Shaun of the Dead Review
Published February 17, 2005
There will be unintentional spoilers periodically.
I'm the type of person who doesn't read movie reviews before I watch the film. I don't seek out trailers online, or read the latest dish on upcoming releases. I prefer to go into a film with a clean slate, knowing as little as possible about the film before I see it. I find the movie going experience more enjoyable when I have less pre-conceived conceptions about the movie I'm about to watch. That being said, I love to read reviews and seek out trivia about movies that I have already seen. I am addicted to the Internet Movie Data Base's Trivia section. I enjoy reading other peoples thoughts and ideas about a movie and compare them to my own.
Since living in France I have completely been out of the entertainment loop. We don't have a TV and it is rare that we go to a new movie. I do visit a few web sites to keep up with the news and hear bits and pieces of the movies that are coming and out and generating some buzz. Shaun of the Dead is a film that I have been hearing buzz about for several months. I refused to read any reviews or really research any aspect of the movie, but I couldn't help but hear bits and pieces of good things about. Primarily that it was a funny zombie spoof. Being a fan of the zombie genre, when the chance came up to borrow the dvd, I didn't hesitate to take it.
The plot is the pretty standard zombie plot. Some type of radiation/virus wreaks havoc on the earth re-animating the dead into brainless, homicidal maniacs. The movie does a good job of spoofing many of the conventions of the genre. The title character, Shaun, is so stuck in his hum drum existence it takes him a couple of days to realize that his city has been attacked by zombies. He has a dead end job, his girlfriend just broke up with him, and his flat mates are constantly fighting. Despite their being several zombies eating human flesh around him and the constant media blitz about them, it literally takes a zombie in his back yard for Sean to notice. There are a number of truly funny scenes that mimic many of the classic zombie cliche's.
Here, the zombies walk in the classic, slow motion, brain dead way. They are mockingishly slow. In one scene Sean and his friend, Ed, throw a large crate full of junk at two zombies, then have time to run for a crate of records and argue which records are crappy enough to launch. The entire time the zombies are slowly walking towards them to devour Sean and his friend. Other scenes have one zombie being beaten with pool sticks repeatedly to little or no effect. Time and time again there are little digs at the genre conventions while still lovingly following them.
Mat Brewster is an American stumbling as an ex-pat through the streets of Shanghai. He is helped by his lovely wife and an enormous piles of bootleg DVDs. He is chronicling his adventures in the Shanghai Diaries and musing on pop culture at The Midnight Cafe.
- Shaun of the Dead Review
- Published: February 17, 2005
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Comedy, Video: Horror
- Writer: Mat Brewster
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Comments on this articleComments
Sorry, I loved the comedy aspect. I guess I'm less a fan of the zombie genre than you gents, but I've been describing SotD as my favorite "romantic comedy... with zombies!"
By that standard, I think it's brilliant from beginning to end.
"Kill the Queen!"
thanks Mat! sounds like the consensus is I better check this out
I'm actually more of a comedy fan than horror/zombie, Phillip. But I think Mat is right on in saying that because the film plays for the shallow gag in the final hour as people are being (basically) eaten and hacked to death (or un-death), it makes the viewing a more shallow -- and ultimately less funny or memorable -- experience.
On the other hand, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle goes for the shallow sight gag throughout and ends up being a joyous ride. The writing is brilliant, the situations very contemporary, and stakes (chicks, burgers) are much lower, so that tonal style works much better in that case.
Hmmm, I see what you mean, Eric. And yes, I was surprised by Harold and Kumar, which was great.
But I guess I'm thinking that had Shaun not played it light, it would have been too heavy. I mean, dude, well, I don't want to give too big a spoiler here in the comments, but there are some serious downers at the end of the movie, you know? Oedipal issues and all that.
Anyway, yes, EO, you should see it.
Philip -- You're absolutely right in that striking a balance in a comedy/horror flick is an extremely hard thing to do. Therefore, all in all, I think Shaun is fairly good, definitely watchable, but not great.
By the way -- There are several characters from The Office in Shaun, which is fun for anyone who is a fan of that brillian show.
I've not seen Harold and Kumar, but I know that it is strictly a comedy. SofD is a spoof of a subgenre. A good spoof should also be a good version of the genre being spoofed. Here, though, the filmmakers are obviously fans of zombie movies, I felt that they lightened it up too much. It could have still been funny while retaining the horror. Add a little more violence/gore but maintain the references and you've got a better picture.
That is not to say this is a bad film. I liked it quite a bit, but it is not a great picture.
Evil Dead II, now thats a great picture.
Mat - You're right, Evil Dead II works as both horror movie and comedy, and that's what makes it great.
I think the original Scream did a good job of mixing horror and comedy as well.
shaun of the dead is an ace film!!! i cant believe people are sayign that there needed to be more gore. it was perfectly done.
go on google, and type in Spaced. it's the sitcom that Shaun of the Dead was based on. i promise you, it's really funny.
take it easy!
I'm not sure if gore (as in blood and guts) is really the right word. Though I am a fan of gore. Look at movies like Evil Dead II and Sream. Both are funny, and spoofs of sorts, but both play it straight. Bruce Cambell having a possessed hand that beats him with plates until he cuts it off may be over the top and hilarious, but the way he acts the scene is perfectly straight. The guys in SotD always seem to be winking at the audience as if to say, none of this is really happening but aint we cute!
I suspect I might have laughed harder if I were familiar with the television show. I'll try to seek it out, for I hear its quite funny.
wanna see a 7 minute, sarcastic as hell short film about zombies? see it here:
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2677439
shaun pegg is a paedophile so do not watch his movies
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Really nice review, Mat. My opinion is very close to yours. I found the first 25 minutes or so fairly close to brilliant -- the way in which they strung out Sean's realization that the zombies were coming while his character's story developed was nothing short of great.
After the record tossing scene, the movie devolved into so so comedy. In the end, it's a nice film, but not a great one.
Evil Dead 2 is my vote for the best comedy/horror flick of all time. It somehow manages to be really funny and really scary -- sometimes at the same time. Unlike Sean, Ash is playing it for real (brilliantly portrayed by brilliant over-actor supreme Bruce Campbell) which helps to draw the audience into the story. The more you care, the more you can be scared... and laugh.