I feel like zombie settings could do more to make slow zombies scarier in quiet, creeping ways. Zombies facing away from people. Walking backwards. Only moving if they're not seen. Holding a survivor but not hurting them. Motionless but their eyes follow you. Soundless horde.
Encountering fast zombies: Physical challenge
Encountering slow zombies: Psychological terror
Ohh okay okay okay I like this.
If zombies are a representation of the breakdown of society, the traditional zombie is a more noticeable, violent, immediate collapse of society.
The slow, quiet, still zombie is more about the societal collapse we don't see until it's too late, one that doesn't happen suddenly and drastically but one that happens without a fuss. The violence doesn't become the focus of the tension, the violence is the release of it.
