It should be of no surprise why there are so many misconceptions about zombies. It seems that there’s an infinite number of zombie variations, all with different explanations for the cause of a zombie infestation to what a zombie is actually capable of.
That said, these variations may lead you to believe or assume certain things about zombies that are not true. For the sake of your survival, 401AK47 has prepared a list of these falsities that would have, no doubt, gotten you killed, or worse.
Myth #1: They’re just into you for your brains.
This myth probably had its first appearance in The Return of the Living Dead, and has since taken off. Real zombies will not stop there. They want it all!
Myth #2: Zombies are monsters.
A true monster, not just one who is ‘monstrous’, isn’t human. Granted, a zombie’s humanity is taken away when they turn, but they are human – undead or not. Besides, the main premise of a monster is purely mythical, and we all know zombies are real.
Myth #3: Zombies rise when Hell is full.
Zombies are actually the result of viral infection. See ‘Infection’.
Myth #4: Zombies can use tools.
This ‘zombie evolution’ might have had its inspiration from the traditional voodoo zombie, with Jorge Grau’s Let Sleeping Corpses Lie and Romero’s Day of the Dead, leading the way to popularize this myth. Both amazing movies, but unless a tool happens to be caught on a zombie’s fingers, they will not be carrying any tools, let alone carrying the knowledge of how to use them.
Reports of zombie reanimation show that they have retained most of their speed from their previous life, but exhibiting a change in gait, lack of coordination and muscle twitching/jerks. It is only when decomposition is factored in, that speed will be affected.
Myth #6: Zombies can speak.
The zombie virus is housed at the base of the brain, near the brain stem. The zombie virus allows for only the most basic parts of a zombie brain to continue functioning, leaving only enough brain activity to ensure its own survival. Being that the virus in controlling only the aspects of the brain that the zombie would need to survive, the activity of the zombie brain is reduced to digestion, the most basic functions of the temporal (hearing) and occipital (vision) lobes, and only the smallest amounts of activity are found in the cerebellum (the part of the brain responsible for coordination).
Myth #7: Zombies are immortal.
Zombies are humans with a virus. Take out the brain, where the virus is housed and controls the most basic of functions, and you will take out the zombie.
Myth #8: Zombies can be cured.
No. There is no cure that we know of at this time. There is, however, a slight possibility of survival after having been bitten on an extremity, only if amputation is immediate.
Myth #9: The dead will rise from their graves.
As it takes a living host to be infected with the zombie virus, and only those infected will reanimate, this one is obviously false.
Myth #10: Zombies can be trained or kept as pets.
As cool as it might be to command Fido (your well trained guard-zombie) to sic trespassers, DO NOT attempt to train a zombie! This will only lead to your demise.