In most popular zombie movies, the chaos normally happens in the modern day or in a future post-apocalyptic world. Think of World War Z, where a virus spreads, causing a zombie outbreak in the present, or Night of the Living Dead, where the undead cause havoc in rural Pennsylvania in the 1960s. Popular zombie TV shows like All of Us are Dead and The Walking Dead also dwell on the current era and the future rather than the past.
Still, a few movies about the undead take us back to the old days. Set in an era without advanced science, these pictures get a little more creative in their explanation of why the zombie outbreak happened. Others simply go the supernatural route. Whatever the origin, you’ll enjoy everything you see if you are a big fan of the genre. History lovers will also appreciate part of what they see in these films.
Here are 9 zombie movies that take place in medieval times.
‘Rampant’ (2018)
Ganglim (Hyun Bin) was once a dashing prince. But the advent of new political ideas in ancient Korea caused the decline of his fame and fortune. Feeling trapped in a life in exile, he returns home, only to find his kingdom ravaged by a deadly plague that turns people into bloodthirsty zombies. As opportunistic ministers try to exploit the mayhem to stage a coup, Ganglin attempts to defend the royal palace. Will his efforts yield any fruit in Rampant?
The Last Savior
Director Kim Sung-hoon’s brutal, action-packed film is both an ode to history and a celebration of the amazing art of cinema. Applying many forgotten conventions of old films, this period post-apocalyptic action horror film proves that endless dialogue isn’t always necessary to create great characters and profound emotion. Even better, there are no lazy zombies. The undead are fast, strong, and brutal. It takes a lot to defeat them, so we get to see some incredible sword fights.
‘Black Death’ (2010)
A vivid, harsh picture of 1348 England during the bubonic plague, Black Death is largely a horror flick but also a brilliant mood and character piece. Here, novice monk Osmund (Eddie Redmayne) guides the knight Ulric (Sean Bean) and his men to a remote village that has been untouched by the disease. Ulric believes the villagers have forsaken God. Meanwhile, Osmund’s true goal is to find his secret lover, Averill (Kimberley Nixon), unaware that she just might have turned into a zombie.
It’s All About Self-Interests
You won’t see the twists in Black Death coming. Even Sean Bean’s character, as noble as he seems, carries a major secret with him. The actor deservedly received widespread praise for his work, along with Sebastian Edschmid for his shadowy, evocative, gray-and-black cinematography. This was shortly before Bean starred in Game of Thrones, but he impresses more here. You can also make an accurate guess. His character eventually dies, as has become the tradition.
‘Rome Against Rome’ (1974)
When Roman centurion Gaius (Ettore Manni) gets dispatched to the province of Salmacia to investigate the cessation of Roman territories, he makes shocking discoveries. Some of the empire’s enemies are using black magic to reanimate dead Roman soldiers and make them fight against human armies. How will Gaius solve this major problem in Rome Against Rome?
A Threat from Within
At times, director Giuseppe Vari seems less interested in the story than in giving the movie a visual glow. But let that not deter you. Rome Against Rome is not only a great movie about the Roman Empire, but a treat for horror fans. The film also provides a clear view of common leadership challenges. Before Gaius can prove his mettle as a commander against the zombies, he must fight insubordination within his legions as soldiers doubt his tactics. The job isn’t easy, but he gets it done.
‘Knight of the Dead’ (2013)
Set in a plague-ravaged 14th-century England, Knight of the Dead tracks a group of fatigued Templar knights as they escort a sacred relic across hostile territory. Soon, they discover that a mysterious force has caused the dead to rise. Surrounded everywhere, they must fight for their lives while also doing their best to protect the relic.
A Tougher Job Than They Expected
Director Mark Andrews delivers one of the finest Man Vs. Zombie pictures ever made are filled with sly and furtive figures as well as the most hideous zombies, all in a gritty medieval atmosphere. The film’s dedicated cast all turn in memorable, compelling performances; in particular, Vivien Vilela, who plays a woman that the knights rescue. Shot in the Scottish highlands, Knight of the Dead also packs in plenty of artistic views, guaranteed to leave all audiences mindblown.
‘Tombs of the Blind Dead’ (1972)
Tombs of the Blind Dead covers two timelines, the present and the medieval era (via extended flashbacks). In it, a group of friends goes on a vacation in the abandoned medieval town of Berzano, at the border between Spain and Portugal. One evening after a disagreement, Virginia (María Elena Arpón) goes to spend the night in an old monastery. Bad idea! There, the graves open, and the Blind Dead — ancient Templar knights who were executed for witchcraft — rise as zombies to feed on humans.
The Terror Has Only Begun
The zombie genre was on the rise in the 1970s, partly because of the efforts of George A. Romero, so Tombs of the Blind Dead couldn’t be timelier. The film benefits immeasurably from evoking a dreadful mood over endless action and mere suggestion over direct exposition. Highlight: Virginia’s corpse comes back to life at a morgue and kills a custodian. The medieval scenes are exquisitely done, too, with incredible cinematography and sound.
‘The Head Hunter’ (2018)
In the Dark Ages, a Witcher-type hunter known as “The Father” (Christopher Rygh) lives alone in a remote cabin and makes a living as a bounty hunter, finding and killing monsters and zombies that terrorize villagers in a nearby kingdom. His only company is his horse, as his daughter was killed by a creature. But he has never forgotten her. The Father spends all his free time in The Head Hunter looking for the mysterious creature that killed her.
He’s Gonna Get Them All
Winner of Best Cinematography at the Nightmares Film Festival, The Head Hunter is a pure work of art. Director Jordan Downey drew inspiration from Quest for Fire, The Witch, and Tales From the Crypt, and the result is a taut, violent, and revealing probe into medieval identity and mythology. Using the known conventions of thriller stories, Downey weaves together a gripping saga combining fantasy and social commentary. Later, the film becomes philosophical, a movie meant to make sense of a horrific personal loss.
‘The Curse of the Blind Dead’ (2020)
The Curse of the Blind Dead is set in the Middle Ages, where a fanatical cult is seeking to resurrect the Knights Templar for blood rituals. Their wishes become true, but when the cursed knights rise from their graves, it’s not business as usual. They bring death and destruction, placing society on the brink of collapse. Who will save the day?
A Costly Endeavor
Mostly filmed using CGI, The Curse of the Blind Dead is still a great watch, featuring a stand-out cast that gives immersive performances. We see a society moving from denial, to blame and accusations, followed by acceptance. Rarely does the situation in zombie movies become this hopeless. But worry not if you are a believer in brighter days. A solution is eventually found, and it comes from the unlikeliest of sources.
‘Season of the Witch’ (2011)
Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman star in Season of the Witch as two Teutonic Knights who return home from the Crusades only to be welcomed by the devastation of the bubonic plague. Shortly after, two church elders accuse a young woman of sorcery for starting the plague, so they command the two knights to transport her to a faraway monastery for priests to lift her curse. During the dangerous journey, they find themselves in a deadly fight against all kinds of creatures, including zombies.
Cage in Top Form
It has been implied that Nicolas Cage works harder now than he did at the height of his fame. He stars in dozens of movies each year, and Season of the Witch is undoubtedly one of his best ones. Here, he is a beast, gradually transforming from a fatigued knight to a creature-slaying hero. Part of the actor’s comfort stemmed from the fact that he had worked with director Dominic Sena before in the Gone in 60 Seconds remake. Don’t hesitate if you are looking for brilliant entertainment. Scary and tense, this film feeds both the brain and the eyes.
‘Army of Darkness’ (1992)
Army of Darkness, the third installment in the Evil Dead film series, opens with a bang. Hardware-store clerk Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is sucked through a time portal and finds himself in medieval England, where Lord Arthur’s men mistake him for an enemy and capture him. He proves he belongs to the good side by defeating a demonic zombie. Unfortunately, he makes a major mistake, awakening an army of the undead. But if anyone can handle such opponents, it’s Ash.
Sam Raimi’s Midas Touch
Bruce Campbell owns this role, and he is great as always. Everything from the visuals to the humor is flawless. Consequently, it won the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. It’s actually amazing that the end product turned out so well, considering that Universal wasn’t willing to give Raimi the additional $3 million he needed to complete the project. Army of Darkness is also credited with boosting the franchise’s popularity beyond film. A comic book adaptation was made shortly after, followed by the continued expansion of the franchise.