Lollipop Chainsaw

Game Lollipop Chainsaw, released in 2012, is an action game developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game was directed by Goichi Suda, known as Suda51, while James Gunn and Suda contributed to its story.

Its protagonist is Juliet Starling, an eighteen-year-old cheerleader at San Romero High School who secretly works as a zombie hunter. On her birthday, June 15, Juliet arrives at school to meet her boyfriend Nick Carlyle, but an outbreak has already transformed the campus into a zombie-infested battlefield. Juliet fights through the school with a chainsaw, rescuing survivors and searching for Nick. She finds him bitten, and uses a magical ritual to preserve his severed head, which remains conscious and becomes a crucial companion throughout the adventure.

The central conflict is tied to the undead attack's mastermind, Swan, a goth student who has gathered four powerful zombie rulers known as the Dark Purveyors. Each ruler represents a different style of zombie threat, and Juliet confronts them across locations including the high school, a farm, a concert venue, and an amusement park.

Gameplay combines hack-and-slash combat, firearms, acrobatic movement, and cheerleading-themed attacks. Juliet's chainsaw can be upgraded with money earned from defeated enemies, allowing players to improve her health, strength, chainsaw functions, and special abilities. The game also rewards stylish play: defeating several zombies quickly can produce higher scores, while chainsawing enemies into glittering pieces creates collectible coins and medals. Juliet can perform a “Nick Ticket” maneuver by using Nick's head to solve certain environmental puzzles and attack enemies.

The story intentionally mixes horror imagery with bright pop aesthetics, licensed music, crude comedy, and references to teenage romance. Its soundtrack includes songs from artists such as The Human League, DragonForce, Five Finger Death Punch, Skrillex, and Joan Jett, although music availability varied by platform and release.

Lollipop Chainsaw became notable for its unusual collaboration: Gunn, later known for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, helped write the scenario, while filmmaker and game designer Suda shaped its distinctive presentation. The original game appeared on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on June 12, 2012, in North America, followed by other regions.

In 2024, Dragami Games released Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, a remaster for newer platforms. RePOP restored the core adventure while adding technical improvements, updated visuals, and optional changes to licensed music and presentation. It renewed interest in Juliet's deliberately eccentric zombie-slaying adventure.