Zombies have been terrifying audiences for decades, while wartime movies have long been exposing the horrors of humanity, so what cinematic pairing feels as natural (or as nightmarishly compelling) as zombies and war? Both thrive on chaos, fear, and the collapse of order.
From unhinged Nazi scientists and their deadly experiments to outbreaks on the frontlines of the Civil War, these 10 movies place undead zombie threats into what are already some of the harshest and most dangerous situations imaginable, creating something uniquely unsettling and irresistibly fascinating.
‘Outpost’ (2008)
Set somewhere in an Eastern European war zone, a ragtag group of experienced mercenaries find themselves in a world of pain after being hired to take a mysterious businessman into the woods to locate a World War II-era military bunker.
‘Outpost’ Lacks Depth But Excels in Creepy Zombie Design
Praised for its creepy zombie design and impressive use of limited resources, Outpost unfortunately falls short when it comes to crafting a compelling narrative and well-developed characters, making it an acceptable choice for a Halloween horror binge but little beyond that, with limited replay value.
‘Overlord’ (2018)
Overlord follows a group of American soldiers who are dropped behind enemy lines the day before D-Day and discover terrifying Nazi experiments. Splicing elements of revisionist war drama and zombie horror, it is a genre-bending ride that’s fun, frenetic, but never farcical.
‘Overlord’ Combines Elements of Horror, Action, and Drama to Great Effect
Released 10 years after Outpost, Overlord takes a similar premise and improves on it in pretty much every way conceivable. Currently holding an impressive 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics were impressed with its ability to seamlessly switch between taut action and all-out bloody horror without ever feeling uneven or forced. In fact, it’s the moments of dramatic restraint that make the ensuing zombie splatter-fest hit all the harder.
‘Horrors of War’ (2006)
American soldiers are sent on a mission to prevent Nazi scientists from creating a super serum to transform their victims into an unstoppable fighting force. Things go from bad to worse following their arrival, though, and they find themselves fighting for survival against hordes of supernatural monstrosities.
‘Horrors of War’ Is Overly Ambitious
Made on a shoestring budget, Horrors of War has all the right ideas – interesting characters, a fun premise, and plenty of potential for bloody chaos. However, its ambitions far exceed its abilities, and ultimately, the film was a muddled, uneven mess that never met its potential. Scoring an abysmal 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, most critics agreed that it was out of its depth, with the filmmakers lacking the budget and experience to deliver a decent wartime horror flick.
‘Exit Humanity’ (2011)
Set during the American Civil War, Exit Humanity follows a young man as he fights for survival following a horrific outbreak that transforms its victims into the living dead. Despite its outlandish premise, it delivers a surprisingly human story with just as much heart as there is guts and gore.
‘Exit Humanity’ Is Surprisingly Deep
While it went pretty much unnoticed among mainstream audiences, horror fans are likely to enjoy its unique setting, undead antics, and appearances from genre icons including Dee Wallace, Bill Mosley, and Brian Cox.
‘Valley of the Dead’ (2020)
Immediately setting itself apart in the crowded zombie genre, Valley of the Dead takes place during the Spanish Civil War. It follows two groups of warring soldiers who are forced to put their differences aside and work together when they encounter flesh-eating zombies created in a Nazi experiment.
‘Valley of the Dead’ Takes Place During the Spanish Civil War
Despite its unique setting, Valley of the Dead still tends to rely rather heavily on familiar zombie tropes. Fortunately, the acting and action make up for its lack of originality, delivering a chaotic and darkly comic zombie action movie that’s as exciting as it is scary.
‘Trench 11’ (2017)
Taking place near the end of the First World War, Trench 11 follows a group of Allied soldiers who are sent to investigate a secret German bunker where they discover the presence of a malevolent force. Where most movies on this list focus on zombie violence to frighten their audiences, Trench 11 leans into grotesque body horror, focusing on the gruesome design of the cannibalistic, infected zombie soldiers.
‘Trench 11’ Leans Heavily into Body Horror Territory
The movie was praised for its use of practical effects and its tense, claustrophobic atmosphere as the soldiers scramble for their lives in an attempt to escape the bunker. A relatively unknown indie horror, Trench 11 manages to feel fresh and gripping, delivering suspense and terror on a limited budget.
‘War of the Dead’ (2011)
Like many wartime zombie movies, War of the Dead follows a group of soldiers on a mission to seize a bunker taken over by the Germans only to encounter monstrous undead soldiers on a killing spree. What sets War of the Dead apart, though, is its emphasis on non-stop action, largely forgoing any sense of horror or character-driven drama found in its darker counterparts.
Non-Stop, High Octane Action
While War of the Dead revels in over-the-top violence and is unapologetically trashy and full of B-movie charm, the action sequences are surprisingly sleek and stylized and make up for the lack of genuine scares and horror moments one might expect from a zombie movie.
‘Platoon of the Dead’ (2009)
Written and directed by John Bowker, Platoon of the Dead follows three soldiers trapped in a supposedly abandoned house as a zombie platoon attacks. On paper, it’s another micro-budget horror gem — in practice, it’s a masterclass in how not to make one. Bowker, known for his hilariously awful horror output, somehow delivers a film that’s neither funny nor frightening. The acting is wooden, the effects are dismal, and the weapons — literally toy Star Wars blasters with Imperial logos still visible — are the only source of unintentional comedy.
‘Platoon of the Dead’ Fails To Deliver
Where Trench 11 and Outpost show how to stretch a small budget with creativity, Platoon of the Dead does the opposite. With zero character development and zero tension, it lands at a miserable 5% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 1.7 (out of 10) on IMDb. At one point, a character even tries to use a cell phone upside down, a moment that perfectly encapsulates the film’s utter lack of self-awareness. Not even “bad-movie” enthusiasts will find much joy here.
‘Revenge of the Zombies’ (1943)
While many zombie movies have retrospectively placed their undead antagonists into WWII’s Nazi era, Revenge of the Zombies was actually released at the height of the conflict. It features an unhinged Nazi scientist who attempts to create a zombie army to help the Third Reich win World War II.
‘Revenge of the Zombies’ is an Early Zom-Com Movie
Combining zombie horror with elements of dark comedy, it is an early example of the zom-com subgenre that has risen to prominence since. While it might lack the sharp wit and bloody chaos of Shaun of the Dead or the punk rock rebellion of The Return of the Living Dead, it’s an interesting footnote in the genre that is definitely worth a watch – especially for movie buffs keen to explore the genre’s roots.
‘Frankenstein’s Army’ (2013)
Set on the Eastern Front of World War II and seen from the point of view of a Red Army team – Frankenstein’s Army is a found footage film that documents Soviet troops invading Germany as they encounter undead mechanical soldiers created by a mad scientist descended from Victor Frankenstein.
While the found footage gimmick adds little to the overall movie, it’s bolstered by some awesome, grotesque zombie creature designs and some solid acting, resulting in an exciting steampunk splatter fest that rarely lets up and offers a fresh spin on the wartime zombie subgenre.