History Main / TechnicallyLivingZombie

Since they ''are'' living people instead of animate corpses, these zombies are almost always easier to kill than the undead kind. They may disregard nonfatal (or not-immediately-fatal) wounds, but unless zombification comes with more factors than "acts rabid", anything that would kill a human will kill them. It does run into a bit of a problem if you want a true ZombieApocalypse in which the zombies act like classic zombies only driven by hunger. It's easy to handwave a supernatural zombie that's a PerpetualMotionMonster, but living creatures require food, water, and usually rest. Without those, within a few weeks the original living zombie infectees should be dead (in the permanent sense) as a lack of resources causes their bodies to fail. Zombies that retain enough survival instinct to meet their own bodily needs - functioning more like wild animals that simply prioritize human prey - can be a threat for longer, though [[NoZombieCannibals why they don't eat each other]] may need to be addressed. This can be worked around if the story has a short timeframe, and it's accepted that the zombies ''will'' die out shortly, but they're still an immediate threat to the protagonists. In fact, this trait can be even integrated in the story by making the zombie plague a man-made biological weapon designed to rapidly turn the population into a mob of throthing monsters that would tear itself apart.

* In ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', an aircraft containing volatile and dangerous chemicals crashes into one of the smaller islands making up Steelport, causing the lethal cargo to be released into the air and turn all the citizens there into zombies. The next mission has the player going there to deal with said cargo, and is slightly affected themselves due to a faulty gas mask, but once they get it patched up they're perfectly fine, and with said cargo pushed into the water the player can travel back there whenever they want with no ill effects (other than being attacked by the zombies, since they continue to infinitely respawn).

* ‘’Series/{{Apocalypse}}’’, a Channel 4 special by Creator/DerrenBrown, takes one unsuspecting volunteer and drops him in the middle of a world where bacteria from an alleged set of meteors that hit Earth has infected a large portion of the UK, and then them, into "the infected" as part of an EpiphanyTherapy.
* TheVirus in the Epidemiology episode of ''Series/{{Community}}'' gives people high fevers that make them act like zombies, complete with spreading via bites.

** The Primords from the serial "Inferno": super-strong, unintelligent and murderous. There is even a sequence where the Doctor is forced to kill a zombified [[spoiler:Benton]].
** [[Characters/DoctorWhoAliensAndMonsters The Flood]]'s infected hosts in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E16TheWatersOfMars The Waters of Mars]]". Maggie's bio-scan shows the husks now possessed by the EldritchAbomination exhibit a decreased heartbeat, while electrical activity in the brain (which is implicitly now occupied by the Flood) is "haywire".
** The "zombies" from "Journey to the Center of the TARDIS", though in context, that arguably makes them more disturbing.
* On ''Series/{{Dollhouse}},'' neural imprinting technology is used to turn millions of people into mindless killing machines called "butchers" in the BadFuture. (And no, this future is ''not'' prevented.) This is one of the few types of zombism that isn't either supernatural ''or'' a pathogen, and it's not contiguous in any way. They are simply reprogrammed people (via sound waves transmitted over the phone network that overwrote their memories and personalities), and they can be reprogrammed back, or at least reprogrammed into something else.

* The Reavers in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' are like this, though they retain enough intelligence to operate spacecraft, and are more malevolent than other examples as they live not only to kill their victims but to kill them in the most painful way possible, often raping and flaying them before finishing them off. In fact, it's not until [[Film/{{Serenity}} the movie]] that we get definite confirmation that they fit into this specific trope, [[spoiler:having fallen victim to a HatePlague]] and aren't some kind of AxCrazy death cult.

* The infected in D.J. Molles ''Literature/TheRemaining'' universe are a novel example of the technically living zombie. They are infected by the [[FURY bacterium]] and are great examples of what's come to be known as fast zombies in other media. Further in the series the infected [[spoiler: evolve into what are called Primals. In the lore it's explained that these primals reacted to eating raw meat differently than the other infected and have grown supernaturally fast and strong.]]

* The infected in D.J. Molles ''Literature/TheRemaining'' universe are a novel example of the technically living zombie. They are infected by the [[FURY bacterium]] and are great examples of what's come to be known as fast zombies in other media. Further in the series the infected [[evolve into what are called Primals. In the lore it's explained that these primals reacted to eating raw meat differently than the other infected and have grown supernaturally fast and strong.]]

* The 1989 film ''The Chilling'' has a freak thunderstorm wreak havoc at a cryogenics laboratory; several of the preserved people are revived, but in a defrosted state that leaves them looking like icy, shambling corpses that begin killing and eating everything around them due to brain damage.
* ''The Crazies'':
** In [[Film/TheCrazies1973 the 1973 original]], there's a nerve agent airborne virus that turns people into oddly calm psychotics. The virus either kills the hosts or makes them kill themselves, but preferentially makes them target non-infected they have a grudge on.
** In [[Film/TheCrazies2010 the 2010 remake]], the virus that causes the Crazies, is a modified and weaponized variant of ''rhabdoviridae'' (rabies is a part of that family of virii) that got into the water supply of Ogden Marsh. It was modified by the US Army at Fort Detrick, with the intention of destabilizing a target population, preferably the enemies'. It was on its way to an incinerator facility in Texas, before a storm caused the plane delivering the virus to its destination; to crash into the swamps around Ogden Marsh. It got into the watershed and ended up contaminating everyone.

* ''Film/{{Quarantine}}'' references rabies. (The original ''Film/{{REC}}'' looks like one of these as well, [[spoiler:but ends up going [[DemonicPossession in a different direction]]]].)

*** Officially, the victims are called "Infected"; that doesn't stop everyone non-official from calling them zombies and [[GenreSavvy referencing zombie movie tropes]]. In-universe, the survivors referred to the infected as both zombies and infected.
* Husks in ''Franchise/MassEffect'', who are captured humans that were forcibly implanted with Reaper technology. ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' shows the Reapers have created Banshees, Marauders, Brutes, and Ravagers out of huskified Asari, Turians, Krogan/Turian hybrids, and Rachni, respectively.

Since they ''are'' living people instead of animate corpses, these zombies are almost always easier to kill than the undead kind. They may disregard nonfatal (or not-immediately-fatal) wounds, but unless zombification comes with more factors than "acts rabid", anything that would kill a human will kill them. It does run into a bit of a problem if you want a true ZombieApocalypse in which the zombies act like classic zombies only driven by hunger. It's easy to handwave a supernatural zombie that's a PerpetualMotionMonster, but living creatures require food, water, and usually rest. Without those, within a few weeks the original living zombie infectees should be dead (in the permanent sense) as a lack of resources causes their bodies to fail. Zombies that retain enough survival instinct to meet their own bodily needs - functioning more like wild animals that simply prioritize human prey - can be a threat for longer, though [[NoZombieCannibals why they don't eat each other]] may need to be addressed.

* In the fifth episode of ''Series/DarkMatter'', the crew are hired to salvage a supposedly abandoned space freighter full of these, thanks to a virus developed by Traugott Corporation from alien trees, meant to be an ImmortalityInducer, that went horribly wrong.

* The infected of ''Warning Sign'' become gravely ill and seemingly die, but are actually only going into a short coma before returning as murderous psychopaths.

* Despite the name, the "zombie" horde in ''Zombiez'' never gives the impression that it consists of anything other than regular human cannibals who talk, use tools and weapons, hold people captive, die from being stabbed in the torso, and panic and flee at the sound of a police siren.

* Literature/AbleTeam #8 "Army of Devils" involves a drug which turns gang punks into enraged killers, resulting loads of gorn, the use of excessive firepower and inarticulately growling attackers who need to be shot in the head to be stopped; it's been described by fans as a zombie story masquerading as an action adventure novel.

* The "zombies" in ''Nightmare City'', also known as ''City of the Walking Dead'', are, um, ''not'' walking dead at all. They're humans driven insane by a radioactive disaster, who are now driven to psychopathically murder any man, woman or child they see and spread the contamination by mere proximity. However because of their "molecular structure" they are basically immune to bullets and can only die by a gunshot to the head. The main identifier which separates them from normal humans is that their skin shows signs of extreme radiation exposure -- burns, blisters, puss, the whole nine yards. They seem to drink blood and eat flesh to survive, having lost most higher brain functions, but also seem to still have full motor control, can run as fast as a human, have greater strength and endurance and can use weapons. Not surprisingly, it becomes clear if the contamination spreads it'll mean the extinction of mankind.

* In ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'', PsychicPowers such as those from Controller mutants and Kaymanov emitters strip people of their higher brain functions, turning them into zombies ([[NotUsingTheZWord yes, it actually calls them that]]) that are hostile to everything but other zombies. Unlike most examples, psi zombies shamble slowly as they go and can only moan incoherently like a classic Romero zombie, and are equally resistant to any damage but a [[BoomHeadshot headshot]]; their main threat is their retained ability to use their firearms, and even then [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy they're not exactly accurate]] [[JustifiedTrope due to their crippled brainpower]]. In ''Call of Pripyat'', these zombies can sometimes be found gathered around a fire pit, engaging in a incoherent conversation and even stick out their hands into the heat in order to keep warm, suggesting that they still hold some trace of their former self.

* Emperor Belos from ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' could count as one, though he does retain higher brain function throughout. After realizing he could never accomplish his goals in a single lifetime, he started stealing and consuming [[BondCreature Palismen]] to stay alive, which had the side effect of causing his entire body to necrose. By the time the show starts, Belos has been alive for over 400 years, and while his {{Glamour}} makes him look like a normal old man with a skin condition, he has become fully dependent on consuming Palismen to retain his form, transforming into a rotting sludge-creature if he doesn't. It's also strongly implied that he's unable to die, since [[spoiler:being splattered across a wall didn't kill him, and he's able to regenerate himself [[FromASingleCell from a single glob of goop]] by consuming woodland creatures like rabbits and deer. Later on, it is shown that if he goes too long without replenishing his lifeforce, his body will start to fall apart.]]

* Emperor Belos from ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' could count as one. After realizing he could never accomplish his goals in a single lifetime, he started stealing and consuming [[BondCreature Palismen]] to stay alive, which had the side effect of causing his entire body to necrose. By the time the show starts, Belos has been alive for over 400 years, and while his {{Glamour}} makes him look like a normal old man with a skin condition, he has become fully dependent on consuming Palismen to retain his form, transforming into a rotting sludge-creature if he doesn't. It's also strongly implied that he's unable to die, since [[spoiler:being splattered across a wall didn't kill him, and he's able to regenerate himself [[FromASingleCell from a single glob of goop]] by consuming woodland creatures like rabbits and deer. Later on, it is shown that if he goes too long without replenishing his lifeforce, his body will start to fall apart.]]

Since they ''are'' living people instead of animate corpses, these zombies are almost always easier to kill than the undead kind. They may disregard nonfatal (or not-immediately-fatal) wounds, but unless zombification comes with more factors than "acts rabid", anything that would kill a human will kill them. It does run into a bit of a problem if you want a true ZombieApocalypse in which the zombies act like classic zombies only driven by hunger. If they don't drink water or eat anything but live humans they should die of starvation and/or dehydration fairly quickly, as rabid animals do. By the time a few weeks have passed, the original zombie infectees should be dead (in the permanent sense) as a lack of resources cause their bodies to fail. Zombies that retain enough other drives to meet their own bodily needs and function more like wild animals that simply prioritize human prey can be a threat for longer, though [[NoZombieCannibals why they don't eat each other]] may need to be addressed.

Since they ''are'' living people instead of animate corpses, these zombies are almost always easier to kill than the undead kind. They may disregard nonfatal (or not-immediately-fatal) wounds, but anything that would kill a human will kill them. It does run into a bit of a problem if you want a true ZombieApocalypse, since just like rabid animals they should die of starvation and/or dehydration fairly quickly; even more so if they're [[NoZombieCannibals zombies that refuse to attack other zombies]], refuse to eat dead meat, and will only attack and consume live humans, and aren't shown to seek out water sources. By the time a few weeks have passed, the original zombie infectees should be dead (in the permanent sense) as a lack of resources cause their bodies to fail. This trope is not recommended if you want Earth to be covered in zombies for longer than a month unless your living zombies are more on the ravenous animal side and will seek other food and water.

* Feral humans in ''Literature/JanitorsOfThePostapocalypse'' are very zombielike, with their low intelligence, constant moaning, and shambling gait. Their physiology is also altered, making them almost unkillable. Unlike the description up top, while they're extremely ''interested'' in living people, when those aren't present they hunt animals, consume plants and carrion, and will try to eat each other when hungry enough, and they mate with one another and produce feral offspring. [[spoiler: When they are well fed they are also calmer and quieter and can be [[FriendlyZombie almost tame]].]] Because of all this, even a hundred and fifty years after TheVirus sweeps Earth there are half a billion ferals wandering around - perfect for aliens to [[AlienAbduction abduct]], "[[UpliftedAnimal cure]]", and [[SlaveRace press into their military]].

* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': human who fall under the control of [[AIIsACrapshoot XANA]] are called "zombies" by the show. They do take a few cues from classic depictions of the undead (green skin, white eyes and ZombieGait), not to mention they can transmit the possession via biting, making the nomenclature spot on.

* The case of Peter Porco, who was attacked by his son with an axe while sleeping. The attack severely damaged his neocortex -- which controls thought and reasoning, while leaving the paleocortex -- which controls instincts and second-nature habits -- intact. As a result, he was able to get up after the attack and carry out his morning routine, completely unaware of his injuries until he collapsed and died of blood loss.

Since they ''are'' living people instead of animate corpses, these zombies are almost always easier to kill than the undead kind. They may disregard nonfatal (or not-immediately-fatal) wounds, but anything that would kill a human will kill them. It does run into a bit of a problem if you want a true ZombieApocalypse, since just like rabid animals they should die of starvation and/or dehydration fairly quickly; even more so if they're [[NoZombieCannibals zombies that refuse to attack other zombies]], refuse to eat dead meat, and will only attack and consume live humans, and aren't shown to seek out water sources. By the time a few weeks have passed, the original zombie infectees should be dead (in the permanent sense) as a lack of resources cause their bodies to fail. This trope is not recommended if you want Earth to be covered in zombies for longer than a month.

* Feral humans in ''Literature/JanitorsOfThePostapocalypse'' are very zombielike, with their low intelligence, constant moaning, and shambling gait. Their physiology is also altered, making them almost unkillable. Unlike the description up top, while they're extremely ''interested'' in living people they hunt animals, consume plants and carrion, and will try to eat each other when hungry enough, and they mate and produce feral children. Because of all this, even a hundred and fifty years after TheVirus sweeps Earth there are ferals all over.

** The “zombies” from “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS”, though in context, that arguably makes them more disturbing.

* The Zombies and Z-Sec in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 3'' are at least partially comprised of these, since they are created by DemonicPossession and Hell doesn't need its victims to die first before it converts them from humans.

This trope overlaps with particularly extreme {{Hate Plague}}s, but only if the plague causes its victims to act mindless as well as homicidally insane. Usually are a type 3 on the SlidingScaleOfUndeadRegeneration. See also MistakenForUndead. Contrast [[RidiculouslyAliveUndead Ridiculously Alive Undead]].