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We Are Zombies (2023) movie poster

Characters & Themes

We Are Zombies (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 80 mins · English
Echo score 69
JustWatch #4,940 21
Directed by
Anouk Whissell, François Simard
Starring
Teneisha Collins, Clare Coulter, Dusan Dukic, Vincent Leclerc, Guy Nadon, Derek Johns

Set in a city overrun by the LIVING‑IMPAIRED—non‑cannibal zombies—a trio of aimless friends looking for quick cash find themselves drawn into a desperate rescue. They battle petty criminals and a ruthless megacorporation that has kidnapped their grandmother, fighting to free her before it’s too late.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like We Are Zombies
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch We Are Zombies (2023)

Where can you watch We Are Zombies? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Midnight Pulp and Fawesome: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

We Are Zombies Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of We Are Zombies (2023), 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.

  • Chelsea Lee (Teneisha Collins)

    Chelsea is a dynamic character involved in the unfolding chaos. Her interactions suggest she's resourceful and caught in the midst of zombie-related conflicts. Her role may involve resistance or survival, reflecting resilience amidst societal breakdown.

    • 💪 resilient
    • 💃 resourceful
    • 🧟‍♀️ survivor
  • Mrs. Neard (Clare Coulter)

    Mrs. Neard is the elderly relative of Karl Neard, who becomes a zombie after being accidentally shot. Her character symbolizes family bonds and innocence lost in the chaos, and her transformation highlights the personal toll of the zombie outbreak.

    • 👵 family
    • 😢 tragic
    • 🧟‍♀️ undead
  • Freddy Mercks (Derek Johns)

    Freddy is a humorous and impulsive character, driven by romantic ideals and quick to act. His resilience and loyalty make him a key survivor, even as he navigates the chaos of the zombie apocalypse.

    • 😂 humorous
    • 💘 romantic
    • 🧟‍♂️ survivor
  • Karl Neard (Alexandre Nachi)

    Karl is a pragmatic and resourceful character, often trying to reason with the chaos around him. His fascination with online sex performer Zelvirella contrasts with his practical approach to survival.

    • 🎯 pragmatic
    • 🤳 tech-savvy
    • 🧟‍♂️ reluctant hero

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

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Setting

Where and When Does We Are Zombies Take Place?

The setting of We Are Zombies (2023): 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 or near future

The events of the movie are set in a contemporary timeframe, with modern technology and societal structures. The storyline involves recent advancements and experiments related to zombies, indicating a setting close to the current era.

Location

Coleman Corporation, Country Hill Cemetery, private suite above Otto Maddox's show, diner owned by Uncle Dave

The movie takes place in various locations including the Coleman Corporation, which is involved in zombie management and research, and a cemetery where bodies are temporarily stored. Parts of the story unfold in Otto Maddox's private performance art suite, highlighting a surreal and chaotic environment. The final survival setting is a modest diner in a wasteland, emphasizing the post-apocalyptic scenario.

  • 🏢 Corporate
  • ⚰️ Cemetery
  • 🎭 Art scene
  • 🍽️ Diner

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

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2 major themes

We Are Zombies Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is We Are Zombies (2023) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Zombies

    The film explores the theme of zombie existence, examining both their biological nature and societal perception. The zombies are depicted as 'living-impaired' but capable of violence, reflecting fears of dehumanization and the potential chaos of uncontrolled undead creatures. It combines horror with satire of corporate and social issues surrounding the undead.

  • Greed and corruption

    The story highlights corporate greed, with the Coleman Corporation experimenting on zombies for profit and control. The pursuit of wealth leads to dangerous experiments and reckless decisions, emphasizing themes of moral compromised for monetary gain. The characters' desperation further underscores the corrupting influence of money.

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 04:50

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Character & theme questions

We Are Zombies Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about We Are Zombies (2023): 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 We Are Zombies set?

The movie takes place in a dystopian city with several key locations: the Coleman Corporation (a megacorporation managing zombies), Country Hill Cemetery (where bodies are stored), a private performance art suite, and a modest diner in a wasteland that serves as the final survival setting.

  • setting
  • locations
  • coleman corporation
  • cemetery
  • diner
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The movie is set in the present day or near future, featuring modern technology and societal structures. The storyline involves recent advancements in zombie-related experiments, placing it in a contemporary context rather than a far-future apocalypse.

  • time period
  • present day
  • near future
  • modern era
Q3

What is the Coleman Corporation in the movie?

The Coleman Corporation is a ruthless megacorporation that manages and experiments on zombies for profit and control. They are the main antagonistic force in the film, conducting dangerous experiments and making reckless decisions purely for monetary gain.

  • coleman corporation
  • virus corporation
  • antagonist
  • megacorporation
Q4

What are the main themes in We Are Zombies?

The film explores two primary themes: zombie existence and corporate greed. The zombies are depicted as 'living-impaired' but capable of violence, combining horror with satire of social issues. Simultaneously, it examines how corporate greed leads to dangerous experiments and moral compromised decisions.

  • themes
  • zombies
  • corporate greed
  • satire
  • horror comedy
Q5

Is We Are Zombies a horror movie or a comedy?

We Are Zombies is a blend of comedy, horror, and thriller genres. The film combines graphic zombie violence and dark themes with absurd humor, creating a satirical take on the apocalypse that undercuts its cynical portrayal of corporate exploitation.

  • genre
  • horror comedy
  • thriller
  • satire
  • tonal blend
Q6

Who are the main characters?

The key characters include Chelsea Lee, a resourceful survivor caught in the zombie chaos; Karl Neard, a pragmatic survivor fascinated with online performers; Freddy Mercks, a humorous and impulsive character driven by romantic ideals; and Mrs. Neard, Karl's elderly grandmother who becomes a zombie.

  • characters
  • chelsea
  • karl neard
  • freddy mercks
  • mrs neard
Q7

Who is Mrs. Neard in the movie?

Mrs. Neard is the elderly grandmother of Karl Neard. She becomes a zombie after being accidentally shot, symbolizing the personal toll of the zombie outbreak on families and representing the loss of innocence amid the chaos.

  • mrs neard
  • grandmother
  • karl neard
  • family
  • zombie transformation
Q8

What does the movie say about corporate greed?

The film presents a cynical view of corporate exploitation, showing how the Coleman Corporation's pursuit of profit leads to dangerous zombie experiments and societal collapse. The story emphasizes that金钱 (money) corrupts and drives reckless decisions that ultimately worsen the apocalypse.

  • corporate greed
  • money
  • critique
  • exploitation
  • coleman corporation
Q9

What kind of world does We Are Zombies portray?

The movie depicts a world overrun by 'living-impaired' zombies where corporate experimentation has gone wrong. It's a bleak post-apocalyptic setting where petty criminals, desperate families, and ruthless corporations battle for survival amid total societal breakdown.

  • post-apocalyptic
  • world
  • zombie apocalypse
  • dystopia
  • society
Q10

What is the tone and mood of We Are Zombies?

The film has a dark tone with cynical portrayals of corporate exploitation and a bleak outcome. However, this darkness is frequently undercut by absurd humor, creating a satirical and grotesque tone rather than a purely serious horror atmosphere.

  • tone
  • mood
  • dark humor
  • satire
  • bleak
Q11

Who is Karl Neard in the movie?

Karl Neard is one of the protagonists, portrayed as pragmatic and resourceful. He attempts to reason with the chaos around him and is notably fascinated with an online sex performer named Zelvirella, which contrasts with his practical approach to survival.

  • karl neard
  • protagonist
  • zelvirella
  • online performer
Q12

Who is Freddy Mercks in the movie?

Freddy Mercks is a humorous and impulsive character driven by romantic ideals. He acts quickly and is fiercely loyal to his friends, making him a key survivor despite his tendency to rush into situations without thinking.

  • freddy mercks
  • comic relief
  • romantic
  • loyal
  • survivor
Q13

Who is Chelsea Lee in the movie?

Chelsea Lee is a dynamic character who appears resourceful and caught in the midst of the zombie-related chaos. Her role involves resistance or survival efforts, reflecting resilience amidst the societal breakdown caused by the zombie outbreak.

  • chelsea lee
  • survivor
  • resistance
  • resourceful
  • character role

Movie threads

More Movies Like We Are Zombies, by Mood & Story

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

Chaotic Dark Satires like We Are Zombies

Where societal breakdown meets absurd, fast-paced humor and high-stakes action. If you liked the mix of corporate greed, zombie mayhem, and absurd humor in We Are Zombies, you'll enjoy these movies. Discover films with similar high-intensity pacing, darkly satirical tones, and stories about desperate characters navigating a collapsing society.

  • satirical
  • chaotic
  • absurd
  • gritty
  • anxious
  • bizarre
  • Tone: dark, satirical, absurd
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often follow misfit characters thrust into a crisis, where the established order is failing or has already failed. The conflict is typically against a powerful, exploitative system as much as the immediate threat, unfolding at a breakneck pace with a cynical outlook.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a unique blend of high-intensity action, dark and absurdist humor, and a satirical take on modern anxieties. The pacing is relentless, the tone is bleak yet funny, and the worlds are gritty and bizarre.

Underdog vs. Corporation Stories like We Are Zombies

A group of unlikely allies takes on a powerful, ruthless corporation in a bleak world. Explore movies similar to We Are Zombies where a found family of misfits battles corporate greed. These films often share a gritty tone, moderate complexity, and a bleak outlook, focusing on desperate rescue missions or rebellions against powerful entities.

  • gritty
  • desperate
  • rebellious
  • underdog
  • dystopian
  • tense
  • Tone: gritty, bleak, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, high-stakes
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a small, personally motivated group confronting a vast, impersonal corporate or institutional power. The journey is one of desperate improvisation against a well-resourced antagonist, often involving a rescue or heist, and typically ends with a Pyrrhic victory or bleak outcome that underscores the systemic inequality.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their core conflict: the personal versus the impersonal, the small versus the giant. They explore themes of corporate greed, desperate solidarity, and fighting for family in a world that values profit over people, creating a specific vibe of gritty, high-stakes rebellion.

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Movies Like We Are Zombies

Similar movies to We Are Zombies: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

We Are Zombies (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about We Are Zombies 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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