Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Simply put, the most brilliant zombie
flick you will likely ever see. Funny and quirky,
goofy and often full of wink- wink-nudge-nudge glee,
the film is also perhaps the most realistic zombie
flick ever made. Of course, talking about the film
too much will give too much away... and I don't want
to do that. (Still... beware of spoilers ahead...)
The script here is quite nice with
many elements of the film working in concert to create
an utterly unique zombie film. Sure we've had this
story before (it pretty much rips off the basic elements
from George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead").
And we've seen many comic incarnations of the genre
as well. But the writers, filmmakers and actors here
(many of whom do double duty in front of and behind
the camera) work to make this film not only funny
and gory but also romantic, realistic and human. And
isn't that what a zombie film (which is really about
the humans' reaction to the zombie if truth be told)
should be? The reactions of the characters to what
is going on around them here is quite human throughout
the film.
One of the most delightful things
about "Shaun of the Dead" is its early scenes of life
prior to the zombies appearance where the citizens
of an English town including Shaun himself go about
life in a perfunctory way often seeming like the living
dead themselves. Here the filmmakers remind us that
we often allow ourselves to become complacent, boring
and lifeless when the drudgery and boredom of life
overtakes us. It's a nice little message and one that
the clever writers, actors, and director here use
for comic effect. Ultimately they let the subtlety
of its meaning only sink in on those who can catch
their breath between the moments of hilarity and action
here. It's also a nice touch that, as it surely would
be in real life, the oblivious and unfocused Shaun
and his pals don't even notice the zombies until they
are pretty much forced to. Listen closely to the dialogue
going on on the TV as Shaun flips channels and misses
the newscasts about the problem while the succession
of TV voices actually continue the story. What might
we hear if we would only listen?
"Shaun of the Dead" is being universally
hailed as a hilarious, sweet-natured, delightful,
romantic and clever. This is one of those rare films
where the hype is true.
Note:
Most of the main cast and crew come
from British TV, many worked on a TV program called
"Spaced" and fans of that show were used as zombie
extras during the shoot.
A couple songs by Queen are important
to the film's plot. Also pop songs by Ash, Chicago
and other bands are included.
Several British TV newscasters play
themselves in the faux TV news here.
There are lots of references to
zombie films, particularly those by George Romero,
in the film. The title is, of course, a reference
to Romero's "Dawn of the Dead."
The film debuted in the UK in April
2004 (delayed two weeks there in order to not be confused
with the "Dawn of the Dead" remake). It appeared on
U.S. shores in September.
Viewed in October 2004 in Austin.
