What’s that old movie where someone is describing zombies, “mindless creatures who can’t think...”
...and Bob Hope interjects “Oh you mean like democrats?”
George Romero invented the conventions and rules of the modern zombie film. Before that, zombies weren't eating brains and getting killed with blows to the head. They were just the poor unfortunate undead who acted like they were hypnotized, and just sort of tromped or stumbled or milled around aimlessly.
Ghostbreakers with Hope and Paulette Goddard. It was on the list I was going to submit.