Release Date: September 24, 2004 | DVD Release Date: December 21, 2004
Shaun is a slacker who lives a routine life. With his relationship on the rocks and a contentious relationship with his stepfather, Shaun takes some time to notice that his neighbors are turning into zombies. While gathering his friends and getting to the bar on his mind, will Shaun and his friends survive brains intact?
There are the classic zombie movies like [easyazon_link identifier=”B00000K3TO” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Night of the Living Dead[/easyazon_link] and the modern cool takes on the genre like [easyazon_link identifier=”B0030B624E” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Zombieland[/easyazon_link], but in my mind, the horror spoof [easyazon_link identifier=”B0006A9FKA” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Shaun of the Dead[/easyazon_link] is the finest movie of the genre. Simon Pegg as Shaun and Nick Frost as Ed are lovable losers joined at the hip who are not so much looking for a moment to shine as the preservation of their ability to drink beer. In the meantime, one of them goes on a quest of self-discovery, fueled by the rich tapestry of heartbreak and stress that promotes growth of spirit.
Shaun is a man living something of a discouraged life. He’s in a report and work until paycheck job at an electronics store, struggling with the woman he loves who has broken up with him and working to be seen as worthy by a mother he adores and the man she married. Shaun desperately wants to care and be cared for but he isn’t sure he’s worthy. A zombie apocalypse forces his hand. Shaun will either become a man able to think on his feet or he will not survive.
Balancing the urgency of Shaun is his friend Ed who is committed to being the man that never grows up. His ideal life is spending time playing video games, drinking beer and smoking weed. Some viewers may see Ed as the character holding Shaun back, but he is content with the lot of taking life (or afterlife) as it comes.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B0006A9FKA” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Shaun of the Dead[/easyazon_link] is constructed of rapid-fire scenes connected with clever repetition and laced with a trademark British dark humor. Shaun’s group of survivors encounters another group of survivors lead by Yvonne (Jessica Hynes). The business-as-usual byplay of polite society adds an extra level of ridiculousness to an already brilliantly outrageous situation. In the end, [easyazon_link identifier=”B0006A9FKA” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Shaun of the Dead[/easyazon_link] is as much a romantic comedy as it is a horror film. [easyazon_link identifier=”B0006A9FKA” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Shaun of the Dead[/easyazon_link] is populated with wonderfully talented actors. Anyone that might call Simon Pegg an actor only adept at comedy needs only to watch the scene in which Shaun must mercy kill a loved one infected with the zombie virus. As the work progresses and the action become manic, the actors turn in a wonderful range of emotion and commitment to their role that has award-winning quality. [easyazon_link identifier=”B0006A9FKA” locale=”US” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Shaun of the Dead[/easyazon_link] is cool, quick and fun. I frequently pick that DVD off of the shelf when at a loose end and looking for a pick-up. If you are one of the few people who have not seen this work, check this movie out today. You will thank me tomorrow.Shaun of the Dead is available as a DVD, Blu-ray and on Amazon Instant Video:
Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada
| Title | Shaun of the Dead |
|---|---|
| Director | Edgar Wright |
| Actors | Kate Ashfield, Tim Baggaley, Nicola Cunningham, Sonnell Dadral, Lucy Davis (II) |
| Length | 1 hour and 23 minutes |
| Rating | R |
| DVD Release | December 21, 2004 |