Doc of the Dead
A documentary examining the zombie genre in film and culture.
A 2014 American documentary, *Doc of the Dead* was written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe and examines the zombie genre. It premiered at South by Southwest on March 10, 2014, and aired on Epix five days later. The film includes interviews with entertainers who have both shaped and been shaped by zombie culture.
The documentary explores zombies in film, literature, and broader pop culture. Interviewees from these fields discuss how the genre has changed them personally, influenced their work, and affected society.
Critical reception was largely positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 12 critics gave favorable reviews, with an average score of 6.8/10. *Fearnet* commended the film for its thoroughness, noting it appeals to both zombie experts and newcomers without alienating either. *The Hollywood Reporter* called it an "entertaining but lightweight pop-culture doc." *Indiewire* observed that some sections felt "more or less dead on their feet," but added that these slower parts don't undermine the documentary's goal of celebrating the genre's origins, assessing its cultural impact, and exploring real-world zombie scenarios. *The Austin Chronicle* echoed this, writing that while the film has strong moments—especially the debate over slow versus fast zombies—it largely follows a familiar pattern of history, pop-psychology theories, and movie clips.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Alexandre O. Philippe
- Producer
- Robert Muratore / Kerry Deignan Roy
- Writer
- Alexandre O. Philippe / Chad Herschberger
- Starring
- Simon Pegg / George A. Romero
- Music
- Shawn King
- Cinematography
- Robert Muratore
- Editing
- Chad Herschberger
- Studio
- Geekscape Productions / Red Letter Media
- Distributor
- Exhibit A Pictures
- Released
- 10 March 2014 · SXSW
- Runtime
- 81 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Doc of the Dead looks at the zombie genre in film, literature and pop culture as a whole. Several entertainers from various fields such as film and literature are interviewed on how zombies have changed not only them, but how they entertain others, and how the genre has influenced and had an impact on society at large. The film incorporates a wide range of perspectives to explore the cultural significance of zombies.
Reader's Guide
Doc of the Dead received positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10. Fearnet praised the film for incorporating as much information as it did, as they felt that it would help the documentary appeal to both audiences familiar and unfamiliar with the zombie genre while alienating neither. In contrast, The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the documentary was an 'entertaining but lightweight pop-culture doc'. Indiewire commented that Doc of the Dead did have some sections that were 'more or less dead on their feet' but that the 'slower parts of Doc of the Dead don't diffuse the overall intention of the documentary, which is to celebrate where the zombie came from (the first open grave, if you will), try and gauge its current cultural impact and see how these brain-eating scenarios could play out in real life.' The Austin Chronicle expressed a similar opinion in its review, writing, 'Though not without its moments (especially the slow-moving vs. fast-moving zombie debate), overall the doc seems rote, running a familiar gamut: history, pop-psych theories, tons of movie clips, etc.'
Did You Know?
- Doc of the Dead had its world premiere on March 10, 2014, at South by Southwest.
- The film features several entertainers who have had an impact on, and been affected by, the zombie genre and culture.
- The documentary includes a debate about slow-moving versus fast-moving zombies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Doc of the Dead?
Doc of the Dead is a 2014 American documentary written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe that examines the zombie genre across film, literature, and broader pop culture.
Who directed Doc of the Dead?
Alexandre O. Philippe both wrote and directed the film, which he presented as a personal exploration of how zombie culture has shaped creators and audiences alike.
What does Doc of the Dead actually cover?
The documentary features interviews with entertainers from film, literature, and pop culture who discuss how the zombie genre has personally influenced their work and how it has affected society at large.
Where and when did Doc of the Dead premiere?
It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest festival on March 10, 2014, and followed up with a television premiere on the Epix network on March 15, 2014.
How did critics receive Doc of the Dead?
Critical reception was largely positive, with the film holding a 92% approval rating from twelve critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
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