Grandfather Clause v. Genre Rules

[Osiris]

When you consider zombies in popular culture, you are confronted with options, mysteries, contradictions and inconsistencies. I've engaged in enough discussions about the genre and films over the years to have determined that most people can't agree on the rules without ignoring certain rules and provisions that they hold as canon. Simply put, we all seem to contradict ourselves when we argue in favour of or against certain aspects of what makes a zombie a zombie.

It made me curious to see where you all lean and so I pose the following questions in poll form over the next several days.

Questions #1:

What film would you consider to be the godfather of the zombie genre?

Which film seems to be that which formed the basis for the zombies we all know and love today?

Options are above. The poll will remain open for seven (7) days.