Weekly Zombie News
07 August 2025, Week 1
From controversial endings and ancient parasites to fandoms on the march, this week's undead headlines remind us why zombies never stay buried for long.
🧠 1. “28 Years Later” Ending Sparks Heated Debate.
The ending of 28 Years Later has ignited online controversy. In a surreal final act, protagonist Spike is rescued by a cult-like figure named Sir Jimmy Crystal, a twisted character reportedly modelled after disgraced UK personality Jimmy Savile. Some viewers called it “genius social commentary,” while others found it offensive and bizarre. Theories are already swirling about the sequel, The Bone Temple.
(Source: news.com.au)
🎮 2. Resident Evil 9 Leak Points to 2026 Release.
A new report from Dexerto suggests Resident Evil 9 is due for a 2026 launch. Capcom is reportedly leaning into psychological horror and exploration, stepping back from high-octane action in favour of dread-heavy storytelling. While unconfirmed, leaks hint at a remote forest setting, a cursed village, and a new protagonist tormented by infection induced visions.
(Source: Dexerto)
📚 3. “Rotting Season” Comic Series Launches Online.
Indie publisher Cross Cut Comics has released Rotting Season, a dark new zombie comic exploring paranoia during an urban viral lockdown. With a gritty hand-drawn style and fragmented timelines, the story follows a quarantined apartment complex as relationships break down and infected horrors creep in. Early readers praise its claustrophobic tension and emotional depth.
(Source: Horror Geek Life)
🧬 4. Fossilized “Zombie Fungus” Found in 99-Million-Year-Old Amber.
Scientists have discovered two species of zombifying parasitic fungi frozen in amber for 99 million years. The samples show ants and flies infected by early forms of Ophiocordyceps, the same mind-controlling fungus that plagues insects today. This find pushes back the known history of behaviour-altering pathogens to the time of the dinosaurs.
(Source: Smithsonian Magazine)
🎭 5. Portland Zombie Walk Returns This September.
The beloved Portland Zombie Walk is officially back for 2025. Scheduled for mid-September, the event invites thousands of participants to roam the streets in full undead attire. Organisers promise live music, professional SFX makeup booths, food trucks, and new charity partnerships. It’s one of the largest zombie-themed gatherings in the U.S.
(Source: portlandzombiewalk.com)
🧠 6. Study Links Zombie Fiction to Mental Resilience.
A recent study published in Psychology Today suggests that people who frequently read or watch zombie fiction may be more psychologically prepared for real-life disasters. Exposure to high-stakes survival scenarios in horror media appears to strengthen emotional regulation, adaptability, and stress response. In short: zombie fans might just be built different.
(Source: Psychology Today)
☣️ Stay Alert, Stay Undead.
That’s all for this week’s dispatch. Keep your eyes open and your brain protected, we'll return next week with more rotten headlines and viral revelations from the world of the undead.
From Fungus to Fandom: This Week in the World of the Undead
