Shaun of the Dead

[Golgot]

A little bit of fun from some sitcom comedians...welcome to the first "romcomzom" movie...

1Shaun's life is going nowhere, and his girlfriend is getting more than a little agrieved about it. He spends all his time down the pub with his best mate, and forgets even the simplest things, like their let's-start-again dinner-date. When a zombie plague visits their well-worn bit of suburbia Shaun has just realised he needs to snap out of his own stupour if he's to win back his girl. And survive.
Once it gets going, the first section of the film is spot on. The jokes revolve around the zombie-like aspects of modern life, and how a sudden plague of undeadness might be hard to spot if it happened. From the agonizing "schwip" of Shaun's regulation salesman's tie, to his gormlessness on the early-morning commute to work, the mundaneness of his unambitious life is laid out for us with farcical frivolity. When zombies turn up, and Shaun barely notices, it's the playful bits of social commentary, and the absurdity of it all, that pull out the biggest laughs.

2Unfortunately, the sitcom roots seem to show through a bit, as the comic premises lose some of their strength as the film progresses. There are still plenty of nice little jokes dotted around, but after a while it's the references and the horror-aspects itself which have to carry the film. And to be fair, they achieve a couple of good scares, and even have some truly effective and involving scenes. But overall the mix of comedy and horror does feel a bit clunky in places. The classic ending brings the comedy surging back to life though, with an absolutely quality assessment of the aftermath.


Rating:
Some Gremlin titters, one exploding belly laugh, several chunks of nostalgia cut into neat brain pieces, and a brimming pint glass.

[Karl Childers]

What a nice little Indie film!

Shaun and his crew are such a resourceful bunch of Brits, what with their corrupt dictatorship of a government totally disarming them and rendering them basically defenseless against the zombie plague. Cricket bats, shovels, golf clubs and pool cues become the weapons du jour in post-Modern England when the living-dead $hit hits the living-dead fan.

In what is probably the funniest scene in the film, Shaun and his best buddy Ed-- forever sporting his well-worn and grimy tee-shirt "I got Wood"-- try assaulting a pair of zombies after hearing on the "telly" that their brains need to be attacked. They confront the zombies with a laundry basket of various household items, such as a toaster, a corner wall shelf, a piece of pottery, and begin throwing them at the heads of the two undead in a futile attempt to kill them. It was hilarious.

This clever scene served as both gross parody and a critical statement of the current condition of England's totally absurd arms control policies. I'm surprised merry ol England hasn't started removing teeth from its subjects' mouths yet. Teeth can be dangerous, you know. (Psst.....that's how the zombies attack the living and turn them into the walking dead.)

Later in the film, Shaun, Ed and his companions are rewarded for their perseverance by finding an actual, working lever-action rifle at their favorite pub, The Winchester. (A perfect American icon highlighted by the addition of its own appellation.) There's one Her Majesty hasn't stolen yet.

The film does utilize some quick-action photography and matches it with some rapid-fire dialogue. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes the accents are a little too thick.

Favorite line: "His ideas of a romantic nightspot and an impenetrable fortress are the same thing."

[7thson]

. But overall the mix of comedy and horror does feel a bit clunky in places.
What a great thing to say, I agree, but this is what made it fun for me......clunky yet expectedly so, I loved this movie.....great review BTW.:)

[Mose]

Just watched it last night and enjoyed it... a brief review:

Many people consider Shaun of the Dead to be a parody of Romero's Dead series, but I saw it as that rare type of tribute film, one that is able to stand on its own merit. Its plot deftly weaves comedy with horror while even managing to throw in a bit of romance for the ladies. And while the film does stumble a bit as it transitions from inspired comedy to covering the more serious side of Romero's work, most people will enjoy watching Shaun and Company slowly become aware of what's going on and attempt to fight their way to freedom.

[Nitzer]

Just two more days, just two more days...

[Sedai]

Just watched it last night and enjoyed it... a brief review:

Many people consider Shaun of the Dead to be a parody of Romero's Dead series, but I saw it as that rare type of tribute film, one that is able to stand on its own merit. Its plot deftly weaves comedy with horror while even managing to throw in a bit of romance for the ladies. And while the film does stumble a bit as it transitions from inspired comedy to covering the more serious side of Romero's work, most people will enjoy watching Shaun and Company slowly become aware of what's going on and attempt to fight their way to freedom.

Hiya Mose. :)

Welcome to MoFo.

Great review Golgot.

Love the style, and the rating. :D

[Prometeus]

Great Review :)....Really terrific style. Keep the good work ;)

[Pyro Tramp]

. And sometimes the accents are a little too thick."

Not really, its not like they're strong accents, brummie or northern for instance.
Would you like subtitles?

[Nitzer]

Not really, its not like they're strong accents, brummie or northern for instance.
Would you like subtitles?

I could understand the movie perfectly. Want an unbearable British accent? Go watch Billy Elliot I couldn't make out half the movie. It was a dumb movie anyways.

[AboveTheClouds]

Bahahahahaha

[Movie-man]

Truly without a doubt the funniest movie I have seen yet this year. Good lord could they make zombies more fun?

[Golgot]

Cheers for liking the review guys :)

... with their corrupt dictatorship of a government totally disarming them and rendering them basically defenseless against the zombie plague....

This clever scene served as both gross parody and a critical statement of the current condition of England's totally absurd arms control policies. I'm surprised merry ol England hasn't started removing teeth from its subjects' mouths yet. Teeth can be dangerous, you know. (Psst.....that's how the zombies attack the living and turn them into the walking dead.)

...There's one Her Majesty hasn't stolen yet.

Erm, Karl, i'm really, really sure that scene isn't meant as a parody of British arms-controls. Stop obsessing man, for god's sake. (you're just jealous that we get to use unique weaponary on our invading hoardes of zombies aren't you ;) :p :rolleyes: )

[Mose]

Yes, but really, how effective were those records anyway? :)

[Blister]

Just picked it up for £7.99

Great movie, not enough brittish movies making it big.

[MovieMaker5087]

Just got the DVD for Christmas. I'm gonna check it out ASAP.

[Nitzer]

Just got the DVD for Christmas. I'm gonna check it out ASAP.

Just started watching it too, but we have people coming over so I had to stop. :(

[AboveTheClouds]

Damn dude..... however the movie kicked ass and i've watched it twice since yesterday.

[mikeCGP]

Loved it! One of the best of the year IMO...

[Fugitive]

Good flick, taking the p!ss out of zombie movies. I liked the humor in this and in the last Brit horror flick, Dog Soldiers.
Nice review, Gol.
What accents? There were thick accents?

[trotskyist]

Simon pegg is brilliant in big train an this film is awesome. I think its hilarious that the one place shaun decides to make a stand against the zombie horde is the winchester pub.

[nash667]

I originally watched this film with my best friend down at an all nite dinner downtown. I had just gotten this sweet portable dvd player and she has netflix so when we get a chance we watch movies. She had already seen it and wanted me to enjoy it as well. I have to say this was possibly the funniest movies I have seen in quite a while. I liked Ed. I think he was a jerk, but that's what made his character so freaking funny. Like when he get's the call on his cell right outside the pub when they're surrounded. And Shaun was right on too. Just his way of dealing with everything and kinda just making it through life without much effort is pretty much what made this a funny movie. A loser, his equally loser friend, and his hot girlfriend. How did that dork get a hot girlfriend anyway?

[hayward]

everyone - if you liked Shaun of the Dead (how can you not like it?) then keep a look out for Hot Fuzz

it has the same people in it and it is basically been said to do for cop films what shaun of the dead did for zombie films.

Shaun of the Dead - easily the best british comedy around and the best of last year
Dead Mans Shoes - Best british movie of last year (and possibly the last ten years)

[Austruck]

Loved the record-throwing scene, where Shaun was begging him not to throw certain favorites. Omigosh, that was hilarious.

I don't consider this a straight parody because you needn't have watched all the Romero movies to get most of the references. Most of the references are to horror flicks generically, although the feel of the original Night of the Living Dead is somehow there (the suffocating despair of the situation and the ensemble cast being eliminated one by one). Just add a little sick humor and you've got Shaun of the Dead.

A pleasant surprise.

[RadeTagean]

Absolute class this film was.
From start to finish I was laughing and even when the film had finished I kept chuckling to myself.

I mean when Bill Nighy returns from the dead to switch the radio off in the car was cracking.

And ED is without a doubt one of the funniest sidekicks ever!!!

[hayward]

aye, you're not wrong there mate. i've seen this film countless times and i'm still lovin' it!

"i'll do it on the night"

[Sexy Celebrity]

Kinda slow in the beginning, but fun when the show gets on the road.

[Darth Stujitzu]

For everyone in the US of A, if you liked Shaun U should check out Spaced. There were 2 series made by the same people as Shaun, it is pure comic genius laced with a plethora of movie injokes and references. U might have to buy it from Amazon U.K, and will need a multi-region player, but its worth it!!!! Could someone also settle a long term query? Did Trainspotting have sub-titles in America?

[nebbit]

Must catch up with this one. http://bestsmileys.com/violent/22.gifIt's extremely funny and creative, Nibbles. I bet you'd like it a lot. :yup:

[RadeTagean]

yes you must!!!!

[Dr West]

I caught the end of this film when they're in the pub on Saturday night. What was the rest of it like?

[IDigCereal]

Ah, I love this film. The humor and characters just hit the spot for me. Who can't relate to Shaun at times, and who hasn't had an idiot friend like Ed? The comedy in the film is what makes it, with plenty of genuine belly laughs and clever dialogue galore. I've seen it twice already, and I can tell that its going to be one I'll watch over and over again. I'd definitely rank this in my top 5 of 2004.
4/4

[John-Connor]

A public service announcement from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
https://youtu.be/XO6FW1aJkTw

[Iroquois]

You can tell this thread is old because it involves Golgot posting about something other than videogames.

[GrimsonFugue]

I did like most of this movie. I wasn't thrilled about the tone shift at the end. (I've never met anyone who agreed with me on that!) It is my favorite by this team though.

[Gideon58]

Saw this movie for the first time about a year ago and loved it...here's a link to my review:'

https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/1988422-shaun-of-the-dead.html