Shaun of the Dead

Part horror movie, part comedy, all good. While I think it gets a little overblown, Shaun of the Dead is a great movie and definitely one of the better zombie movies around. I love that it touches something that we have all thought about, "what would you do in a zombie outbreak?" Shaun goes over his fantasy, plans it out, and executes it.... sort of.



The movie is mainly about how a routine, mundane life turns you into just another zombie. That's our social commentary. It works, its not to deep, and its light enough for a comedy movie. Along with that and the "zombie apocalypse" fantasy, it actually touches on something that doesn't get brought up often enough in these movies, dealing with the death and turning of loved ones. Its a little more unique in this aspect because most zombie movies throw a group of strangers together, but Shaun of the Dead has a tight nit group of friends reacting to this horrible situation.

The humor is spot on. It never gets to silly and there is plenty of little jokes that might fly by if you are not paying attention or they are not your kind of humor. Really, there is something for everyone here. From fart jokes, video games, and electro, to little pop culture references, small visual gags, and some good ol' fashion slapstick.

The characters, though all caricatures, are believable. We have Shaun, your everyman. Ed, our lazy asshole best friend. Liz, the lovely, caring, adventurous girlfriend. Dianne, air headed, bubbly blond. David, cynical, sarcastic, know-it-all prick. And Mum. They are all believable and you care for them. This makes it all the more impact full when one of them meets their end. The others react in very believable ways and it makes for real and strong drama. The Mum zed scene gets me every time.

The story: Liz is fed up with the same boring every day routine that her and Shaun have fallen into. Up, work, home, Winchester, bed. Day in, day out. She wants to branch out, do thing, adventure. Shaun promises to try, but quickly and easily falls back into pattern. But as everything falls apart and Liz breaks up with Shaun, so does the world and the zombie outbreak happens. The first thing Shaun sets out to do is save his Mum and Liz. He plans to take them all to a safe and familiar place... The Winchester. Things go to shit with people being bit, plans not going accordingly, and tensions breaking between "friends" and we end up with just Shaun, Liz, a burning Winchester, and an incredible rescue by the military. In the end, they fall back into their old ways and so does the world.

The horror and drama is all done well. The slow, creeping zombies add the perfect amount of dread and the Shaun, Liz, David love triangle makes for some of the best moments. And the gore. The gore is done well. Its not all over the place, just a few festering bits and some random blood, but those festering scenes.... well done.

Its a good zombie movie, it deserves to be praised. But sometimes it gets a little over blown. I do love it though. Check it out. I think the best thing about it is that even if you're not really into zombie movies, you'll find something there you like enough to stick around.