What would you do if there was a zombie outbreak? We have seen numerous films about zombie outbreak from Hollywood to Asian films, from feature films to short films. One of the most popular Asian zombie films in the last decade is Train to Busan (Yeon Sang-ho, 2016). Bite (Ray Wu, 2018) is one of the films about zombie outbreak after the zombie hype. Bite tells a story about a trapped elderly couple facing the reality that the wife reveals a bitten mark.
Thinking a zombie apocalypse will never happen in our lifetime? Pandemic is probably the closest real life experience to a zombie outbreak. A zombie outbreak would parallel pandemic through exponential spread and social challenge. These tips might or might not work for it.
1. Do not trust blindly everything you hear
Desperate time calls for desperate measures. You will hear some theories that do not make sense to cure the zombie condition. When there is a theory that consuming a zombie’s body part will reverse the zombie condition, there are some people who will try to do it immediately without rethinking, like the husband asking the wife to consume the zombie’s eyes after seeing her get bitten.
For those who grow up in an Asian household, they might be familiar with old wives’ tales that include superstition, folklore, traditional herbal medicine which might or might not be scientifically proven. Asians are familiar with herbs and animal by-products as medicine. During the pandemic, there were some rumors about how to avoid the virus or the best medicine for the disease. When people heard about this plant working to kill the virus, people hoarded this medicine until it was out of stock, even though it was not scientifically proven yet.
So, please calm down and do your assessment. Think twice before you act. If you still can not do it, so…
2. Find something that make you sane and stable
Many people turn to prayer during difficult times. Religion often mandates humans to preserve the body as pure as how humans are created. Being bitten and transformed into a zombie does not align with that value. The same thing with the theory of consuming zombie’s body parts does not align with the vegetarianism value that the wife holds. It might be considered cannibalism as well. Religious acts can be a stabilizing anchor that keeps you sane and maintains your mental stability.
Many people meditate to calm their mind. Doing sudoku might also work, at least for some people. Do anything that works for you. You do you.
3. Spending time with your loved ones … properly
The zombie outbreak is probably the last moment you can spend with your loved ones, either one or more transform into a zombie or death do us part. It might cross your mind to reminisce the memories or even to settle the unfinished business. In order to survive the zombie outbreak, we need to keep a sane mind and be logical. We should not throw gasoline on the fire. We are probably tempted to confront or test someone about their loyalty, but it will just worsen the situation. Remember the good times, not the bad times as your current situation is already very bad.
If you are doing all of the above, hopefully you will be able to survive the zombie outbreak, or at least in the Bite world.
Bite (Ray Wu / Taiwan / 2018) is part of Minikino Monthly Screening & Discussion May 2026: Minciang International Film Festival.
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