Since it is October, and horror movies are the flavor of the month, we should review some zombie basics.
Zombies can be created my several means:
1) Voodoo (or similar) magic, and/or the use of zombie powder, done to create living-dead slaves.
2) Radiation or exposure to "something" from outer space.
3) Exposure to viral/bacterial agent, this being the most common in movies.
In the latter two, the zombie's created are also now highly contagious and can transmit their "zombieism" easily to other victims, usually via bite.
The affects of these agents can be varied. Zombie's tend to have greater strength than living humans, but different strains have different results in reversing rigor mortis. A few strains, as seen in 28 Days Later, can completely reverse the affect. But the majority of them can only reduce rigor by 20-30%, which causes a condition not unlike arthritis making it difficult for the zombie to move. As seen in most films, these zombies move rather slow and can easily be outrun.
Some zombies do crave human flesh, but we see that even subdivide into the specific desire for brains, or intestines.
In most cases the only way to "kill" a zombie is to destroy its brain. This would suggest that these zombie-causing agents are only effective on cadavers with an intact brain.
For further research, consult these educational films.
Night of the Living Dead - The original, and still one of the best.
Dawn of the Dead - I recommend the original, but the remake is good too.
Zombie - Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic, which includes the infamous "zombie vs. shark" scene.
Shaun of the Dead - Gory and hilarious British zombie goodness.
The Dead and the Damned - A zombie western. Cheesy, but good.
Ahhh! Zombies - A comedy from the Zombie's
Dead Snow - two words: Nazi Zombies
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