Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Kate Ashfield
IMDb: ” A man (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.”
There is much to enjoy about this film. Pegg and Frost are a fantastic double act as Shaun and Ed, and their motley crew of survivors are brilliant. It’s a zombie flick for the average man: would this film have worked with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon in Pegg and Frost’s roles? I don’t think so. Pegg and Frost aren’t your stereotypical action heroes, and that’s what makes this film so brilliant.
I’m sure it’s something that we’ve all jokingly talked about before: what would you do if zombies attacked? Castor over at Anomalous Material recently posted Zombie Apocalypse: What Would You Do? My choice would be to go to a castle or stately home. They’re normally full of weapons and have been standing for decades. Shaun and Ed’s plan? Pick up Shaun’s mum, go get his ex-girlfriend and then go to The Winchester, their local pub, and wait till it all blows over. Sounds a good plan, right?
Shaun of the Dead is a well-written, exciting film that showcases Pegg, Frost and co perfectly. To be honest, what could be more British than going to a pub? Well, perhaps going to the pub and drinking tea!
★★★★★
Cinematic Delights 
Great review Claire, I just put together my own take on the film.
Speaking of Halloween – the event not the film – I went to the door earlier thinking it was my sister who was picking up a bottle of gin. So there I am, gin in hand, answering the door ready to hand it over and low and behold I’m met by four two and a half foot tall girls dressed up as witches. They must have been six or seven years old, two mums stood behind them, and me stood at the door holding a bottle of gin out to them! Thankfully I had some Mikyway Stars hidden just behind the door to hand out.
..oh and very impressive pumpkins. They must have taken some time…and patience.
Thanks, Dan. I’ll head over and check your post out soon.
Haha, I’m not sure the kids would have appreciated the gin but the mums might have! I’m sure a group of excitable children is hard work 😛
My pumpkin wasn’t too bad but Shaun’s took him 50 minutes. It was his second attempt, too!
I’m not a horror fan at all, Claire, but I quite enjoyed this one. That CD-throwing part is quite a hoot.
Btw, I’m about to post my Halloween post, it’s not horror-related but it’s a topic I think you’ll like 🙂
That part is very funny! I like it when they bump into Shaun’s friend and her bunch of survivors are identical to his – the partner, the mother, the dramatic friend… It’s a very good film!
Oh God. I cannot praise Edgar Wright’s work enough. The man is a genius. His films (and TV shows) are all nothing short of magnificent, and SHAUN OF THE DEAD is an absolute must. Fantastic, fantastic film.
When I watched it on Monday I’d forgotten just how brilliant it is. It’s so well-written and I love the on going jokes, like ‘you’ve got red on you’ 😀
Great Pumpkin action!! I glad Shaun got it right in the end!!
SotD is such a great film!! I am always quoting it in real life situations….
🙂
Haha, thanks Scott. It took him a while to get there but he did it!
When I hear ‘You’re My Best Friend’ I always think of this film 😀
You’ve got red on you! Nice review of a great film. It’s been too long since I last saw this, must give it another watch.
Do it, Russ! It’s such a good un. I’ll get Hot Fuzz lined up and watch that next 😀
Nice pumpkins! Good to share your love for movies!
Never saw Shaun of the Dead as I’m not a big horror fan, but seeing that people who don’t like the genre liked it I guess I should also give it a chance…
Nostra, I think you should give it a go. It’s witty, well-written and it’s particularly graphic. The film is more about Shaun and his friends than the zombies.
Hi, Claire and company:
Good looking intricate knife and Dremel Tool work on the pumpkins!
‘Shaun Of The Dead’ is kind of over the top at times while maintaining a pretty decent flick. Rightfully put Edgar Wright on the map.
Still lean more towards the US answer to Wright’s film. ‘Dead & Breakfast’ from the same year.. Less family oriented. More drawn out gags with Jeremy Sisto, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and a killer theme song.
Thanks for the tip, Jack, I’ll have to look that one up. I haven’t seen much with Jeffrey Dean Morgan though I liked him in Watchmen and The Losers.
The pumpkins took quite a while but it was worth it!
Ahah thanks for the AM link Claire! I must say I didn’t find Shaun of the Dead all that funny the first time I saw it but it has grown on me over the years. Nice review of the movie 😀