In the post-apocalyptic worlds of both the movie Shaun of the Dead and the comic book series The Walking Dead, humans enslave the undead. Zombies become tools rather than victims of circumstance. The notion that zombies should be used as slaves or for menial tasks in any apocalyptic future underscores a grim commentary on society, especially given that zombies retain some consciousness.
The Walking Dead and Shaun of the Dead each depict this dystopian future in their own way, but the idea remains consistent: zombies would be turned into property, manipulated for whatever benefits humanity could extract. But it's hard not to wonder why both stories reached such similar conclusions about the undead - and what that conclusion says about the living.
The Walking Dead's Dark Reality Is That Humanity Is the Real Monster
Zombies as Tools for Survival
The Sanctuary, another key location in The Walking Dead, also uses zombies for a more sinister purpose: security. The compound is surrounded by a chain-link fence, with impaled walkers lining the perimeter as a deterrent to any potential intruders. This gruesome display is maintained by enslaved survivors, who are forced to handle the dangerous task of placing these zombies around the fence. The use of reanimated bodies as a defensive tool highlights the chilling reality that the undead can be turned into a means of protection, further blurring the lines between life and death in this fractured world.
In the same world, Hershel Rhee takes a step further into exploiting the undead. Hershel, son of Maggie Greene, showcases a traveling "zombie circus" in which the zombies are put on display for entertainment as a grim reminder of the dangers of the past. This chilling business venture reveals how even the undead can be turned into a commodity. The “See the Walking Dead” show is marketed as a tribute to the fallen, but it’s also a clear demonstration of how humanity has come to see zombies not as tragic victims, but as tools from which to profit.
Hershel's Circus from The Walking Dead Reveals Even More About the Exploitation of Zombies
A Business Built on the Dead
Hershel’s zombie show, "See the Walking Dead," takes the exploitation of the undead to an extreme. This show highlights the grotesque way that humans turn tragedy into a profitable venture, something fans have yet to see reflected in a live-action The Walking Dead adaptation. Hershel, who believes he is reminding people of the dangers that still exist, shows no remorse for profiting from the undead. This is his way of coping with the apocalypse, but it’s also a way for him to carve out a space for himself in a world that has lost its moral compass.
Hershel’s attitude towards the zombies is a critical commentary on human morality.
Hershel’s attitude towards the zombies is a critical commentary on human morality. In a world where society has crumbled, humans are forced to confront their basest instincts, and it becomes apparent that the undead—once people—are now seen as nothing more than instruments of survival or spectacle. The treatment of zombies in Hershel’s circus is a sharp contrast to their former human lives, forcing viewers to ask what the story says about humanity’s capacity for empathy.
The Walking Dead Isn't Alone in Using Zombies as Moral Commentary
Shaun of the Dead Did It, Too - But With Comedy
While Shaun of the Dead takes a comedic approach to typical zombie tropes, it, too, dives into the disturbing reality of zombies being used for menial labor. At the end of this British cult classic, zombies are put to work in supermarkets, performing simple, repetitive tasks for the living. It’s a satirical portrayal, but the underlying message is the same: humanity would not hesitate to use the undead as cheap labor, no matter their tragic circumstances.
Perhaps the most poignant (and darkly funny) example in Shaun of the Dead is Shaun’s treatment of his best friend Ed, who becomes a zombie. Instead of putting Ed down, Shaun keeps him chained in the basement so that they can play video games together. This twisted relationship blurs the lines between friend and zombie, suggesting that human attachment can override basic morality. It’s a reflection of how, in the chaos of the apocalypse, the lines between what’s right and wrong become dangerously murky.
The Dehumanization of Zombies in The Walking Dead Reveals a Dark Critique of Human Morality
There's a Reason The Walking Dead Is a Contemporary Classic
Looking for more insight into The Walking Dead as a comic book? Image Comics is re-releasing each issue of the classic series in a "deluxe" format month-by-month. The Walking Dead Deluxe #108 is available now in-stores from Image Comics.
Both The Walking Dead and Shaun of the Dead aren’t just stories about survival in a world overrun by zombies. They are also parodies of how society might break down under pressure, revealing the darkest impulses within human nature. These shows portray the idea that, when faced with overwhelming hardship, humans will inevitably look for ways to exploit the undead—turning them into slaves, trophies, or tools—just as they exploit the living.
There's a Dark Truth Behind the Zombies in The Walking Dead and Shaun of the Dead
But Is the Insight Excessive?
It’s possible that both portrayals of zombies—both dramatic and comedic—reflect a chilling truth: in times of extreme stress, humans are capable of dehumanizing others, even those who are no longer alive. Whether in a dark drama or a satirical comedy, both shows suggest that the zombie apocalypse might not be humanity’s worst nightmare; it might be what we do to each other when society crumbles.
In the end, the horror of the zombie apocalypse isn’t just in the "walking dead"—it’s in how the living might choose to treat them. While exploiting zombies may seem farfetched, both stories ask us to consider a painful truth: humanity’s moral compass could be the real monster in an apocalyptic world. The Walking Dead and Shaun of the Dead both challenge us to reflect on the darkest aspects of human nature, where survival at any cost could lead to the exploitation of even the most tragic of creatures.
