Zombies have been a critical plot device in horror movies since Night of the Living Dead. There is no other way to so efficiently wipe out an entire country while leaving only the most inept to survive. There are a couple of separate circumstances that can bring them into existence: virus, voodoo, comets, demons, and chemicals to name a few. Regardless of their origin, there are a few rules they all must follow.

Assorted Facts About Zombies

1. Zombies depend on shotguns for their existence
Zombies only came into being after the advent of the shotgun. The two have been intrinsically connected to one another for around fifty years. If the world was completely purged of every shotgun, Zombies would cease to be.

2. The Law of Inverse Effectiveness
This law states that a zombie's overall effectiveness is inversely related to the amount of zombies present. For example, in a horde of fifty or sixty, a swift knock on the head with a pool cue or hockey stick will take one down. While one alone can take a car bumper, a couple bullets in the chest and neck, and a firm curb stomp and keep right on trucking. It also applies to inflicting damage, one will often succeed in biting a survivor where twenty would fail.

3. Zombies are the opposite of Santa Claus
The world in most zombie movies is identical to ours with one key difference, there are no zombie movies. Only in a world where no one believes in them, can zombies exist. Every time there is an outbreak of the walking dead it seems that the wheel must be re-invented. Everyone is oblivious to the connection between bites and turning, no one understands the concept of the head shot, and everyone refers to zombies as 'things'. However, the government always knows and is usually more than willing to drop a bomb or send in a special task force to wipe out any survivors.

4. Zombies can smell sin
During a zombie invasion it is highly encouraged to be on your best behavior. If you engage in lewd acts or betray the group of survivors, chances are that you will be ground beef in a matter of hours. Zombies are very attracted to ********, and find their brains and flesh extra tasty. However, they are willing to forgive if you have a change of heart or some other significant character arc.

5. The Rule of Direct Plot Importance
This rule states that the more importance a character has in the plot, the stronger their zombie will be. If a person has a name, expect their corpse to take a few rounds before falling.

6. Zombies are the only apocalyptic scenario that is guaranteed to succeed
Nuclear war is easier to clean up after than a couple of walking corpses. No matter how secluded a town, how walled off a city, or isolated an island a lone zombie will find its way inside and tear it apart.

Zombies are not exactly a box of chocolates, you pretty much know what you are going to get. However there are a few variations that should be noted.

Shufflers
These are your typical, average, everyday, white bread zombies and they have many other names. They move slowly and don't pose much of a threat alone. Their one strength is their endurance and limitless attention span. They will pound on a old farmhouse door for eternity if they know there is a pulse inside. They can be killed by decapitation or destroying the brain. Found in, Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and pretty much anything of the dead.

Runners
Also called twitchers, these zombies follow all of the typical rules but they can run like a Kenyan in hot pants. They are much more hard to kill because of this. They are found mostly in newer zombie flicks like 28 Days Later, and the Dawn of the Dead remake.

Ghouls
These are a rare breed of zombie that are rarely seen in an movie. These are the ones that chant "BRAINS" as they move, they are indestructible, immortal, and honestly, annoying. These zombies can be spoken to and to a small degree reasoned with, however their late night craving for grey matter will always take precedent over conversation. They are found in Return of the Living Dead and really nowhere else.