| Shaun of The Dead (2004) |
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| Written by Daniel Cann | |
| Sunday, 03 August 2008 | |
 A very British rom – com zombie movie! How often do you find yourself saying that? Simon Pegg stars as Shaun, an underachieving everyman who by day works at a hardware store selling vacuums and televisions and at night enjoys playing on his playstation and going to his local pub ‘The Winchester Arms’ with his best friend and fellow slob, Ed (Nick Frost). This lifestyle and the inability to let go of it results in his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) breaking up with him. Shaun tries to console himself (where else?) at the ‘Winchester’ with Ed and after a heavy night they both retire back at his shared house. So far everything is fairly typical of English life and Shaun awakes the next day with a terrible hangover and walks to his local corner shop to stock up, blissfully unaware that overnight Britain has been infected, resulting in most of the population becoming flesh eating zombies. This sequence where Shaun goes about his usual routine in complete blissful ignorance of the chaos and devastation around him is a comic masterstroke. The film subtly comments on our consumerist society where we already act like drones living our ordered lives, queuing for buses, shopping, getting stuck in traffic jams etc. There are also some nice nods to other zombie films for the aficionados of the genre. On finally realising that something is amiss by getting first hand experience of the zombie crisis, slacker Shaun becomes an unlikely hero as he decides (with Ed at as his side) to rescue his mum and his ex – girlfriend. What follows are lots of hilarious misadventures in cars and on foot through leafy suburbia as Shaun and co try to navigate their way to safety. The film is full of horror and gore but this is neatly counterbalanced by humour, so zombie hordes are seen off using old vinyl records and cricket bats. This film is a true original fusing different genres and with great visuals. The soundtrack is belting, reminiscent of previous zombie films but also very British with our heroes battling zombies to the strains of Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’ The banter and interaction from the characters is amusing and there are solid turns from the supporting cast including Penelope Wilton, Bill Nighy, Lucy Davis and Dylan Moran. The simple central thread of one man’s struggle to win the affection and approval of friends and loved ones is familiar but never before seen in a situation like this! It is charming, original and hilarious and full of cameos from familiar faces. It can be seen for pure entertainment or as a clever satire. Whatever way it’s enjoyed this film hits all the right buttons and is the most funny and original film out of Britain in years. VIEW MOVIE TRAILER BELOW |
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