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The Walking Deceased (2015) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Walking Deceased (2015) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 88 min · English
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Directed by
Scott Dow

A sheriff, his son, and a diverse group of survivors find themselves racing against relentless hordes of the undead in a desperate search for refuge. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they encounter a solitary zombie on the brink of a startling transformation. This comedic adventure blends humor and heartfelt moments as the group navigates a world overrun by the walking dead, experiencing both laughter and unexpected connections along the way.

Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
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3 main characters · contains spoilers

The Walking Deceased Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Walking Deceased (2015), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Sheriff Lincoln (Dave Sheridan)

    Sheriff Lincoln grapples with confusion and a desire to reunite with his family while navigating his new zombie-infested reality. Emerging from a coma, he faces the weight of leadership and the challenges of protecting his loved ones amidst chaos. His character embodies a mix of vulnerability and determination in the face of relentless adversity.

    • 👮‍♂️ Lawman
    • 💔 Family Man
    • ⚔️ Resilient

  • Romeo

    Romeo stands out as a self-reflective zombie, bridging the gap between the undead and the emotional struggles of the living. His brooding demeanor and connection with Brooklyn highlight the movie's exploration of love even in bizarre settings. Through his eyes, we see the fragility of human connection amidst a grotesque reality.

    • 🧟‍♂️ Zombie
    • ❤️ Romantic
    • 🤔 Reflective

  • Brooklyn

    Brooklyn is an enigmatic young woman whose disdain for Green Bay stands juxtaposed against her growing bond with Romeo. Her character embodies strength and defiance surrounded by chaos, navigating complex relationships while illustrating the theme of forbidden love. Her journey becomes a focal point amidst the turmoil and danger.

    • 👩‍🎤 Strong Woman
    • 🌹 Romantic Interest
    • 🧠 Complex

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:07

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Setting

Where and When Does The Walking Deceased Take Place?

The setting of The Walking Deceased (2015): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present Day (Post-Apocalyptic)

Set in a contemporary backdrop, the film showcases a world grappling with the aftermath of a zombie outbreak. This post-apocalyptic era is marked by societal collapse and the frantic survival efforts of its characters. The timeline unfolds approximately twenty-nine days after the initial outbreak, blending chaos with dark humor as they navigate their new reality.

Location

Hospital, Abandoned Shopping Mall, Strip Club, The Farm

The movie traverses various locations starting with a hospital, which becomes a refuge amidst the zombie chaos. An abandoned shopping mall serves as a makeshift settlement for survivors, reflecting resilience amid ruins. A strip club is humorously depicted as a surprising refuge, while 'the farm' symbolizes the hope for safety, albeit controlled by enigmatic forces.

  • 🏥 Hospital
  • 🏬 Shopping Mall
  • 🍸 Strip Club
  • 🌾 Farm

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:07

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3 major themes

The Walking Deceased Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Walking Deceased (2015) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love & Loss

    The theme of love and loss permeates the narrative, as characters navigate their relationships amidst a zombie apocalypse. The connection between Brooklyn and Romeo reflects complexities of love in dire circumstances, highlighting both desire and despair. Furthermore, the loss experienced by Sheriff Lincoln and his family serves as a poignant reminder of the stakes at hand.

  • Survival

    Survival is a central theme, portrayed through the characters' desperate attempts to evade the undead. The group dynamics shift as they vie for resources and leadership in a fragmented world. Their journey to find safety, highlighted by the quest for the mythical 'farm,' encapsulates the essence of human resilience amidst overwhelming odds.

  • Chaos & Humor

    The film's comedic undertones provide a humorous lens to the chaos of a zombie apocalypse. Characters often find themselves in absurd situations, showcasing a blend of horror and comedy. This chaotic humor serves to alleviate the stark realities of survival, allowing for moments of levity even in dire circumstances.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:07

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Character & theme questions

The Walking Deceased Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Walking Deceased (2015): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Walking Deceased set?

The movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States, spanning multiple locations including a hospital, an abandoned shopping mall, a strip club, and a mysterious farm. These settings shift as survivors search for safety amid the zombie outbreak.

  • locations
  • settings
  • post-apocalyptic
  • zombie apocalypse
  • mall
  • hospital
  • farm
Q2

When does the story take place?

The film is set in present-day, approximately twenty-nine days after the initial zombie outbreak. The world depicted is in the early aftermath of societal collapse, with survivors still trying to adapt to their new reality.

  • timeline
  • post-apocalypse
  • present day
  • 29 days
  • zombie outbreak
Q3

What are the main themes in The Walking Deceased?

The movie explores three core themes: love and loss, which highlights relationships like Brooklyn and Romeo amid dire circumstances; survival, focusing on the characters' desperate quest for safety at the mythical farm; and chaos and humor, using absurd situations to blend horror with comedy in classic parody fashion.

  • themes
  • love
  • loss
  • survival
  • humor
  • comedy
  • parody
  • zombie tropes
Q4

Who is Sheriff Lincoln in the movie?

Sheriff Lincoln is the film's central law enforcement figure, portrayed by Dave Sheridan. After waking from a coma into the zombie-infested world, he struggles with confusion while desperately trying to reunite with his family. He embodies both vulnerability and determination as he assumes a protective leadership role among the survivors.

  • sheriff lincoln
  • dave sheridan
  • protagonist
  • leader
  • family
Q5

What role does Romeo play in the story?

Romeo is a self-reflective zombie who becomes a central figure bridging the gap between the living and the undead. His brooding demeanor and unexpected emotional connection with Brooklyn explore the film's theme of love even in the most bizarre circumstances. He represents the unique blend of horror and heart that defines the movie's tone.

  • romeo
  • zombie
  • romance
  • brooklyn
  • undead love
  • character
Q6

Who is Brooklyn in The Walking Deceased?

Brooklyn is an enigmatic young woman whose journey becomes a focal point amid the zombie chaos. She forms a growing bond with Romeo, defying the conventional boundaries between living and undead. Her character embodies strength and defiance, navigating complex relationships while illustrating the theme of forbidden love in a world overrun by zombies.

  • brooklyn
  • romeo
  • romance
  • strength
  • defiance
  • character
Q7

What is the significance of 'the farm' in the movie?

The farm serves as a symbol of hope throughout the survivors' journey, representing their quest for safety and a return to normalcy. However, this hopeful destination is controlled by enigmatic forces, adding an element of mystery to the narrative. It encapsulates the theme of human resilience and the search for sanctuary in a broken world.

  • the farm
  • hope
  • safety
  • symbol
  • survivors
  • quest
Q8

Is this a parody movie?

Yes, The Walking Deceased is a satirical comedy that parodies zombie film tropes. The movie uses a whimsical, fast-paced approach with rapid-fire ridiculous events, blending dark humor with heartfelt moments. With a high humor score of 8, it prioritizes laughs over genuine horror or tension, making it a lighthearted spoof of the zombie apocalypse genre.

  • parody
  • comedy
  • zombie parody
  • satire
  • spoof
  • humor
  • whimsical
Q9

How does the survival theme play out?

Survival drives the narrative as characters desperately evade undead hordes while searching for resources and leadership. The group dynamics constantly shift as they vie for safety, with their journey to find the mythical farm serving as the ultimate representation of human resilience against overwhelming odds.

  • survival
  • resources
  • leadership
  • resilience
  • group dynamics
  • zombies
Q10

How does love and loss factor into the story?

Love and loss permeate the narrative through relationships like Brooklyn and Romeo's unexpected connection, which highlights complexities of desire and despair in dire circumstances. Sheriff Lincoln's grief over his lost family serves as a poignant reminder of the personal stakes at hand, grounding the comedy in genuine emotional weight.

  • love
  • loss
  • relationships
  • romeo brooklyn
  • sheriff lincoln
  • family
Q11

What is the overall tone and mood of the film?

The movie maintains a whimsical, lighthearted tone despite its post-apocalyptic setting. With medium intensity and low tension, it focuses on humor over horror. The blend of chaos and humor creates moments of levity even in dire situations, resulting in a bittersweet ending that resolves immediate threats while delivering an absurd punchline.

  • tone
  • mood
  • whimsical
  • lighthearted
  • humor
  • bittersweet
  • comedy

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Walking Deceased, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Walking Deceased tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Genre Parodies like The Walking Deceased

Fast-paced spoofs that gleefully dismantle familiar movie conventions with absurd humor. If you liked the absurd, fast-paced spoofing of zombie movies in The Walking Deceased, you'll enjoy these other movies that playfully dismantle genre conventions. Find similar films that use parody and satire for a goofy, lighthearted take on familiar stories.

  • parody
  • satirical
  • goofy
  • silly
  • absurd
  • chaotic
  • Tone: whimsical, satirical
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a familiar genre framework only to subvert it at every turn with exaggerated characters, ridiculous plot developments, and meta-humor. The narrative journey is less about a traditional arc and more about a succession of comedic set pieces that reference and ridicule genre staples.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared approach of using parody as the primary narrative engine. They share a whimsical tone, fast pacing, and a light emotional weight, prioritizing laughter and recognition of tropes over suspense or drama.

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Bittersweet Comedy Endings like in The Walking Deceased

Hilarious journeys that end on a note of poignant, often absurd, reflection. Discover movies similar to The Walking Deceased that blend laugh-out-loud humor with a surprisingly poignant or ironic ending. These films offer a complete comedic experience but leave you with a thoughtful, bittersweet feeling after the credits roll.

  • bittersweet
  • funny
  • ironic
  • thoughtful
  • lighthearted
  • absurd
  • Tone: whimsical, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a primarily comedic plot where characters achieve a semblance of victory or resolution, only for the conclusion to introduce an element that complicates or partially negates the happy ending. This creates a unique emotional blend, where the journey is fun and silly, but the destination carries a touch of irony or melancholy.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies based on their unique emotional blend of high comedy and a bittersweet conclusion. They share a moderate complexity in balancing humor with a final emotional twist, creating a memorable and distinctive viewing experience.

They Came Together movie poster

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Every angle

The Walking Deceased (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Walking Deceased in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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