Shaun of the dead
Shaun of the dead movie credits:
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Written by: Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright
Cast:
Simon Pegg (Shaun)
Nick Frost (Ed)
Kate Ashfield (Liz)
Release date: 2004
Spoiler alert: some crucial elements of the movie are commented in the following review. Be warned!
My bloody rating:
Shaun of the dead movie review:
Without any doubt, Shaun of the dead is one of the first movie to elegantly and efficiently mix horror and comedy! While watching this great movie, you never feel like the horror or the comedy is taking too much place.
Of course, you could easily split the movie in two: the first part is the funny part while the second one is the horrific one! Still, both comedy and horror are well-integrated and the whole thing works really well!
Since the movie might be considered a comedy in the first place, I was expecting some issues with the special effects or the makeup. Fortunately, it's not the case! The special effects are great!
Whether it's to depict a guy being ripped apart through a window or simply to witness the cool makeup on the zombie's face, everything is top-notch! Some effects (even if the computer generated images are a little obvious at times) are even spectacular!
The problem with bad horror movies is that, very often, they are unintentionally... funny! In this one, some gore scenes are so funny (even if they are well-done) that even people who don't like blood and gore might enjoy them!
The script is well-written and there are many enjoyable moments in this movie. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright did a great job covering up all possible (and funny) situations you might imagine involving a zombie!
You will notice that killing a zombie can be done with various and... surprising objects! On that level, Shaun of the dead is quite refreshing. If only all horror movies would at least try to be a little different like this one is!
Another great thing about this movie is that it does raise some questions about the living dead... questions that I don't think have been asked (or answered) before!
Like can you walk with a group of zombies (and pretend to be one) without being caught? Or can you kill a zombie simply by throwing vinyls at him? And what do you do if your husband turns into a zombie? Do you still love him? Can you still go to bed with him?
I know, it might not be your everyday questions... but it could be nice to know the answers!
The two main characters are interpreted by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Overall, they do a very nice job in this movie. They seem more comfortable in the funny sequences of the movie, but they can pull it off when the heat is on!
The rest of the cast is also interesting, but don't expect to see big names throughout the movie! That's probably a good thing since you don't spend your time wondering where you saw the actors/actresses before!
The ending is also amusing and quite relevant! The strength of this movie doesn't only rely on the good mix of horror and comedy. Some moral issues are also involved (but in a very subtle way) making the entire experience even more interesting! Don't be surprise if you caught yourself watching the movie for a second time, looking for other elements you might have missed in the first place!
After creating this amusing parody of horror movies, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost did the same with cop movies in "Hot fuzz". And yes, once again, they did an excellent job creating a movie that is entertaining, fascinating and pretty funny!
Some people got it, others don't! Pegg and Frost are in the first category!
Shaun of the dead movie review written by: Martin Berube
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