So on Monday I posted a reviewish blog on the movie Warm Bodies…which I loved…which is, yes, a zombie movie. And also a rom-com…one of the best in years, in my Roger Eberty opinion.
I noted in that post all the things I loved about this movie–the humor, the romance, the story–but it’s the metaphor of the movie that stuck with me the longest.
ALERT: Plot-wise I’m not going to divulge anything in today’s blog you couldn’t already figure out by watching the trailer for the movie. BUT if you haven’t seen it and you plan to, I’ll totally still be your friend if you quit reading now.
So anyway, I mentioned on Monday that there is a palpable sense of longing all through Warm Bodies. R, the main zombie in the film, wants to be different. He’s tired of being lost and lonely and unable to express himself. And we see him gradually change throughout the movie as he befriends Julie.
And like the trailer says, soon their relationship starts impacting all the zombies. (Again, that’s pretty clear from the trailer, so I’m not playing spoiler queen.)
The spiritual metaphor in Warm Bodies is clear (and wonderfully unpretentious!)–love and its ability to bring “zombies” to life. As a Christian, I believe God’s love is what truly makes us alive. It’s what flips that spiritual switch in our souls–from dead to undead. (Author Clay Morgan has a fabulous book on this–Undead: Revived, Resuscitated, and Reborn.)
Here’s the cool thing, though–and this didn’t hit me until a few days after seeing the movie: It’s not just the corpses who come alive in Warm Bodies.
It’s the humans, too, the ones whose hearts are already beating at the beginning of the movie.
When the movie opens, the humans we’re introduced to–Julie and her friends–they’re living a kind of worn down existence. They’re walled up in a city, caught in a pattern of hiding and remembering what life used to be like with temporary spurts of zombie-killing. Julie, especially, is less than convinced of the purpose in her life.
But when R befriends her and later, when she agrees to help him, she goes through a transformation of her own. It’s internal–her eyes and skin don’t change–but it’s just as poignant. By befriending and learning to love the formerly unlovable, she comes alive in a new way. She finds new purpose…and a hope that life can be different.
And I can’t stop thinking, what if that’s us?
If we know Christ, perhaps we’re not living as zombies anymore…but are we sometimes living like the humans in Warm Bodies? Dispassionate, unconvinced of our purpose, sometimes even caught in destructive patterns? Sometimes just…blah.
And what if combatting those spiritually listless seasons is as simple as actively, even sacrificially, loving others? Maybe, especially, loving the people the world has labeled unlovable?
In fact, to take the metaphor further, I think as Christians it can be tempting to live like the humans in Warm Bodies–insulated from the deadness around us, only emerging long enough to fight with a culture we don’t always like.
Maybe that’s going too far, and I certainly don’t want to stereotype…but it’s something to think about. Because a walled-in life might be safe, but it’s not abundant. It’s not living out “Go ye into all the world and make disciples.” It’s not loving the way Christ loved.
In the end, it all comes back to love, doesn’t it? God’s love breathing life into us…that love actively and intentionally extended through us to others…and in turn, making all of us more fully alive.*
So tell me, what do you think? Does the metaphor work for you? How do we actively love each other?
*And here is where I really, really want to talk about the closing scenes of Warm Bodies and how the imagery is just so perfect for everything I’ve just rambled about. But I’m still attempting the spoiler-free thing. So, just go see the movie, okay? 🙂
Comments 26
So glad we went to that movie!
Me too. Remember how confused I was that day? First the Target thing, then turning onto the wrong road for the theater then getting halfway back to D.M. and realizing I hadn’t given you the key for M&D…it’s kind of amazing that I made it home.
Haha! Yes so confusing! I still wonder where your pop went?!
I love this metaphor (even if I haven’t seen the movie)! I especially like the idea that we’re all holed up in our safe little worlds, stepping out once in a while to battle the culture outside – afraid to love the unlovable. But we’re changed, and they’re changed, when we step out in love. Great zombie blog again. 😉
Exactly, Gabe…it’s kind an awesome thing to realize we have the power to change things solely by loving others.
Great analogy here! It’s not normally my thing, but I might just check out this movie now. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Hope you like it if you do! 🙂
I loved the metaphor, and it’s definitely making me want to see the movie:) Also making me think today, b/c you hit some things dead-on–HA! No pun intended;)
Have a great weekend, Melissa!
The series of text messages between you and your husband about Warm Bodies…priceless! I hope you can talk him into going with you. 🙂
Not what I might typically be drawn to, but now you’ve piqued my interest! I liked your comparison “it’s what flips the spiritual flip in our souls”–from dead to undead.
Have a fun week end, Melissa!
The cool thing is, the new life doesn’t stop once the switch is flipped, does it? The opportunity for newness, for a full life, it’s there every day. Love it.
Who would have known a zombie movie would make you think so much?! That’s awesome. 🙂 Now I wish we’d seen it together when you’d come out here. Cuz there’s no chance Mike will go with me. HAha.
Love that idea that God makes us alive. Even in our doubt, in our fears, in our pain. Alive! Perfect theme right before Easter. We are alive because He is, and He made the ultimate sacrifice so we could be. 😉
Solution: Come to Iowa and see it with me! 🙂
You’re right, it is good timing with Easter and all. 🙂
ok, you won me over. At least enough to add the movie to the “check out after it hits redbox & is only a $1” category. 🙂 I love the spiritual parallel. I think the most compelling force to drive us out of the safe house to engage the unlovable is prayer. It transforms our hearts in so many ways. Thanks for the inspiration! And thanks for stopping by my site today. Very sweet of you.
So happy to stop by your blog–it’s a great one! A lot of times I separate movies by “see in theatre” and “wait til it hits redbox,” too. 🙂
If this has a good ending, I just might see it. Someday. 😉
Definitely a good ending. Definitely. 🙂
“God’s love breathing life into us.” Great statement. Great truth. As a previous zombie, I am so grateful that Jesus brought me to life.
Mel, I love how you talk about Jesus bringing you to life. You have such a natural way of sharing your story. Miss you!
Great and thought provoking post. Love the analogy you created. And you’re right. Loving in the unlovable would change the world.
Pat, this has nothing to do with zombies or anything, but every time I see your name, I get so excited for your debut novel to release. 🙂
Great breakdown Melissa. You’re without a doubt one of my favorite new bloggy discoveries in recent months. And thanks for the shout out to Undead!
Thanks, Clay! And thanks for the movie recommendation in the first place. Also, happy to give Undead a shout-out…well-deserved. It’s so good!
Was wondering when Clay would weigh in on this. This seems like the ZomRomCom you guys were hoping to invent a few months back!
(:^D
Mel, this is hilarious & cool! And I just randomly came across it by checking your Twitter feed.
I probably won’t see this one anytime soon – I think it might be hard to persuade my wife to watch a zombie movie, since even I don’t usually watch those! – but I love how people are discovering that just about anything in fiction can be used for a great metaphor if we’re open to it.
Loving your whole blog!
Have a good one!
(:^D
– RAD
Hey Randall–thanks so much for stopping by! Love what you said about almost anything in fiction being used as a metaphor. It’s so true. I think fiction can be life-changing…I think it’s why Christ told so many stories. But then, I may be a little biased ’cause I happen to write fiction. LOL.
Thanks again for stopping by!