Rated R for zombie violence/gore and language.
99 Minutes
Directed By: Edgar Wright
Written By: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg
Staring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Lucy David, Dylan Morgan, Nicola Cunningham, Bill Nighy, and Kate Ashifield
We take Pete’s car, we drive over to Mum’s, we go in, take care of Philip – “I’m so sorry, Philip” – then we grab Mum, we go over to Liz’s place, hole up, have a cup of tea and wait for this whole thing to blow over. -Shaun
Review
It’s a special talent to make a movie both funny and still creepy. Shaun Of The Dead was both scary and hysterical, paying homage to it’s zombie afflicted genre, but having a total tongue in cheek sense of humor about it. There’s more to this film than laughs and violence though. There is an actual story beneath that entertains on a collective level.
Fooling the Zombies! Hilarious!
Shaun Of The Dead might make you laugh but it will also make you cringe. It doesn’t shy away from the gruesomeness or violence that is in most common zombie flicks, but it doesn’t overwhelm either. There is enough gore for horror film fans, but not enough to repel people who don’t enjoy gregarious violence. The comedy in between is easy enough to distract from full on terror.
While this film is unquestionably funny and even at times scary, somewhere in between the humor and the gore there are actually moments of what appears to be genuine sentiment. Relationships with friends, family, and significant others are explored, and though a vulnerability to them is given, it doesn’t give too much time in between zombie moments to really reflect but the moments are there making it more than just a mindless spoof.
The character’s are three dimensional, realistic, and are people that just about anyone can relate to. Pegg’s character clearly has issues with his mother, and is very much so a man-child refusing to grow up. If you really
Sexy!
think about it, in some ways Shaun Of The Dead is a coming of age movie, rich with symbolism. The age of “30″ resembles adulthood nowadays far more than previous generations, and societies coddling of adult children refusing to fend for themselves was displayed brilliantly in Shaun Of The Dead. I mean when they couldn’t tell the difference between zombies and normal folk? Hilarious and poignant as hell!
Overall I still enjoy Hot Fuzz more, just because it’s a spoof of action flicks, and I’m a self proclaimed action flick junkie. Nonetheless Shaun Of The Dead stands up as just as strong a movie. It certainly has more depth to it. Zombies and mayhem, not to mention violent comedy, and yet here in-lies a very smart film that was extraordinarily entertaining. If the end of the movie doesn’t make you laugh, I’m not sure you have a sense of humor, even if this isn’t your cup of tea. Shaun Of The Dead is unique and is pure enjoyment.
I love the scene where they are practicing making zombie noises to walk through the mob to get to the pub. I hope if there are ever zombies they are as stupid and slow as the zombies in this movie, so we can kills them all!
This film is coming to blu-ray soon, im super stoked! I always loved this movie.
P.S. I saw Jurassic Park again this weekend, completely forgot Samuel L Jackson was a scientist in the movie lol.
P.S.S. Did you get a chance to have your anime night?
Glad to see everything on your site is working well for you. SotD was a great movie, and I hope the Spaced crew continues to put out movies like this.
Classic Moments:
Liz: “WHAT? SORRY, YOU HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS? A FAILED ACTRESS AND A TWAT?”
Shaun: “THATS HARSH!”
Liz: “YOUR WORDS, SHAUN!”
Shaun: “I DID NOT CALL DIANE A FAILED ACTRESS!”
Pete: “Its not that tasking is it? Writing something on a bitty scrap of paper!”
*Pete walks away, revealing “I AM A PRICK” sign on his back*
Ed: “Come on, its funny!”
I’m counting on it Philly, but I’m still preparing for the smart genetically altered ones from Resident Evil that may well shoot an RPG at me.
You can never have enough viewings of Jurassic Park Cello. That movie is one of the greatest ever made. No, I didn’t, some personal things came up and I was unable to watch anything until the last few days, but I hope to soon.
Glad you got to see your review Fancy Dan!