Shaun of the Dead

If, like us, you missed this when it first came out, you can now get one of last year’s funniest horror films on video, at Amazon.com and Amazon.ca

Our original discussion (sans review) appears here. My review follows.

Cast, Crew, and Other Info:

Director: Edgar Wright
Writers:Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright.

Features:

Simon Pegg…Shaun
Kate Ashfield…Liz
Nick Frost…Ed
Lucy Davis…Dianne

Dylan Moran…David
Nicola Cunningham…Mary

Premise:

Slacker Shaun’s lousy week only turns worse when the recently deceased return as flesh-eating zombies.

I hate when that happens.

High Points:

1. The amount of time that passes during which Shaun remains hilariously oblivious to the zombie epidemic.

2. The epilogue, which contains some of the funniest onscreen moments of last year.

Low Point:

The number of times the zombies remain inexplicably at bay so that dialogue and moments of plot development can occur.

The Scores:

Originality: 3/6 This is the latest take on Night of the Living Dead, but it may be the best since the ‘68 original.

Effects: 5/6. Disgustingly effective.

Story: 4/6:

Acting: 6/6: Everyone in this film gives natural performances. The cast remains convincing and comic in the face of terror, even when script developments seem forced.

Production: 5/6. Effective low-budget.

Emotional Response: 5/6 Funny, though repulsive in places.

Overall: 5/6.

In total, Shaun of the Dead receives 33/42.

5 replies on “Shaun of the Dead”

  1. If you liked SotD
    Make sure to check out Simon Pegg’s other baby, the UK TV show “Spaced”… If you are not in Europe and don’t own a multi-region DVD player, Spaced alone is enough reason to get one. Amazon UK delivered our box set in a matter of days amazingly enough. Very very funny stuff.

  2. 2 additional highpoints
    Slips; doesn’t look down (lol).

    Saying hello to the other survivors in the alley.

  3. My all-time favorite zombie flick
    This is my all-time favorite zombie flick, with the original Resident Evil and the Australian movie Undead. The comedy level is spot on, the zombies are well done, its just an almost perfect movie. Well worth watching.

    Damien

    • Re: My all-time favorite zombie flick

      This is my all-time favorite zombie flick, with the original Resident Evil and the Australian movie Undead. The comedy level is spot on, the zombies are well done, its just an almost perfect movie. Well worth watching.

      Damien

      Have you seen “Versus”? Japan, 2000, it’s a zombie/manga-like/yakuza/martial-arts comedy. Hilarious and inventive, and so delightfully not politically correct.

      “Undead” highpoint: Taking out a gun in the general store ;-)

      • Re: My all-time favorite zombie flick

        Have you seen “Versus”? Japan, 2000, it’s a zombie/manga-like/yakuza/martial-arts comedy. Hilarious and inventive, and so delightfully not politically correct.

        I bought Versus on a recommendation from a friend, and I was not disappointed. The subtitles for it are priceless – the scene where the main guy tells the Yakuza to stop threatening the girl “because [he’s] a feminist” was hilarious.

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