10 Great Zombie Horror Movies That Aren't Really About Zombies

Zombies, you know them; you love them! They are the MVPs of the horror industry, the unsung heroes of spookiness and a trope that will never die, which, yes, is very appropriate.

So, what exactly defines a zombie? It was originally a reanimated corpse that feeds on human flesh, capable of movement but not rational thought. Nowadays, the reanimated corpse part isn't vital, but the flesh-eating and spreading through bite certainly is.

Part of the appeal of these beasties comes from how adaptable they are. Sure, when you say the Z-word, it conjures up precise images, but at this point, the old-school zombie is mostly a blueprint as opposed to a strict recipe. So long as they are spreading infection via a bite or physical contact, you've got a zombie movie on your hands.

As such, plenty of scary movies present themselves as zombie flicks, despite feeling quite far removed from the legendary monsters. They go in a different direction, adding something to the genre that manages to honour the likes of Dawn of the Dead whilst being their own thing entirely.

These following flicks are great if you're searching for a fresh look at shambling killer corpses.

As a kid, getting a splinter felt like the end of the world, as it's painful, creepy and needs quick attention. But, as you grow up, you realise that it's nothing all too bad, and a pair of plyers can fix the job lickety-split. Well, this movie drags you right back to square one, as it makes splinters once again terrifying.

Splinter follows a couple who go on a camping trip, only to be captured by an escaped convict and his girlfriend. Things somehow get even worse, as the group is trapped inside a gas station and relentlessly attacked by a parasite that infects living and dead hosts, using their bodies to spread the infection.

The infection spreads through - you guessed it - splinters, and as such, getting infected has this visceral and cringeworthy feel. There's also plenty of vile body horror on display, as you witness corpses and living creatures turned into infected monsters with no control over themselves.

The film is a simple yet creative horror experience and excels thanks to the excellent practical effects. You'll get to see giant physical abominations of dead bodies Frankenstein'd together and even detached limbs moving on their own. All the best images of a non-zombie zombie movie.