* By Guest Blogger, Debe Branning, Arizona Haunted Sites Examiner

The Phoenix Comicon 2012 offered several late night happenings for convention goers. One of the popular places to be was the Phoenix Comicon Film Festival held in the ballrooms of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Fans of scifi, horror, thrillers, fan films and zombies were treated to up-and-coming short films from all around the world including several by Arizona filmmakers.

"Date of the Dead" was one of the spectacular zombie movies that premiered at Comicon on Saturday, May 26. Written by Melodie Bogart and directed by Mark Urias of Arizona, most of the cast and crew of "Date of the Dead" attended the event in the packed ballroom.

This is a hot topic that many of us may have to deal with sometime in the future -- dating and dealing with the anticipated Zombie Apocalypse. Will zombies still be feared? Or will they begin to blend in the survivors' daily lives? The story is set fifty-one years after the Zombie Apocalypse. In it we learn how three young women attempt to battle self-esteem issues, controlling mothers and the living dead to try and win over the men of their dreams.

Have you had a Date with the Dead lately? Photo credit: Mark Urias

Friends Ashlyn (Melodie Bogart), Blair (April Walterscheid), and Sasha (Melissa Miller) offer dating tips to one another as they fight off a continuous array of zombies roaming about their neighborhood, shopping malls, cafes and night club spots. Their men of interest, Brock (Scot Trader), Herman, (Marwan Awwad), and Jake (Richard Barcelo) better hold up to the ladies' expirations as one of them can stand up to any zombie attack with a simple flick of her escrima stick.

Under the direction of Mark Urias, the short film was filmed at various locations in the East Valley casting several local residents as gruesome zombies. In this fast paced tale of dating in a world where zombie rights fanatics encourage co-existence, you will find yourself cheering for both sides. "Date of the Dead" gets a thumbs up -- if your inner zombie still has a thumb! The film features music from the Haven's End album "The Escape".

Remember, "Romance is not dead... it's UNDEAD!"

Visit the "Date of the Dead" Facebook page and be sure to Like them. Watch for more information when "Date of the Dead" will be showing near you!