Shaun of the Dead
a review by Cameron McCasland

If a funnier movie was made in 2004 I didn't see it. This movie is hands
down one of my favorites for the year. It is funny on so many levels. It
works as a comedy, love story, and a great horror film. Not since Abbott
and Costello have these two different genres worked together so well.
It follows most of the zombie movie rules, while at the same time poking
fun at how stupid some of the rules are. For instance, Shaun can run in
front of a mob and lead them all away because he is faster than the undead.

You are introduced to the main players right at the start. Shaun (Simon
Pegg) and his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) are having a heart to heart at
the Winchester (Shaun's favorite watering hole, and Liz's most dreary place
in the world) Joining them in this lover's quarrel are friends from both
sides of the table. Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun's dependent best friend who
spends his time drinking and playing PS2. Along with David (Dylan Moran)
who is not so secretly in love (with Liz) and Diane (Lucy Davis) an out of
work actress who seems to have come to terms with this. You get a good feel
about who these characters are right from the get go. Seeing their
relationship is going nowhere but back to the Winchester every night Liz
ends the relationship with the unsure Shaun.

A night of drinking ensues and in the morning the dead have began to walk
the earth. Not that Shaun will realize it for some time. Partially
hungover he goes about his everyday routine. Hits the shop for a ice cream
cone, and diet soda breakfast. Blood on the glass and floor is undetectable
to the distraught soon to be horror movie hero. The zombie is so much like
the panhandler he sees everyday he doesn't notice the change. He comes home
to a girl in the garden and that's when the movie really takes off.

Zombies are arriving slowly and Shaun and Ed begin to take things into
their own hands. Impaling doesn't seem to work so they began tossing
records at the zombies (one of the funniest moments in the picture). They
take off the heads with cricket paddles and a shovel. They then make the
trip to pick up Shaun's mother and Liz. The journey goes through legions of
zombies, as well as a now zombiefied STEPdad.

Their arrival at the Winchester gives purpose to all the bad acting classes
Diane has taken. They fortify themselves inside and the zombies keep
coming. Laughter and horror ensue for the rest of the movie.

Shaun of the Dead is a must own for Zombiephiles. George Romero praised
the film with thumbs up and took to the new zombie filmakers so well he has
given them roles as Zombies in the now in production Land of the Dead. With
no nudity, plenty of gore, and even more laughter it is a gem sure to be
loved for years to come.

The DVD is fully loaded and has a wealth of knowledge for horror fans. Two
commentaries, the first with Simon Pegg and writer/director Edgar Wright who
give a good mix of on set stories, and technical banter. The second
commentary brings the cast back together for a friendly look at a funny
movie. Not as much meat in this one but for fans a good listen. The
features and inside jokes fill the menus. A segment to view more of the tv
sequences that are clips in the movie, as well as Chris Martin of Coldplay
fame with his Zombaid relief program. For the gorehounds the video diary is
a makeup f/x dream, and a separate feature shows more of the splatter. When
your finished you'll have red on you. They also have a section that deals
with the plot holes. Funny to watch on DVD, but not noticeable in the film
for all of the laughter.

Don't miss this one. It is a bright note on a year that was slim pickings
for horror fans. It transcends the pitfalls of most horror comedies by
keeping the zombies look scary, and the jokes hilarious. The only thing to
wish for in this one is a sequel.