Fido

The film presents a 1950s-esque alternate universe where space radiation has turned the dead into zombies. Communities are fenced off and governed by ZomCon, which provides collar devices and remote controls to keep zombies docile and useful as labor. Humanity has survived a series of 'Zombie Wars', but the danger remains ever-present.

The housewife Helen defies her husband Bill's zombie phobia and brings home a zombie she names Fido. Bill had previously faced a zombie in his family and is wary of them, fearing what they can become. The decision to own a zombie is presented as a radical, uneasy adjustment to domestic life under ZomCon's rule.

Timmy, Helen and Bill's son, quickly forms a bond with Fido, treating him as a friend rather than a threat. The boy's companionship with the zombie provides a humanizing contrast to the oppressive world outside the fence. Their closeness foreshadows the film’s exploration of family and loyalty under control.

Fido's collar malfunctions and he accidentally kills the neighbor next door. That neighbor immediately returns as a zombie, triggering the first ripple of a small outbreak. The incident reveals how fragile the system is when a controlled zombie acts outside expected bounds.

The zombified neighbor lurches about and infects others before Timmy intervenes and kills the undead threat. The act intensifies the fear surrounding Fido and draws attention to the breakdown of the collar-controlled order. The incident marks the start of a broader investigation into the outbreak.

ZomCon security forces move in to quell the outbreak and restore order. They launch an inquiry into what caused the outbreak and who is to blame, signaling a tightening of control over both zombies and civilians. The episode exposes the fragility of their system and the fear it fosters.

Two local bullies are caught shooting a ZomCon officer, turning suspicion toward Fido and the family. The bullies pivot the narrative and evade responsibility by accusing the zombie of the attack. The community's paranoia deepens as tensions rise between humans and zombies.

The bullies kidnap Timmy and Fido, leading to a tense escape when Fido breaks free. Timmy directs Fido to return home to fetch Helen and help them, mirroring a Lassie-like rescue mission. The incident demonstrates how fragile trust is under the watchful eye of ZomCon.

Helen arrives and rescues Timmy from the bullies’ clutches, though the memory of the outbreak lingers. The family attempts to put the frightening episode behind them and return to normal life under ZomCon's oversight. The moment underscores fragile domestic peace in a controlled world.

The neighbor's death is finally uncovered and the murder is traced back to Fido, leading to his capture and transfer to ZomCon. At ZomCon, he is put to work in a factory, symbolizing his transformation into a controlled asset within the system. The family grapples with the consequences of their attachment to a zombie.

Timmy learns from Cindy Bottoms, daughter of ZomCon security chief Jonathan Bottoms, that Fido has been put to work at ZomCon. Determined to rescue him, Timmy enlists the help of Mr. Theopolis, a former ZomCon employee who was sidelined for fraternizing with a zombie. The information spurs their plan to breach the corporation's control.

Timmy finally locates Fido but is captured by Mr. Bottoms, who tries to toss him into the wild zone outside the fence. Bill intervenes in a bid to save his son and is killed in the struggle. Fido defeats Bottoms, kills him, and frees Timmy, turning back toward the family.

The media portrays the security breach as the fault of rednecks venturing into the wild zone, deflecting blame from ZomCon’s failures. Helen holds a headless funeral for Bill to prevent his zombification and to honor his desire for a resting state. The town uses the incident to reinforce the lie of a normal, controlled society.

In the final moments, Fido acts as a surrogate father to Timmy and Helen, and to the newborn baby. The family, including a zombified Jonathan Bottoms now under their control, continues domestic life behind ZomCon’s collars. The movie closes on a note of uneasy happiness in a world where the undead are part of everyday life.