Zombies - how fast should they move?

[morris]

I'm watching the latter half of Dawn of the Dead, remake and I'm noticing that the zombies are fast. These dead don't walk, they sprint like decomposing Olympic athletes. Quite different to TV's The Walking Dead, then.
So my question is this - how fast do you think zombies should move? In light of their constitution or biology?

[Jonesy]

I've always thought that if zombies walked really slowly, then the only people they'd manage to bite would be octogenarians; in which case all zombies would be the old and decrepit anyway. Throw them a copy of the Daily Mail and some knitting, and it'll keep them occupied long enough to get away.

[Jeffbiscuits]

Zombies shouldn't run. They're supposed to wander like old men on their way home from the pub. It should be easy to outrun one or two zombies in a wide open space and they should only be a real threat if you find yourself surrounded by a large number of them or trapped in an enclosed space with some. That's what's best about Romero's zombie films. It's the situations, the panic and the unpreparedness that wind up getting people killed. The zombies in Snyder's remake don't feel right. If you had to be an olympic level sprinter to survive a zombie attack then that's most of the world's population dead in the first couple of hours.
I noticed in the Walking Dead that the zombies will occasionally jog or do a wee two-step run like they're trying to catch a bus. That's acceptable but only on the odd occasion. The Jogging Dead isn't quite as catchy.

[Jonesy]

Originally Posted by Jeffbiscuits

I noticed in the Walking Dead that the zombies will occasionally jog or do a wee two-step run like they're trying to catch a bus. That's acceptable but only on the odd occasion.

What odd occasion? When they need the toilet?

[Jeffbiscuits]

Zombies might be able to pee. If their knees haven't rotted away I don't see why they wouldn't jog a bit to beat the dribble.

[DarrenK86]

Walking zombies are definitely creepier than sprinting zombies.

Same could be said for cinematic psychopaths. Michael Myers was a lot scarier than Ghostface,mainly due to the fact that he would just walk calmly after you. He didn't need to run - he was going to get you anyway!

[FBJWard21]

Zombies shuffle and the Rage infected sprint

[fortunesfool]

Slowly, like, you know, dead people who have come back to life.

But in great numbers, so you will be easily over-whelmed if you're not paying attention.

[Scurf]

They should start off as fast as the occupant of the virus, but quickly deteriorate as torn tendons, ligaments and broken bones occur through over exertion.

The initial outbreak should be akin to 28days later, but once they slow and begin to decay, its all about the volume of zombies rather than their speed, like in the walking dead.

[fortunesfool]

Zombies are dead people who have come back to life. With limited brain function and co-ordination. Running is just nonsensical.

Oh, and the Zach Snyder Dawn of the Dead can go and get stuffed. It should be embarrassed to show its face in public.