Let’s take an often tried concept, the Zombie movie. I am not an expert on the zombie movie but I’ve seen enough, like most people, to form an opinion good or bad. When one mentions zombie movies one of the first films to jump to mind for the British Audience is Shaun of the Dead, a satire of American George Romero films that the stars and makers of Shaun are fans of.

Of the many funny parts of this film, the one comment that stands out is the place of safety chosen by the unlikely hero, Shaun, namely the Winchester Pub. In the American zombie films the haven of choice is very often a mall, or over-priced tat citadels that we call ‘shopping centres’ (St David’s 2?). The idea of the mall is quite appealing to begin with – food, clothes, toilets, shelter etc, but the characters never seem to realise that the mall is surrounded by glass windows and doors that your average determined, have-a-go zombie horde will bash and lean against until the thin glass cracks and they surge forward.

Secondly, the female characters seem to have been drawn in crayon for all the depth put into the writing. They are either scantily clad squealing teens, over-bouffonted sarcastic business women in the obligatory business suit and heels, or they are masculine, machine gun totting hybrids that seem in constant competition with the main hero, usually a man.

My suggestion is a little different. In my book ‘Dawn of the Dave’ the ‘hero’ Dave is not always in the thick of things, with the hero role passing between the collection of different characters, male and female. Dave moves between participant and observer, holding back for others to express their opinions on how to fight, or how to survive, and coming forward when he needs to.

For sanctuary they forego the shopping centre experience and choose an average late Victorian school, made out of two foot thick bricks, with windows set ten foot high in the walls so the children can see the sky but not the passers-by, and large, heavy steel gates to keep the bratish hordes in and the zombie hordes out.

Hasn’t the time come, Hollywood, for action films with positive female leads that don’t have to conform to ridiculous FHM or Vogue stereotypes? When will we see the male lead be the non-muscular ‘nerd’ type who’s opinions and skill set can be just as effective as the one-dimensional, testosterone pumped ex-war vet who just happens to tag along? We wait with baited breath.

p.s. if you have a spare 99p, please download my ebook ‘Dawn of the Dave’ from Amazon.