Netflix's new Korean series Zombieverse is captivating British audiences with its unique blend of horror and reality TV. The show places five unwitting celebrities into a simulated zombie apocalypse in Seoul, where they must survive various life-or-death scenarios. While viewers may initially be confused, it quickly becomes clear that the contestants are actors, not real survivors, and the zombies are hired performers.
The series features a mix of K-pop stars, actors, and TV personalities, including a former contestant from The Masked Singer and a host from Talents for Sale. Unlike traditional reality shows, Zombieverse is an unscripted celebrity horror-comedy, where the humour arises from the contestants' reactions to staged crises. The show's over-the-top captions and dramatic replays add to the entertainment, often prompting laughter from viewers.
Despite the obvious fakery—such as the contestants not attacking the zombies and the elaborate production required—the series has been praised for its clever meta-format. UK viewers, unfamiliar with the Korean celebrities, still enjoy the absurdity of the scenarios, such as escaping a petrol station infested with the undead or being trapped in a dungeon with a flesh-eating pensioner. The show's closest Western equivalent is Murder in Successville, but without a guide to steer the action.
