See survival horror action on the big screen

Playing Left 4 Dead is a great deal of fun. Teaming up with your friends to fight zombie hordes in a variety of different settings. Whether you are ripping through the river of the dead with a chainsaw or throwing a pipe bomb to lure them away for a quick escape, Left 4 Dead allows you to practically jump into your favourite apocalyptic flicks and almost experience them first hand as there are numerous films that are very much like Left 4 Dead. Some may be action films where the undead are pincushions for bullets, while others look at the struggles of trying to survive in a world that is ruled by the dead. If you want an experience very much like Left 4 Dead, then check out these top 11 zombie films today.

1)    I am Legend (2007)

Robert Neville (Will Smith) wondering the desolate streets with his dog

I Am Legend is more of a survival story than an action zombie flick. However, that does not make it any less comparable with Left 4 Dead. The story of survival during the apocalypse is something that is important in many zombie apocalypse games, including Left 4 Dead. In I Am Legend, Will Smith plays a military virologist named Robert Neville who is immune to an incurable virus that has ravaged the human population, potentially killing everyone but him. He now lives alone with his dog and has given himself a mission which is to use his blood to make a cure for the virus as he is not totally alone in the desolate city of Manhattan. Victims who have mutated from the virus lurk in the dark and come out at night. Though Neville is safe during the day, it only takes one mistake to leave him at the mercy of the monsters that loom in the shadows.

This film is adapted from a novel of the same name by Richard Matheson. The novel is heralded as being the king of vampire novels, representing a post-apocalyptic scenario that can be seen as believable in comparison to other similar stories. The film does the novel justice through its excellent presentation of a desolate Manhattan left to rot. I Am Legend keeps the viewer interested in Neville’s journey as he wonders through the city accompanied only by his dog and machine gun, making the film seem quite lonely, especially as the film cuts back to Neville’s past, showing better days along with the moment everything turned upside down. Horror is quite prevalent when the viewer is given previews of the monsters at times when Neville explores the darker corners of the city, catching a glimpse of the former humans. Watching a lone man try to survive and figure out a way to fix these monsters makes the film seem quite tense and dramatic. Fans of Left 4 Dead would definitely enjoy this film as they catch a glimpse of the daily struggles of a man who is trying to survive in a world populated by monsters.

Trailer for I Am Legend

Rating: 8/10

2)     Scouts Guide to a Zombie Apocalypse (2015)

Every crazy element of the film thrown into a single poster

If you need a simple and light-hearted experience of the zombie apocalypse then check out Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. This 2015 film pits three scout members against a raging horde of the undead as they attempt to save their town on their last camp-out.

If you enjoyed the comedic characters and zombie killing action that is featured in in Left 4 Dead then you are guaranteed to get a good deal of enjoyment out of Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. The Location team for Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse was nominated for the California on Location Awards in 2014. In addition to this, the comical script for Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse was featured in the 2010 Blacklist for the most liked unmade scripts. As a result, this film is worth seeing for Left 4 Dead players as the absurdities that are jam packed in the film will keep you entertained for its duration.

“Tonight” Trailer for Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Rating: 6/10

3)    Resident Evil Films (2002 – 2016)

Alice (Milla Jovovich), depicted on the poster for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

With Resident Evil: The Final Chapter set to come out this year, the film series leading up to the conclusive feature is a must-watch. The series of films are adapted from Capcom’s horror game, Resident Evil. There are five films with the sixth one set to be out this year

Main Series:

Resident Evil (2002)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) It should be the movies, instead of the games

Like the videogame, each movie is set around a zombie virus that turns your average Joe into a man eating monster. Beginning in 2002, Resident evil took on a similar story to the game that it was adapted from. Although the film differs in certain parts of the plot. This can be seen after Resident Evil Apocalypse (2004) as the story follows its own story rather than the plot of the games. For example, in Resident Evil Extinction which was released in 2007, takes an apocalyptic turn as the zombie virus that was formerly isolated in Raccoon City becomes more widespread. This results in a collapse of civilisation and a more apocalyptic world.

Though it is based off the original Resident Evil games, the films could probably be more comparable with modern resident evil games like Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6. Each film has much more action in comparison to the standard survival horror game so it is a treat for fans of Left 4 Dead.

Resident Evil Retribution, the latest film of the series which was released in 2012, was awarded the Achievement in Visual Effects in the Canadian Screen Awards in 2013.The film is more than deserving of this reward as are the other films in the series. With extremely impressive zombie and monster designs along with beautiful effects that are used during the fight scenes with zombies, especially in the modern films that make use of beautiful 3D effects. Critics have praised the set design of the films along with the special effects, with one referring to the film as a thrill ride that combines zombie horror and high-tech science fiction.

Horror fans who want to see the cast battling it out in closed quarters might enjoy the first and second film. While those who want large scale battles against the undead and other monsters may enjoy other films in the series. Especially with the apocalyptic scenery in Extinction and the excellent gunplay in Rebirth.  

Trailer for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Rating: 7/10

4)    Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Witty romantic comedy combined with grizzly horror

Shaun of the Dead is definitely a film that is recommended for you to see if you are a fan of Left 4 Dead. The British Comedy is about a man named Shaun, an employee at an electronic store who lives a broken life after his girlfriend, Liz, dumps him. His life gets worse as the dead run wild through his town and he must try to survive the zombie plague.

Much like Left 4 Dead, Shaun of the Dead manages to combine witty British humour with the horror of a zombie apocalypse. At one point you may be laughing at a comical moment in the film, while the next, you may be staring at the TV wide-eyed as someone is ripped apart before your very eyes. This witty British Horror has had prominently positive review from both critics and regular viewers as it is rated 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from 201 reviews. Shaun of the Dead is worth checking out for the great amount of action along with the witty comedy and horror that will grab your attention for the duration of the film.

Trailer for Shaun of the Dead

Rating: 9/10

5)    The Walking Dead TV Series (2010 - Present)

Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) depicted in a promotional poster for The Walking Dead

With the sixth season over and the seventh season just around the corner, the Walking Dead is definitely a TV Show worth watching for those who are fans of video games much like Left 4 Dead. The show primarily looks at the life of Rick Grimes, a police officer who wakes up from a coma to discover that the whole world has devolved into chaos due to a zombie virus. Now he must fight for the survival of himself, his family and group as they fight both zombies and humans in a dog eat dog world.

Though the show may not be packed with zombie killing action, the overall drama and story should be enough to draw Left 4 Dead players into the show. Although this show is an adaption of Robert Kirkman’s visual novel, the TV Show makes some major changes to certain elements of the story. New characters and locations not present in the comics can be seen in the TV Show and certain storylines are changed altogether. So if you are looking for a TV Adaption that provides a unique experience, then The Walking Dead is for you.

This show is especially for those who have a keen interest in story as there is a lot of time spent in showing the life of people after the fall of civilization and the danger that comes from both the undead hordes, and even other human beings. So if you have an interest in seeing the fight for survival along with the inter-group conflict that comes with it, then check out The Walking Dead TV Series and you will not be disappointed. Other adaptions worth checking out would be the spinoff series, “Fear the Walking Dead” along with the Walking Dead adventure games by Telltale Games.

Trailer for The Walking Dead Season 7

6)    Zombieland 2 (2017)

Poster for Zombieland Series

If you enjoyed the first Zombieland film, then the sequel is definitely worth checking out. Though the film is still in the works, it is definitely something to look forward to for a classic Left 4 Dead experience. Looking at the first film, the story was centred around the journey of a student to his family who lives in Ohio. He is joined by a number of comical characters, including a gun toting gentlemen trying to find the last twinkie, along with two sisters who are en-route to an amusement park.  

So right off the bat you can see that we have an almost classic Left 4 Dead crew, a team of four characters fighting undead hordes from start to finish. The first film surpassed expectations of many viewers, with some expecting it to be poor, but the characters and gunplay ensured that the film was a great experience for them.

The film’s protagonists are played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin; each actor managing to deliver an excellent performance to bring the viewer through an comical experience filled with action.  

With an overall positive outcome for the first film, the sequel is worth looking forward to if you are looking to relive your Left 4 dead experience on the big screen.

Trailer for Zombieland

Film not released, no rating

7)    Left 4 Dead the movie

Trailer for the Left 4 Dead movie

Why settle for a film like Left 4 Dead when you can look at an adaption of the 4 player zombie massacre? The storyline is very much like that of the games, following four characters who are immune to a zombie plague as they go on their journey trying to survive in the apocalypse.

This low budget production has become quite prominent among people online. It has accumulated about 500,000 fans and a following from three continents and seven countries. Though the movie has not been released, the filming was complete in 2014.

According to an update on Mexican Standoff Studio’s website on June 26th 2015, the film is still in the Postproduction phase. Multiple corrections are being implemented to various shots to make the film’s atmosphere match that of the game. Check out the image below to see how these shots are being improved.

Image comparison showing the transformation of a day shot to a night time shot

The image has been darkened well and the added moon looks quite realistic which demonstrates the amount of work that is being put into both the production and postproduction of this film. From the trailer and the different stills, Left 4 Dead The Movie promises to be a quality adaption of the popular zombie shooter.

Film not released, no rating

8)    Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)

The Film’s protagonists standing amid an apocalyptic landscape

If you’re looking for left 4 dead with a 19th century twist, we would recommend Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The 2016 film deals with the struggle of five sisters who are fighting two battles. One is finding a good husband for themselves while the other is to save their country from the endless undead hordes.

This film promises intense action that would leave Left 4 Dead players satisfied. The acting and special effects in the film stand out to many viewers. Though it may not involve a team of individuals mowing down zombies with shotguns and assault rifles, the film manages to maintain constant excitement along with a touch of comedy as the film tells the story about a set of women who are to be married, but they must take up arms against hordes of the undead. Though to many critics, the horror tends to fall flat. As a result, the film may be hit and miss for many Left 4 Dead players, though if you are still looking for a good horror comedy with a 19th century twist, then Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is recommended for you.

Trailer for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Rating: 6/10

9)    Train to Busan (2016)

Film poster depicting the intensity and panic of the situation

Train to Busan is Snakes on a Plane, just replace the plane with a train and the snakes with zombies. This Korean Film details an outbreak in South Korea that turns normal individuals into flesh eating monsters. This puts a number of passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan in danger as they must survive the journey.

What makes this film great for Left 4 Dead players is the intensity of the drama in the film. The passengers on the train must try to survive with whatever they have. This film reached an extraordinary milestone of 10 million views in early August 2016 as the film becomes well known across North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Very much like I Am Legend, this film is great for seeing how a vulnerable human being would react in a sudden crisis involving a zombie virus, though we see the struggle during the disaster itself rather than the aftermath.  

Trailer for Train to Busan

10)                      Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)

“This City Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of ‘Em”

Cockneys VS Zombies is a film for Left 4 Dead and Payday fans alike as the film mixes a bank heist with a zombie infestation in London. The story is about a group of bank robbers who must fight for their lives. Their attempt at robbing money to prevent the destruction of their grandfather’s retirement home goes awry when the dead rise. When building workers are bitten by a zombie that was dug up from an old graveyard on a different building site, a chain reaction is set off. Now, after escaping police during their bank robbery, the gang finds that London has been flooded in a river of dead. Now they must try to get to the retirement home as fast as possible.

This film has all of the elements of a perfect zombie action flick mixed with great comic relief. Cockneys Vs Zombies has been praised by critics for being a likeable film that succeeds in turning a simple zombie slasher flick into a fast paced zombie film with a mixture of bloodshed and comedy. A simple action zombie film with a combination of comedy and horror is a must-have for fans of Left 4 Dead and for fans of Payday with a zombie twist.

Red Band Trailer for Cockneys Vs Zombies

Rating 8/10

11) Wyrmwood (2014)

The masked figure is almost similar to a villain from Mad Max

Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead is a zombie action film follows Barry and his sister Brooke. Barry is on a mission to save his sister who is kidnapped by strange soldiers wearing gas masks during a zombie apocalypse caused by a meteor shower in the Australian Outback. While on his journey to save his sister, Barry battles hordes of the undead alongside Benny.

This film is a must-see for all fans of Left 4 Dead as Wyrmwood takes the viewer through a dark and gritty representation of the zombie apocalypse set in the Australian Outback. With critics comparing the design elements to Mad Max along with referencing its good sense of humour, Wyrmwood is praised for being an energetic bloodbath as the main character mows down the zombie horde on his journey to save his sister. Wyrmwood, like Left 4 Dead, immerses viewers in a zombie massacre with constant excitement, comedy and gore, keeping everything exciting and tense for the entirety of the film.

Wyrmwood Trailer

Conclusion

As you can see from looking at each film, it is clear that zombie horror can be presented in a number of different ways that will enthral fans of Left 4 Dead. As exciting as it would be to see a brave band of heroes plough through hordes of rotting walking corpses, there is very little drama involved, something that would be quite high for people going through Left 4 Dead, especially when playing with the Mutations available in the game that make the zombies much more dangerous.

As a result, these 11 films are definitely worth checking out and are very much like Left 4 Dead to varying degrees. Some might be the classic action horror, while others may be more dramatic as they show our survivors struggle with dwindling resources combined with constant attacks from the dead, and the living.

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