While it's a fact the most influential person in zombie fiction is George Romero, the undead's most easily identified trait—their hunger for human brains—came not from him, but from Dan O'Bannon, co-writer of Alien and writer/director of this 1985 cult classic, which also introduced the idea that zombies can run, talk, and deliver Schwarzenegger-tier one-liners. It's funnier than it is scary, but its signature creature, the Tarman, is one of horror's most iconic monsters. While it's not anywhere near as satisfying as Romero's own Day of the Dead released that same year, it's understandable why audiences then (and now, really) would have preferred the nudity-filled, punk rock joys of O'Bannon's spinoff instead. by Bobby Roberts