Max Brooks or Mel Brooks - I like each of their respective styles.Dracula to match wits with.Sherlock Holmes to learn more from.
Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of The Dead (2004), Shaun of The Dead, Kill Bill Vol I or II, The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale, Murder by Decree, American Psycho, Batman Begins, Kung Fu Hustle, any Mel Brooks movie from the 1970's.
Jeckyll, The Office, John Adams. Pretty much anything from the History Channel.
Currently reading Ghouls, Gimicks & Gold, and (re-reading) The Crime Doctor by EW Hornung.