Shaun of the Dead

Back in 2004, long before the zombie hype with The Walking Dead that we see today, Shaun of the Dead was released. This British zombie comedy film was written by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World) and Simon Pegg (Spaced), starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Paul) and directed by Edgar Wright. It almost sounds like a home-made movie but it’s not. This "6-million-dollar-budget" film grossed about 30 million dollars and won a place in everyone’s heart who saw the movie.

If I had to make a resume to a friend of mine who haven’t seen the movie it would be something like this:

“Shaun is not having a good day, so he decides to turn his life around by getting his ex to take him back, right in the middle of the bursting of a zombie apocalypse... All he has to do is survive... And get his ex back… And her friends… And to save his mother and stepfather... And his friend Ed. And to have a pint at the Winchester. GO WATCH THE MOVIE NOW!”

This was the first film in the Cornetto Trilogy (2007’s Hot Fuzz and 2013’s The World’s End are the other two). Between them there are only few things in common that make them a trilogy and they are the Cornettos, the fences and the Wright/Frost/Pegg trio who write, direct and star on all of them, so it’s not a real trilogy.

The greatest thing about it is that if we look at it only as a comedy, it is great. If we look at it only as a zombie film, it is also great. This is the first great thing about it, it is very well written. Sure there are some minor plot holes that only those who are picky will find but there isn’t a single dull moment during the movie whether it is by how much we are laughing or how much we are feeling scared for the characters life. 

Ed (Nick Frost) on the left and Shaun (Simon Pegg) on the right.

 

The cast also helps to make it awesome. While watching the movie we recognize almost all of the actors in it. Nick Frost and Jessica Hynes were in Spaced, Tamsin Graig and Dylan Moran were in Black Books, Martin Freeman Lucy Davies were in the UK version of The Office, Penelope Wilton was on Downtown Abbey, Bill Nighy well…it’s Bill Nighy and many, many more. They really seem to be in character all the time. We really believe that they (well, most of them) are who they are pretending to be and that there really is a zombie outbreak.

One of the most distinct things in the movie is Wright’s style of directing. If we watch any other film or series that he has made we can clearly see that there is a personal touch in every single one of them. One of the most distinct traces are the references he uses to other movies and TV shows which can be seen the tittle of this movie, Shaun of the Dead is a direct reference to Romero’s Dead movies. I will definitely see Ant-Man and any other movie he directs next.

The pack trying to pretend they're zombies.

The movie was all shot in London and during the movie we see it change as the zombie outbreak spreads to be a total apocalyptic scenario. The empty streets and abandoned vehicles and buildings are amazing. There is little CGI used and that is a big plus for me because I think of characterization and animatronics to be an almost lost art. The movie industry is abusing on CGI when there should be a balance between what it’s really shot and what is added after. The blood looks real and the zombies are great. Sure there could be a little more gore because it is a zombie movie and all zombie movies have lots of gore, Romero set the standards to follow in everything that relates to zombies, but this is no ordinary zombie movie, it is also a comedy so I understand they had to be careful in what they could show to the audience at the theaters. 

The sound effects are almost perfect. They give the movie transitions a sense of action that makes them almost organic inside the movie’s flow. The music used in the background is also a plus. It gives us a cheering and light side during the comic scenes while being dark during the “horror” scenes which helps to create suspense and fear during those scenes. I really enjoyed the use of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now which symbolizes the way how Wright and Pegg managed to blend Comedy and Zombies in one package only.

Even though it only grossed 30 million dollars, the movie was critically acclaimed. Stephen King said it was “destined to be a cult classic”, Quentin Tarantino considered it as one of the 20 best movies since 1992 and George A. Romero was so impressed with Pegg and Frost that invited them to appear on 2005’s Land of the Living Dead which they did, as zombies.

To tell any more than this is to spoil all the fun I had when I saw it in 2007 when it was released in DVD at my country. This is a must watch movie, I recommend it to everyone.

Plot - 5/5
As I said, I think that the story grabs the viewer to his seat. It is pure entertainment.
 
Visual - 4/5
Maybe due to the budget there are few scenes that really use CGI and it worked for the best. The zombies and the blood looks incredibly real and the use of a desolated London as background was a delight to see.

Sound - 5/5
Awesome soundtrack and great use of sound effects during the transitions. The zombies sound like proper zombies.

Performances - 4/5
A great cast that delivers good performances. Due to the comical nature of the movie they would need to look as scared as silly and they were really good doing that.


I give Shaun of the Dead 18 brains out of twenty...hmm...braaaaaains!

Happy Halloween to everyone!

PS: Dressing as Shaun would be a great costume to wear tonight.