Shaun Of The Dead

Reviewed By Rich Drees

     Meshing film genres can be a tricky thing, more prone to failure than success. Although there have been many attempts through the years to blend the seemingly diametrically opposed horror and comedy genres, only few have succeeded. Since Abbott and Costello first squared off against Frankenstein in 1948 only Landis’ American Werewolf in London (1981), Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste (1987) and Braindead (1992) and Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2 (1987) and Army Of Darkness (1993) have effectively balanced the two to create entertaining results. Add to this short list Shaun Of The Dead, a romantic comedy interrupted by an attack of undead zombies.

     Shaun (Simon Pegg) is a 29-year old slacker stuck in a dead-end retail job. Frustrated by his lack of ambition and drive, he is dumped by his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) following him forgetting to make restaurant reservations to celebrate their third anniversary. Shaun’s attempt to drown his sorrows with his friend Ed (nick Frost) is cut short when London becomes overrun with zombies. Shaun and Ed must fight their way across London armed with nothing but a shovel and a cricket bat to retrieve Liz and his mother (Penelope Wilton) and stepfather (Bill Nighy) and find sanctuary at the one secure place they know of, the local pub.

     Shaun of the Dead is a movie very much aware of its genre roots and plays with its audience’s expectations. The film never outright satirizes zombie movie conventions, but instead plays many sequences for their comedic potential without dipping into parody. The movie also keeps viewers on their toes by playing other sequences straight and often delivering surprisingly dramatic weight. The script, co-written by Pegg and director Edgar White, concentrates not so much on the zombie attacks but on the characters and their reactions to what’s going on around them. The characters have history between them that plays out for both comedic and dramatic effect.

     Shaun also effectively uses music. The Specials’ ska classic “Ghost Town” play over the films opening and a vintage performance by the Smith’s of their classic “Panic” provides some foreshadowing. It’s also used for comedic effect with a pub jukebox that spontaneously plays Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” as Shaun is complaining to Ed about his breakup with Liz and Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” when the group is repelling a zombie attack.

     While there might not be enough gore to satisfy hardcore zombie movie enthusiasts, there are a few moments that will make the more squeamish squirm in their seat. Genre fans will also catch several references to various classic zombie films and directors scattered throughout the film.