To say zombies are white-hot is as obvious as stating water is wet.

Due in part to the explosive success of the Image Comics title and AMC network series The Walking Dead, zombies have left an indelible mark on pop culture.

Despite their popularity, stories about the living dead are not my personal favorite.

However, there are some projects that use them more compellingly than others. I wrote a review several months ago about such a project - the terrific web series Project S.E.R.A.

Zombie With A Shotgun (ZWAS) is another such project.

First, the web series name is an attention-getter. The name alone intrigued me enough to check it out!

Written and directed by filmmaker Hilton Ariel Ruiz, ZWAS tells the story of Aaron (Braeden Baade), a man who has contracted a virus that will gradually transform him into a zombie.

While there is action, ZWAS is most definitely a character-centric piece.

On the run with his girlfriend Rachel (Lynnea Molone), you are made privy to Aaron's inner life as he struggles with the agonizing knowledge he will inevitably succumb to the virus.

Rachel is also distraught as she is confronted with the horrible reality the man she loves is gradually slipping away.

ZWAS has excellent production values as well - especially for an independently produced web series. The lighting and editing create a sense of claustrophobia which serves to heighten the dramatic tension.

The musical score is also superb, with creepy beats, tones, and various sound effects certain to set you on edge.

As of this writing, four episodes approximately 5 minutes in length each have been released.

Watch the premiere episode below to experience a sample of the series tone:

To watch all current episodes, visit the series channel on Vimeo.

For more information about the production, visit the project's official Tumblr blog.

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