingested tetrodotoxin and appeared dead but eventually made a complete recovery.

Photo courtesy USGS

Bufo marinus, an ingredient in zombie powder.

Davis theorized that the powder, applied topically, created irritation and breaks in the victim's skin. The tetrodotoxin could then pass into the bloodstream, paralyzing the victim and causing him to appear dead. The family would bury the victim, and the bokor would remove the body from the grave. If all had gone well, the poison would wear off and the victim would believe himself to be a zombie.

While Davis's theory is promising, it does have some holes. Next, we'll look at the controversy surrounding Davis's research.

Nature vs. Nurture?

Photo courtesy USDA

Datura stramonium, also known as jimson weed or zombie's cucumber

In Japan, puffer fish is a delicacy called fugu. Served raw and prepared by a competent chef, it contains only enough tetrodotoxin to cause tingling and lightheadedness. If a chef makes a mistake while preparing the fugu, the result can be deadly.

But when people eat toxic servings of fugu and recover, they are poisoning victims -- not zombies. Davis's theory is that culture and belief cause some Haitians to believe that they are zombies after recovering from the powder's effects. Some bokor also describe feeding zombies a paste that includes Datura stramonium, locally known as "zombie's cucumber." Called jimson weed in the U.S., this plant causes fever, hallucinations and amnesia, potentially strengthening a victim's belief that a real transformation has taken place.

Nature vs. Nurture?

Photo courtesy USDA

Datura stramonium, also known as jimson weed or zombie's cucumber

In Japan, puffer fish is a delicacy called fugu. Served raw and prepared by a competent chef, it contains only enough tetrodotoxin to cause tingling and lightheadedness. If a chef makes a mistake while preparing the fugu, the result can be deadly.

But when people eat toxic servings of fugu and recover, they are poisoning victims -- not zombies. Davis's theory is that culture and belief cause some Haitians to believe that they are zombies after recovering from the powder's effects. Some bokor also describe feeding zombies a paste that includes Datura stramonium, locally known as "zombie's cucumber." Called jimson weed in the U.S., this plant causes fever, hallucinations and amnesia, potentially strengthening a victim's belief that a real transformation has taken place.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/zombie1.htm

[Homicidalheathen]

Where is this, a zombie walk?

heh. i spent an evening ranting about zombies rights

3rd from left lecturing a livving person about having respect for the dead as i was mercilessly shot in the stomach while mooching my way home after a days office work

[livininxtcgoth]

I do own a copy of I, Zombie on VHS. Some friends picked it up for me at some video store a couple of years ago as a gift.

dammit thanks for the help but unfortunately it doesnt help much... any further developments would be extremely appreciated from anyone who could offer as such

[Head Wreck]

Where is this, a zombie walk?

a game, we were essentially an intelligent prop for the guys playing.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?...albumId=1247322

more pictures in there

[Kit Kat P]

concidering the fact that there are over 3,000 movies that the main subject is zombies...and somewhere around 500 more that just have them in the movie....i doubt it.

not to be a jerk, im sure you have seen alot.

not taking it that way, I know that I seriously haven't seen them all, just there are times when my gf gets 3 more zombie netflix it ust seems that way

[DJ Nocker]

I think im going to end up buying fido... it was really good....

[Homicidalheathen]

Anyone see Slither

I guess I had missed this one.....so bad its goood.

[sable_twilight]

I love zombie movies. They creep me out for a while after, but I still love them.