Shaun of the Dead is one of my favorite zombie movies due to the comedy and of course the homage to George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead [1968].” The film came to theaters in 2004 from Universal Pictures by director Edgar Wright (Last Night in Soho [2021]) which he also wrote with Simon Pegg (The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse [2005]) who’s also the main character. Since I was asked to review this film, I saw it again on Peacock with my husband and made a night of it with other zombie flicks.

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg

Shaun (Simon Pegg) is a bumbling idiot who works at a dead-end job and is oblivious to his surroundings and lives with two roommates Pete (Peter Serafinowicz) and his best buddy Ed (Nick Frost (Slaughterhouse Rulez [2018]). He has a girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield (Hangman [2015])) however she breaks up with him because he never wants to do anything or go anywhere besides The Winchester Pub and this time, he was supposed to make a reservation at a restaurant called Fulci’s (a clear homage to Lucio Fulci’s Zombie [1979]). There’s some isolated moments and news reports about random stories concerning the dead returning to life, but Shaun ignores it all, until the next day when all society has fallen apart, zombies are roaming around. Shaun and Ed kill a few zombies on his way to Shaun’s Mom, Mary (Nicola Cunningham) home but she won’t leave her hubby Phillip (Bill Nighy (The Phantom of the Opera [1989])) who is his stepdad and has been bitten. Meanwhile Ed crashed their car, for the reason he wanted to drive Phillip’s Jag. Then it was over to Liz’s apartment complex to rescue her, doesn’t want to go at first, but he convinces her so she and her two roommates Dianne (Lucy Davis) and David (Dylan Moran) to the only place he knows, The Winchester.

Bill Nighy

Rabid Fans

After some obstacles they finally make it however slowly one by one they succumb to the zombies. All who remain are Shaun, Liz, and Ed and even then, Ed does get bit, and they make it to the cellar. Sadly, they must leave Ed behind, but Shaun and Liz find a way out (sorry for the spoiler). In the end you see all is well between them as they are living together at Shaun’s flat, and guess what? Ed does make an appearance however he’s chained in their garage playing a video game – LOL.

Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield, Simon Pegg, and Lucy Davis

As I said in the beginning, I really enjoy this film. I prefer the zombie comedy movies, Cooties [2014], Warm Bodies [2013] and The Return of the Living Dead [1985].” One scene I truly find entertaining is when Shaun, Liz, and Ed are beating the owner of the pub, John (Steve Emerson (Bloody New Year [1978])) who is now a zombie with pool cues to the music of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” which I really think makes the movie; along with David told to ‘kill the Queen’ (referencing to pull on jukebox) as the music as it attracting attention.

I also enjoy the film because it has slow-moving zombies just like in Night of the Living Dead, not the fast zombies you see today. I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes zomcoms however it’s not for children, so my kids won’t see it until their older.

TAGLINES:

• It’s just one of those days when you’re feeling a little…dead.
• Buy Milk. Ring Mum. Dodge Zombies
• Shuffling into theaters September 24th.
• They’re coming to get you, Barbara.
• A romantic comedy. With zombies.
• Ever felt like you were surrounded by zombies?
• In a time of crisis a hero must rise…from his sofa.
• Bought coffee. Called Mom. Dodged zombies.
• This September, aim for the head.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365748/

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

3C Rating: 8.0/10