Zombie Casserole (and the Art of 2 Undead Indie Shorts.) by Brian Kirst

So, just exactly how do you make zombie casserole? My guess is you take an eager young writer-director and mix him up with a cast and crew made out of energetic friends. You then add gobs of spurting blood and some slimy intestines. A good sense of humor helps everything gel – and then presto (after a few months of editing and getting your primary footage out of hock) you have a bloody, hilarious independent zombie short. Here are two of the best I’ve stumbled upon lately.

Better Off Undead. 2007. A Newbeat/Head Trauma Production. (www.myspace.com/better_off_undead)

"The first one is a dry run. From then on, lotion is a fair game." – Marcus, "Better Off Undead"

Filmed in Oshkosh, WI by producer, writer, director John Pata "Better Off Undead" follows the adventures of slacker friends Marcus, Evan and Chris. Xena loving Evan and reefer hogging Marcus bicker and rag on each other while even keeled Chris tries to keep the peace. Soon all are just trying to stay in one piece as a mysterious zombie invasion hits their small town. Punctuated by eclectic punk tunes, Pata directs this minor limb spewing opus with a sure hand, wrangling naturalistic performances out of Drew Schuldt, Jordan Brown and Dale Devries. These three provide BOU’s primary enjoyment and their appeal grows on you with repeat viewings. Pata also succeeds with an over the top dream sequence and provides plenty of intestine gobbling gruesomeness. Like a mild bong hit, this movie provides a pleasant 29 minute buzz and it will be interesting to watch Pata as he develops in the future. The disc also comes loaded with plenty of special features – the funniest involving a vomit inducing microwave egg sandwich.

Dead Shit. 2007. Hack Movies. www.hackmovies.com

"But who – Who would set the power of Hell on us?" – Hogan, "Dead Shit"

This 32 minute feature is truly offensive, politically incorrect and had me giggling like a hyena sucking on Robotussin cough syrup. Major stoners Hogan and Nixon find their continual high ruined by a sudden Zombie apocalypse. When non discriminating Nixon (marvelously slack jawed Joshitsuo Montoya) falls in lust with a sexy zombie babe, Hell truly breaks loose and even Hogan’s obnoxious cowboy hat wearing brother Tony may not be able to save the two from a gruesome fate. Writer and director Kevin Strange truly delivers a silly yet bloodily well rounded tale. His pace is at once swift and as pleasantly ambling as the ambitionless characters he has created. Most importantly, his wide eyed muttering as the over the top Hogan makes "Dead Shit" a short that you may want revisit a few times over before consigning it to that flesh rotting DVD coffin in the sky. If nothing else, Tony DeSaben’s butt shaking punk theme should have you jostling down the streets with pure contentment for many days to follow.