Shaun of the Dead (2004) Reviewed

SHAUN OF THE DEAD ( 2004 )
Edgar Wright, director, wrote Shaun of the Dead with longtime collaborator Simon Pegg who plays Shaun, a sadsack electronics sales clerk with a failing relationship who finds his balls when the dead begin taking to the streets. What’s amazing about SotD is that it’s hilarious — a pitch-perfect comedy — AND it functions beautifully as a thrilling horror movie. (They accomplished a similar feat with the cop thriller genre in 2007’s Hot Fuzz.) Horror and comedy are rarely fused successfully and I’m not sure it’s ever been done as well as it is here. Pegg makes for a charmingly unassuming everyman which makes his transformation into hero even more fulfilling. He’s surrounded by a stellar supporting cast many of whom shared space with Pegg in BBC’s Spaced ensemble cast. Great gore, great action, great jokes and inspired perfs all around. SotD stays true to Romero’s Living Dead mythology and offers many shout-outs to honor Romero. Horror fans will love the in-jokes and references. SotD offers something for everyone, but for fans of horror and the zombie sub-genre, it’s absolute perfection. To express his appreciation Romero cast Wright and Pegg in small zombie roles in 2005’s Land of the Dead.
****

~ by Number5ive on August 19, 2008.