This study explores how the zombie myth is portrayed in film and television through a semiotic lens, focusing on The Walking Dead and Train to Busan as primary case studies. It analyzes visual and symbolic elements that define the zombie figure and their narrative contexts. The research emphasizes the use of dark lighting, camera movement, and visual composition to convey fear and tension. It also examines character interactions and dialogues to uncover embedded human values like fear, sacrifice, and cooperation. The study connects zombie imagery to broader social and political anxieties such as societal collapse and identity loss. Zombies are depicted as both physical and symbolic threats, reflecting existential fears. Technical elements like expressive lighting, long takes, and strategic silence enhance emotional impact. The study highlights the moral contradictions between survival instincts and ethical responsibilities. It concludes that zombie fiction offers profound insights into human nature and societal dynamics. The study recommends incorporating horror films into academic curricula and promoting critical discussions on their cinematic and cultural significance. Keywords: Cinematic semiotics, meanings of cinematic imagery, myth in cinema, moral decision in the face of death.

Title

المجلة الجزائرية للاتصال

Publisher

المجلة الجزائرية للنشر

Publisher Country

Algeria

Publication Type

Prtinted only

Volume

27

Year

2025

Pages

147-158