Sometime in the near future, zombies are nothing less than individuals (almost) like any other, a common presence amongst the population and not a cannibalistic threat as one might imagine. Otto, a zombie freshly risen from the grave, begins his new life as any good self-respecting zombie, and begins wandering aimlessly, simply led by basic instincts from a previous life already obliterated from his mind. His legs guide him to Berlin, where he is discovered by Medea Yarn, an underground gay filmmaker, who decides to make him the subject of her documentary. She is currently finishing the shooting of a political-porn zombie movie, which he is invited to join. Otto soon discovers the Berlin gay scene, and memories of his previous life gradually return ...

Going through a breakup, is like dying a little. One’s existence loses its meaning, goals fade, desires vanish and only the memories remain. This emanates from this allegorical fable about loneliness penned by Bruce LaBruce, head of the queercore movement. A universal theme delivered as a horror film in which the director holds the key. The zombie is no longer a threat, he is now a victim, a being alone, ignored and ultimately hurt. It is also an opportunity for the author to make Otto a metaphor with AIDS, going so far as to using as scenery a cemetery in Berlin dedicated to those who die from it. Melancholic, bloody, sexual, committed, Otto; Or, Up With Dead People is a social horror film definitely not like any other.