Zombie Cliche Lookout: Can’t Make it Easy
Making things more difficult for survivors is a pretty essential element in horror stories. The characters have to be vulnerable, which means they can’t just bumble into easy solutions for things. It also means that they’ll have to struggle for everything they get, and that most of them simply won’t be up for the challenge. Let’s take a look at a couple examples, shall we?
In Night of the Living Dead, the survivors start off with very little. Any weapons they have, like Ben’s tire iron, are improvised and require getting up close and personal with the zombies. Almost all of the characters are from out of town, so they don’t know the area or any potential resources. They have a vehicle they could potentially use to escape, but it’s out of gas. They also have one very sick survivor, and one who’s in the middle of a psychological breakdown. Toss in power struggles and difficult relationship, and the deck is stacked against our heroes.
In Alien, the people on board have no weapons. They’re able to adapt some tools into weapons, but those don’t work terribly well. They also have no idea of the nature of the monster they’re fighting (which makes for a few pretty nasty surprises). On top of this, one character has a hidden agenda that puts everyone else in dire risk.
With a few more resources or some better luck, the characters in either of these films would have fared much better. But then that wouldn’t be scary, now would it?
About this Episode:
When it comes to framing shots, I like to use as many close ups as I can, especially in dialog heavy moments like this. Given the relatively small space, the number of characters in the room, and the need to accommodate word balloons, this can be a difficult thing to pull off.
Discussion Question: Some Handicaps
Imagine that you have suddenly been inserted into a horror film, and not necessarily a zombie flick. You have no clue who the monster or monsters are, and only have the resources around you right now. What are some hazards and trip-falls you’re going to run into? Are there other people (i.e. survivors) with you? Can you work together, or will that be difficult with everyone’s different agenda?
I’m writing this from the comfort of my office, and I am alone in the house. That gives me a bit of resource and latitude, but it also saddles me with a major obstacle: my kids are at daycare, and my wife is at work, both several miles away. I couldn’t just sit here, leaving them at risk, so I’d need to venture out to try to get them, leaving me open to whatever is out there.
Discussion Answer: In this exact moment I am at my house and everyone is asleep or trying to. My dad is out of town which makes it something I would worry about. Given that it is a horror film, I would first try to identify the monster(s) to know what I am against. Logically I won’t go outside screaming “who’s there”, I might find a different approach. Maybe grab my camera and use the lens and night mode to my advantage. In case the monster(s) get(s) in, Browning HP and baseball bat to the face he or them shall receive.
Biggest problem in my house would be that the amount of windows is too big. That implies that I would need to stay in the biggest room with the least amount of windows. They sure look pretty during a normal day to day life, but damn will they make some people pay a high toll.
Nice thinking on the camera’s night vision mode, Phantom. I like that.
Having a gun and knowing how to use it are two totally different things. Stewart obviously hasn’t owned or used a gun, or he would be a lot less eager to use one. Of course, with the zombie apocalypse storyline he’s currently in, he’s going to have to learn how to use one sooner or later. 😀
I couldn’t agree more. Stew is seeming more and more like one of those people who absolutely love guns, but have never actually been in the same room as one.
I find that very common amongst young men.
Funny story: I was working downtown Detroit about 20 years ago and a guy that we knew brought over a new “toy” (Mac 11 fully automatic). Another guy that was stopping by wanted to grab it and goof around with it when the first guy said” its fully loaded and doesn’t have a safety”. Well that ended that , the realization of what he had in his hands scared him to the point of not wanting it anymore. Not so cool when it’s real.
I have no serious weapons in my house (barring things like a non-edged longsword, a clawhammer, and some kitchen knives). My wife tends to be at the stable, visiting our horses, some 45min drive away. My house is not easily secured (large windows near ground level). Honestly? The dead start walking, I’m basically screwed.
Maybe you could run to the stables. Horses might help in the getaway. Or they might panic and make things worse.
That’s the problem… I love home, but too many large windows and back sliding glass door that anything can crash through.
I’d have to improve my ninjato, display battle axe and a couple knives for weapons. We do have a blackpowder rifle, so that’d be fun. Not. My daughter at the time of this writing is close, so I’d have her to think about and stay close, stay quiet as we deal with whatever it is.
The thing I’d absolutely hate is being stuck with anyone who goes into a blind panic.
Man, a black powder rifle, shot inside. My ears hurt just thinking about it.
And yeah, panicy people are a huge no-go.
are you a panicy person Dave?
Hard to say, I haven’t really been in that many situations that might cause people to panic.
Interesting question AC actually brings up here. Where do you draw the line between panic and adrenaline? I’m sure it’s well defined but it’s kind of a personal question.
I’d say control. When you’re rushing on adrenaline, you’re in control, just amped right up. When you’re in a panic, you’re not thinking. Just reacting, and most likely poorly.
Re: Panic & Anxiety questions . . .
Rather than asking if one is a a panicky person, one may also ask:
1. What is your response to Danger, Threat (real or perceived) or Fear?
2. What happens when you are caught by surprise?
3. What happens when you are overwhelmed?
Responses to Danger, Threat or Fear flow from a (well known, but little understood) continuum based on a combination of innate physiology, history, and psychological resilience.
Biological responses are normative (if you know individual histories), but psychological responses have innate assumptions.
Biological Responses to Danger, Threat or Fear:
1. Fight: Assumes I believe I can fight or ward off the threat.
2. Flight: Assumes that the threat cannot be fought, but it can be outrun.
3. Freeze: Assumes that the threat cannot be fought or outran, so this serves 2 functions: attempt to become undetectable by predator, while “buying time” in hopes that avenues of escape (flight) present themselves, or resources to fight back are discovered.
4. Faint: Assumes that the threat cannot be outfought, outran, and one is now in imminent lethal danger. As such, Faint allows one to:
a) Become smallest possible target
b) Become least threat to predator
c) Mimic death
d) Blood supply flowing away from “expendable” extremities towards essential brain & major organs, while providing natural analgesics
Each physiological response activates different endocrine and neurological biological systems.
The Psychological con-joint equivalents to interacting with Physical Reactions to Danger, Threat or Fear are:
1. Aggression: Bringing on! I can take you! Or shoo, go away!
2. Avoidance: I’m outta here!
3. Denial: What? I don’t see no probl’m . . .
4. Dissociation: Body is present, but there’s nobody home.
As you’ve figured out, farther down either list, the greater the perception of the threat.
Each psychological response activates it’s concomitant bio/physiological response. Here’s the kicker: Left to it’s own devices, body cannot distinguish the difference between Real or Perceived threat; hence, why we “make a federal case out such a small thing.”
Factors influencing our Fear Responses/Reactions:
1. Innate, individual resources
2. History of Trauma, Oppression, Stressors
3. History of Recovery from #2 above
4. Current Resilience (adaptability to the unknown)
5. Actual Magnitude of Current Threat
Good news is that with some conscious effort, one can move through the stages of overwhelming terror up the ladder towards anxious but manageable
Survival.
As to a Panic State, the issue is not adrenalin (which is at work) but a “hijacked” amygdala and other aspects of the Limbic System, which By an unfortunate combination of Biology & History is “hyper” sensitive to real or perceived threats.
For kicks, filter the cast responses of Alien and Aliens through these filters and see what you come up with. 🙂
Wow, Luis. This is practically a blog post (and you could totally turn it into one, if you were up for it).
Dave, if you wantz, I could clean it up and you can blog if you wish. As we all know here, it will take more than bullets, bombs and blades to survive the zeepoc; it will take, um, we’ll, brains . . .
It’s worth it to do do a little reading on anxiety, not the illness, but what we all go through in stressful situations. I can’t find my psych book, but from memory anxiety is a normal defense mechanism. Feelings or apprehension and uncertainty associated with stress can be a good thing.
Mild anxiety increases alertness, increases the perceptual field, enhances creativity, and promotes learning. This is the kind of stress that puts you on your “‘A’ game”. Moderate stress narrows perception, causes selective inattentiveness, while maintaining problem solving ability. Severe stress narrows perception further, placing focus on scattered details and negatively impacting learning and problem solving. Panic anxiety is the worst. That’s the panic attack that can feel like an MI, with loss of rational thought, feelings of impending doom, loss of rational thought, and distorted perception.
Again, mild and moderate anxiety can be a good thing.
The “mild” anxiety useful for growth and healthful survival is activated by eustsress. Eustsress is positive & needful. Excessive stress & distress leads to what was mentioned above. Caveat: excessive eustsress (without respite or appropriate self-care) can shift into distress.
I’d love for you to turn this into a blog Luis. We need more survival stuff, and I’m just not educated or experienced enough to do it.
I have a binder, and I know where two of my best resources are: My survival teacher and my friend. So basically I would just pick up my binder for what ever tool it may play and go grab my survival teacher right off the back. As for self defense? Well there’s a plethora of things that can be used as self defense tools. Such as a lab stand (heavy towards one end good for swinging), kitchen knives in home-economics class (That’s where the survivalist teacher is.. Since we don’t have a HOme Economics class any more he kinda uses it for both science and over all class).. That’s about it for that. I only have my family to think about, and I couldn’t get to them even if I tried on foot. They are at work in both different places. My father being a truck driver, and my mother a home-health nurse. I have a sister but I already know she’ll find me and stick to me like a god damn leech.
Me and my teacher have been talking about this over and over and today he brought his truck which he is making a bug out trailer for so we might be okay on transportation. I’ve thought about dangerous things happening while I’m here in public education, and that just makes for too many possibilities and maybe even too many possible plans.
Over all status would be: Chaotic
Chance of making it out alive: Decent
Chance of getting everything I desire done?: Mediocre at best.
Got to love a man with a plan.
If I was at home it still wouldn’t be enough. 3 daughters all in different schools and my wife works 18 miles away through business traffic. Schools would be mayhem. And my jobs is… I work for broadcast news so they would want me to stay and as long as the family was safe I might so I can get and distribute that info. But my heart would drive my out into the fray. As far as weapons go, I only keep bladed weapons no pistols or rifles. My home is far enough north were it wouldn’t be an issue getting out of town but I’d have to get there first.
Hangups include the wife and the little ones. If it hits the fan while I am out and about, even at work, bet that I have the means to TCB until I get home including picking up the kids. At any given moment I keep my SD tools handy, usually a folder (that’s a folding knife, not a paper organizer), a flat sap, and a CCW. I keep a trauma kit in my nursing bag and my cell phone (phone service may go down, but SMS may last longer). My goal is to the kids and wife in the first hour, then decide whether to bug in or out. At the casa we have enough and to spare. Then we put our plan into effect. We either stay, or go south, or west. South is preferred, but we’d have to leave early enough to beat the traffic.
As for not keeping weapons at the BOL, it’s a tough call. They need to be secure and stored inconspicuously, cached, really. Then you have to be able to have the resources to procure them. There was a time in this country when surplus rifles were cheap. Putting up a few SMLE, or even SKS rifles was cheap and easy.
I just hope Murph has a few boxes of mild .308 around. It’s a popular hunting cartridge in a lot of the country.
Ooh! Ammo for Murphy’s sniper rifle!
Well, his DM rifle, at least…
Well, judging on the telescopic sight, and that it is an M21 sniper rifle. I think it would be safe for him to call it “Murphy’s sniper rifle”.
First comment on this site, but I love the comic!
If I’m suddently in a horror movie right now, I’d be in a world of hurt. (Unless the monster is the Wicked Witch of the West, then i’ve got some water handy lol) Not only am I at work right now, but I’m located in the middle of my office and only 2 ways to exit. The office is located near not 1 , but 2 large shoping malls. If I can get out to the car, it might not matter, since there’s always stop and go traffic.
Hey Steve, thanks for your kind words!
Yeah, you sound like you’d be in rough shape. When I’m in the office, I’d be in similar shakes. A few stories up, urban area, lots of people, and 60 miles from home. Woof.
as I write this, I’m sitting at home, with my sisters around the house, mom sitting behind me, and my dad in another state, so we would stick together, I would grab Dad’s guns from mom’s room, along with the little airsoft gun, and just sit there, waiting for whatever it is, to come in through the many windows, because we live about 10- 15b minutes to the nearest town, and I live in an area with almost all hunter people. Bows, crossbows, and rifles galore out here… Oh, and we have a hunter staying in our basement, so he will come in handy, so would the furniture.