‘Zombies’ Take Over Jakarta

Popularity of shows like ‘The Walking Dead’ has inspired people to dress up as zombies and roam the streets.

The popularity of TV shows like ‘The Walking Dead’ has led to the rise of a zombie enthusiast community in Indonesia.

AP

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar

Residents of Indonesia are slowly getting used to zombies in their midst. Surprised? The craze of popular TV shows like ‘The Walking Dead’ has led to people dressing up as zombies and roaming the streets.

The popularity of zombies has led to the establishment of groups like Kompi Zombie, which has 50 active members in Jakarta alone. The group has many young followers, like 23-year-old Ayatullah.

‘‘I feel more confident in myself since I started doing this. I often joke that I look better as a zombie than my regular look. I enjoy doing this as a hobby.”

Ayatullah, Member of Kompi Zombie 

These groups also have special divisions related to make-up and special effects. Albarezi Candera Alim, a make-up artist, says that a lot of effort goes into creating the zombie look. “Creating the zombie look requires skill and money. It's not just about splattering blood or dirtying someone's face. As a special effects make-up artist, I have to pay close attention to details, create textures and apply logic to my work,” he says.

The rising interest in zombies has also led to people supporting the creative industries associated with it, like special effects and make-up. According to the National Statistics Agency, Indonesia’s creative industries contributed 7.38 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2015. The creative industry has seen an annual growth of 10 per cent from 2010 to 2015.

“The devil, in its local names genderuwo or kuntilanak, is used in this case not only to entertain people, but also to show a creative process. Therefore, I think we should support the zombie communities because they are part of the local creative industry.”

Eddie Karsito, Pop culture expert and culture lecturer at Trilogi University, Jakarta

Meanwhile, FOX Television Network has approached the local zombie enthusiast community for the promotion of ‘The Walking Dead’. The community is also involved in a local zombie film due to be released at the end of the year.

(With inputs from AP)