That Canadian scenario sounds sort of like High Plains Drifter, only without the townspeople actually falling in love with the stranger... and the head being pulled off thing.

As for people listening to leaders, people who aren't used to quick moving/dangerous scenarios will often just freak, no matter who's giving orders or how they're doing it, if you try and get 20 people to line up and fight bloody, moaning, mangled zombies, I can just about guarantee half will abandon you and try to get as far away as they can.