The Netflix hit, released in January 2022, follows Hyosan High students battling a virus that turns peers into rabid zombies. Cheong-san (Park Ji-hoo) and On-jo (Park Ji-hu) lead the group, dodging bites and bullies alike. The show’s zombies sprint like Olympic sprinters, making hallway escapes pure nightmare fuel.
Based on the webtoon Now at Our School, the series stayed in Netflix’s Top 10 for weeks globally. Unlike typical zombie tales, it spends time on teen dynamics, mainly love triangles, friendships, and social hierarchies. Even mid-apocalypse, someone still cares about their crush’s Instagram post.
Director Lee Jae-kyoo blends horror with dark humor, like a zombie cheerleader twirling her pom-poms. The virus originates from a science teacher’s failed experiment to “cure” his bullied son. Spoiler: turning kids into rage monsters isn’t the solution, sir.
Practical effects make the zombies terrifying—twisted limbs, bloodshot eyes, and that awful gurgling sound. But the real horror? Running out of phone battery while hiding in a supply closet. The show’s budget (reportedly $2.4 million per episode) shows in every gruesome detail.
The cast, mostly newcomers, deliver raw performances. You’ll cry when the class clown gets bitten mid-joke. Yoon Chan-young as Lee Cheong-san shines as the everyman hero, while Cho Yi-hyun’s Nam-ra evolves from icy valedictorian to fan favorite. Even the bully, Gwi-nam (Yoo In-soo), gets moments that make you almost root for him.
Episode 5’s rooftop showdown, zombies scaling walls like spiders, is pure adrenaline. But quieter scenes hit harder, like students voting to abandon infected friends. The moral dilemmas feel real, save yourself or risk death for someone you barely like?
Critics called the 12-episode season too long, but fans loved the slow-burn character arcs. Flashbacks to pre-outbreak life add depth, showing how social pressures primed the school for disaster. That time, the principal ignored bullying reports. Yeah, that aged poorly.
The soundtrack mixes K-pop bops with eerie instrumentals, contrasting chaos and calm. A scene where survivors dance to ALIVE by BTS’s Jungkook is oddly uplifting. Zombies might ruin prom, but at least the playlist slaps.
Season 2, confirmed in June 2022, will explore the virus spreading beyond the school. Fans hope to see Nam-ra’s half-zombie powers develop and more of the archery club’s badassery. Rumor has it a vaccine subplot might turn some zombies back, or make things worse.
Memes flooded TikTok, like the “zombie run challenge” where users recreated hallway sprints. The show’s pink school uniforms even inspired Halloween costumes (minus the fake blood stains). Netflix merch included zombie-themed pencil cases and survival guide notebooks.
Filming faced COVID-19 delays, with actors in zombie makeup getting tested twice daily. The cafeteria scenes used fake food coated in wax to avoid spoilage—zombies aren’t picky, but actors might be. Those “bloody” juice boxes? Just strawberry syrup and creativity.
The show’s success boosted K-zombie popularity, with Happiness and Zombie Detective riding the wave. Parents in the show are either clueless or catastrophically unhelpful, like military dads bombing the city. The government’s slow response feels too real, especially after recent global crises. At least the kids have better crisis management skills.
All of Us Are Dead isn’t subtle, zombies represent school stress, bullying, and societal cracks. But subtlety’s overrated when you’ve got a kid wielding a fire extinguisher against a horde. With Season 2 filming in 2024, prepare for more screams, tears, and desperate cafeteria snack raids.
