Wednesday S2's Slurp: A Slimy Nod to Tarman from Return of the Living Dead

If you caught Netflix's Wednesday and thought the zombie character Slurp looked oddly familiar, you're not alone. Slurp, with his gooey skin, jerky movements, and unsettling grin, seems to be a clear homage to one of horror's most iconic undead — Tarman from Return of the Living Dead (1985).

Tarman, a fan-favorite for his grotesque, slime-drenched appearance and infamous cry of “Brains!”, set a gold standard for zombie weirdness. Slurp mirrors this with his own oozing, decayed design, hunger for brains, and blend of grotesque physicality with a touch of dark humor — fitting perfectly into Wednesday's gothic-meets-modern aesthetic.

Wednesday and Tim Burton have never shy'd away from classic horror references and whether this was a direct homage or not, you can't deny the impact that Dan O'Bannon and The Return of the Living Dead have had on both broad mainstream and horror pop culture. Lest we forget that the concept of zombies hungering for brains started in the mind of Dan O'Bannon now 40 years ago. 

You can catch Wednesday Season 1 and 2 on NETFLIX.