NationStates Jolt Archive

Seeing as this topic's dying I'll give you a basic rundown of what I think vampires and zombie's characteristics are:

Vampires:

Cause of vampirism: Viral infection from a strand distantly connected to rabies.

Effects of virus: Infects brain and increases adrenalin glands, causes muscle expantion (allowing flexibility and strength), heart functions changed from heart muscle to skeletal muscle for circulation, excessive canine teeth growth, dying off certain parts of the advanced brain (compassion, emotion, large lack of serotin etc) and enhancement of the primitive brain (bloodlust insues because of this). Many do not survive the virus and die in comas. On average males between the age of 21 - 28 survive the comas and live to become vampires.

Spread of vampirism: Through saliva. Most common method of the spread of the virus is through a bite from the vampire and spreading to the bloodstream. It is possible to contract it from kissing a vampire but this does not happen often.

Way of extermination: Total dismemberment, decapitation, drowning, excessive blood loss. Decapitation is the easiest method as it severs all connection to the body and the skeletal muscles stopping all circulation. Dismemberment is also a common method but not as effective. Drowing is effective but only if you can get a vampire near water. They are extremely hydrophobic. Blood loss is almost impossible as a great amount of circulation is not required to power the primitive brain and various parts of the advanced brain.

Zombies:

Cause of zombification: Virus connected strongly with the vampiric virus.

Effects of virus: Enhancement of the jaw muscle to allow powerful biting to allow for feeding. Complete loss of nerve function and advanced brain. Memory may be slightly in tact but only for basic instinct. They no longer require feeding when a zombie but do so out of basic instinct. Circulation only occurs by skeletal muscles. Virus is somewhat weaker than the vampiric strand and therefore many more people can survive.

Spread of virus: Same as vampiric strand, occurs when saliva enters the body's system, usually caused by a zombie bite.

Ways of extermination: Decapitation, dismemberment, *snip*, excessive blood loss. As mentioned above decapitation and dismemberment are the most common and effective forms of ridding vampires and this will work well with zombies as well. *snip*. Excessive blood loss is also a near-pointless endeavour but does work. Isolation is also a considerable method as most zombies only live for a period of 6 - 12 months

Comments?

If you are going to make a vampire film or screenplay do NOT make it into one of those Blade crap films. I think that all vampire films should stay close to the original and be more like Dracula or something. It REALLY SUCKS when people make stupid films like Dracula 2000 and 2001.
Zombie movies are not good and I do not like them. Too unreal.

Zombies also have a weakness against shotguns. I can't believe you forgot that.

If you are going to make a vampire film or screenplay do NOT make it into one of those Blade crap films. I think that all vampire films should stay close to the original and be more like Dracula or something. It REALLY SUCKS when people make stupid films like Dracula 2000 and 2001.
Zombie movies are not good and I do not like them. Too unreal.

Way ahead of you. By the way how was 28 Days Later unrealistic?

28 days was an AWESOME movie!! And I usually don't even enjoy the horror genre. I thought the part in Half life 2 when you're in your car in that tunnel full of abandoned cars and zombies was probably a take from 28 days. Both scared the poopie out of me :p

If you are going to make a vampire film or screenplay do NOT make it into one of those Blade crap films. I think that all vampire films should stay close to the original and be more like Dracula or something. It REALLY SUCKS when people make stupid films like Dracula 2000 and 2001.
Zombie movies are not good and I do not like them. Too unreal.
Dude, I can't disagree with you more. I love the Blade movies, and zombie movies are my favorite genre of horror flicks. Especially the George Romero movies.

Zombies also have a weakness against shotguns. I can't believe you forgot that.
and anything else that leaves large exit holes, they are also quite prone to hatchets

If you are going to make a vampire film or screenplay do NOT make it into one of those Blade crap films. I think that all vampire films should stay close to the original and be more like Dracula or something. It REALLY SUCKS when people make stupid films like Dracula 2000 and 2001.
Zombie movies are not good and I do not like them. Too unreal.
Dracula is no way original (but it is a very good story, have you read Dracula's Guest, also by Bram Stoker?).

It was heavily based on existing legends and myth. And the person used as Dracula did exist

I think I see what you're trying to do here. This is in the case that zombies and vampires really did exist. But, if you're trying to staty true to hollywood and horror novels, vampires have more weaknesses and zombies have less.

It's kind of a joke though, wouldn't decapitation and/or dismemberment kill anybody? Not to mention a frikkin' wooden steak to the heart.

I think I see what you're trying to do here. This is in the case that zombies and vampires really did exist. But, if you're trying to staty true to hollywood and horror novels, vampires have more weaknesses and zombies have less.

It's kind of a joke though, wouldn't decapitation and/or dismemberment kill anybody? Not to mention a frikkin' wooden steak to the heart.

AFAIK, the idea of using a wooden stake is that it would pin the vampire into their coffin, rather then kill them outright.

btw, has anyone read I am Legend by Richard Matheson?

AFAIK, the idea of using a wooden stake is that it would pin the vampire into their coffin, rather then kill them outright.

btw, has anyone read I am Legend by Richard Matheson?
The title sounds familliar. I don't remember the story though, so I'm not sure I read it. It is a short story, right?

Don't get me wrong they are good films but I find them to be too commercial and too high tech (Yes there is such a thing). But then again that is what many production companys and people want.
But as a film student I feel that if I were to make a Vampire film some day I would make a film that is more in the spirit of Interview With A Vampire or Dracula (Oldman).
Those films make you feel a part of it and gives a very real feeling to them more so then all the high tech of today can do.
As to zombie films, I have yet to see zombie film that makes it seem real.
They allways seem to me to be fake in all regards.

The title sounds familliar. I don't remember the story though, so I'm not sure I read it. It is a short story, right?
I don't know if it is a short story (as in Arthur C Clarkes Sentinel), but it is quite short (my copy has 160 pages).

It is from the 50's and is the typical "last man alive after an apocalypse" scenerio. The protagonist is Robert Neville who spends his days hunting vampires and nights holed up in his home/fortress. The book explores what makes a person a vampire is (and it comes up with a vampire pathogen), and I believe it was the inspiration for "The Omega Man" (which I have never seen). But I recommend the book to anyone, especially those who like science fiction and/or vampire stories.

I don't know if it is a short story (as in Arthur C Clarkes Sentinel), but it is quite short (my copy has 160 pages).

It is from the 50's and is the typical "last man alive after an apocalypse" scenerio. The protagonist is Robert Neville who spends his days hunting vampires and nights holed up in his home/fortress. The book explores what makes a person a vampire is (and it comes up with a vampire pathogen), and I believe it was the inspiration for "The Omega Man" (which I have never seen). But I recommend the book to anyone, especially those who like science fiction and/or vampire stories.
Nope, I definately haven't read it. I'll check it out if I get a chance.

I think its rather funny that most ways of killing vampires/zombies are quite effective on people as well.

Don't get me wrong they are good films but I find them to be too commercial and too high tech (Yes there is such a thing). But then again that is what many production companys and people want.
But as a film student I feel that if I were to make a Vampire film some day I would make a film that is more in the spirit of Interview With A Vampire or Dracula (Oldman).

Have you seen the classic Nosferatu by FW Murnau?
(IIRC Queen used clips from it [as well as from Fritz Lang's Metropolis] in their music video for Radio Ga Ga)
Those films make you feel a part of it and gives a very real feeling to them more so then all the high tech of today can do.
As to zombie films, I have yet to see zombie film that makes it seem real.
They allways seem to me to be fake in all regards.

Well to side step the debate about if Iw/aVamp or Dracula make you feel part of it (personally, I enjoyed them both, but I won't say they were great films). There really isn't much you can do with Zombies, they are either fast cannibals with no feeling, or lumbering, slow cannibals with no feeling.

And also, many of the old zombie film directors (Romero included) didn't see the films as just horror films, they felt they had a message so tended to try and make that more apparent rather then make sacring people their perogative.

Have you seen the classic Nosferatu by FW Murnau?
(IIRC Queen used clips from it [as well as from Fritz Lang's Metropolis] in their music video for Radio Ga Ga)


Well to side step the debate about if Iw/aVamp or Dracula make you feel part of it (personally, I enjoyed them both, but I won't say they were great films). There really isn't much you can do with Zombies, they are either fast cannibals with no feeling, or lumbering, slow cannibals with no feeling.

And also, many of the old zombie film directors (Romero included) didn't see the films as just horror films, they felt they had a message so tended to try and make that more apparent rather then make sacring people their perogative.

Yes I enjoyd them both too but what I meant was this, the films make people feel as if they were a part of the film not just me.
But other then that I think you are right for the most part.

O,and yes I have seen Nosferatu.

Down System.... you've got Zombies all wrong. Most of the stuff you said isn't even true or distorted.

What you said: Zombie Virus connected strongly with the vampiric virus

Truth: There are many zombification viruses out there. The most notable and most common is Solanum which is a virus all on its own and is NOT in any way related to the Vampire virus. Other Zombification viruses include the T-Virus, G-Virus, Trioxin, and various others.

What you said: Circulation only occurs by skeletal muscles. Virus is somewhat weaker than the vampiric strand and therefore many more people can survive.

Truth: Completely wrong. Zombies have no blood circulation whatsoever. Thus, this is the reason why they do not suffer from blood loss and cannot die from wounds of which a human being can die from. A virus is a virus, and weakness is not a factor. Because most humans are never introduced to Solanum their whole lives, the immune system cannot fight off the virus once introduced. The virus is extremely lethal and one bite, one scratch, one open wound brushing against a zombie can allow Solanum into the bloodstream. The Virus is not transferred only by saliva either. The virus can be transferred through blood, necrotic flesh, or brain matter from zombies (where the highest concentration of Solanum is).

What you said: Ways of extermination: Decapitation, dismemberment, drowning, excessive blood loss.

Truth: Right, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Yes, ecapitation and destroying the brain is the most effective and THE only way to kill a zombie. Dismemberment does not work, as Zombies do not require legs or arms necessarily to live. Drowning does not work AT ALL because all organs in a zombie have been shut down with the exception of the BRAIN. This means the lungs (although zombies can use them) have no vital use for them. Zombies are known to scale the bottom of bodies of water (they do not know how to swim) and can stray across seas, lakes, and rivers into populated areas. Blood loss does not work AT ALL. Because Zombies have no circulatory system, they cannot bleed to death. All blood within a zombie pools to the bottom of their body, hence the reason why zombies recieve very pale looks and this is the reason why they decompose. If they did have circulation (through the skeletal system as you said), then their bodies would not decompose.

What you said: Drowning is not entirely effective as zombies can survive large periods without oxygen because of the less neccessity to keep functions of the brain functioning.

Truth: Read above.

Listen, don't take your info from www.FVZA.org because your best bet is to do research on Zombies and different forms and viruses for zombification. Happy hunting!

Vampires and Zombies are supposed to be supernatural creatures. In other words, their powers are of a supernatural (magical) nature. To attempt to explain their abilities through science cheapens the myth. In other words, it is lame.

You also forgot that vampires cannot be seen in mirrors, can turn into bats and other other creatures, have mind control powers, etc. You should read Dracula by Bram Stoker. Also, vampirism is not contracted by being bitten by a vampire, it is contracted from drinking the blood of a vampire after having been drained of your own.

Vampires and Zombies are supposed to be supernatural creatures. In other words, their powers are of a supernatural (magical) nature. To attempt to explain their abilities through science cheapens the myth. In other words, it is lame.

However, it can be, imo, quite interesting.

You also forgot that vampires cannot be seen in mirrors, can turn into bats and other other creatures, have mind control powers, etc. You should read Dracula by Bram Stoker. Also, vampirism is not contracted by being bitten by a vampire, it is contracted from drinking the blood of a vampire after having been drained of your own.

Dracula, although being a very good book, should not set the parameters of a vampire. Different cultures have different ideas of what a vampire is, which is a good thing, to have the same constraints would be very boring

If writers want to explore vampirism by introducing a vampire causing pathogen. Let them, provided they create a good story I really don't care.

For a good look at the various powers and hindrances of different fictional (of course) vampires take a gander at this
http://home.eclipse.net/~srudy/myths/vampire_myths.html

Down System.... you've got Zombies all wrong. Most of the stuff you said isn't even true or distorted.

What you said: Zombie Virus connected strongly with the vampiric virus

Truth: There are many zombification viruses out there. The most notable and most common is Solanum which is a virus all on its own and is NOT in any way related to the Vampire virus. Other Zombification viruses include the T-Virus, G-Virus, Trioxin, and various others.


If you could show me some info on the Solnaum I'd be happy to take a look. However I was covering the Mononegavirales strand of zombie virus, but the Solnaum sounds interesting so I'd like to take a look at it.

What you said: Circulation only occurs by skeletal muscles. Virus is somewhat weaker than the vampiric strand and therefore many more people can survive.

Truth: Completely wrong. Zombies have no blood circulation whatsoever. Thus, this is the reason why they do not suffer from blood loss and cannot die from wounds of which a human being can die from. A virus is a virus, and weakness is not a factor. Because most humans are never introduced to Solanum their whole lives, the immune system cannot fight off the virus once introduced. The virus is extremely lethal and one bite, one scratch, one open wound brushing against a zombie can allow Solanum into the bloodstream. The Virus is not transferred only by saliva either. The virus can be transferred through blood, necrotic flesh, or brain matter from zombies (where the highest concentration of Solanum is).


Zombies do indeed have circulation because the brain cannot function without some kind of blood pumping, although it is incredibly weak, therefore is minutely effective as a method of extermination. Without some kind of circulation, a zombie cannot survive. However the circulation is indeed so minute that a zombie is indeed medically dead. What I said was many more people survive the zombiac coma and therefore manage to become zombies.

What you said: Ways of extermination: Decapitation, dismemberment, drowning, excessive blood loss.

Truth: Right, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Yes, ecapitation and destroying the brain is the most effective and THE only way to kill a zombie. Dismemberment does not work, as Zombies do not require legs or arms necessarily to live. Drowning does not work AT ALL because all organs in a zombie have been shut down with the exception of the BRAIN. This means the lungs (although zombies can use them) have no vital use for them. Zombies are known to scale the bottom of bodies of water (they do not know how to swim) and can stray across seas, lakes, and rivers into populated areas. Blood loss does not work AT ALL. Because Zombies have no circulatory system, they cannot bleed to death. All blood within a zombie pools to the bottom of their body, hence the reason why zombies recieve very pale looks and this is the reason why they decompose. If they did have circulation (through the skeletal system as you said), then their bodies would not decompose.


I respectfully retract what I said about drowning. This forum is really about me learning about zombies and vampires and I was just gathering what I thought I knew. Drowning seems rather silly now, re the retraction. Read above what I said about circulatory signifigance

What you said: Drowning is not entirely effective as zombies can survive large periods without oxygen because of the less neccessity to keep functions of the brain functioning.

Truth: Read above.


Read my retraction

Listen, don't take your info from www.FVZA.org because your best bet is to do research on Zombies and different forms and viruses for zombification. Happy hunting!

That was my intention, and if you would be able to direct me to some books or websites, I'd be more than gratefull.

well does anyone have some books and websites that might be elightening on zombies or vampires, in the scientific sense?

Zombie movies are not good and I do not like them. Too unreal.

Unreal, yeah, but how can you not like Dawn of the Dead?

http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=dawn_rules

:D

A zombie can live after being decapitated. It can talk, and its body can move around freely, but without any vision (obviously). Effective methods of killing a zombie:
1. Cutting the head in half with a chainsaw
2. Chopping up the body and head with an axe
3. Several shotgun blasts to the head or torso

Note: I have taking these methods from the most accurate and non-fictious source on zombies availiable. The Evil dead series.

A zombie can live after being decapitated. It can talk, and its body can move around freely, but without any vision (obviously). Effective methods of killing a zombie:
1. Cutting the head in half with a chainsaw
2. Chopping up the body and head with an axe
3. Several shotgun blasts to the head or torso

Note: I have taking these methods from the most accurate and non-fictious source on zombies availiable. The Evil dead series.

RAOFLMAO! :D