Review of Shaun of the Dead (2004) by Alex G — 11 Nov 2013

Do you remember a time before zombie movies? I know I don't, there's always been zombies as a plot point or a central character but I do remember a time that they weren't as popular as they are now. One of those gems that came after the second revival, which arguably really started with Zack Snyder's Dawn of the dead, was Shaun Of The Dead. As far as firsts go, this was also my first Edgar Wright film and aside from the true narrative power of zombies being portrayed for the first time since Night Of The Living Dead, this was my intro into elaborate and smart comedies.

The Good: Excellent exposition, Exacerbation, opening credits, growing up as an adult, great horror shots, double meanings, huge array of comedy and a touching film.

The Bad: Some bloated shots.

What plagues many horror films, and many films period, is the over use or under use of exposition especially in introductions. Either we painfully know all about a character or we know so very little and are left to decipher it as we go along. In Shaun Of The Dead the film is beyond clever in it's use of both. Introductions are fast paced and woven into the exposition of another character and their intentions and motivations are made clear. The first scene in The Winchester moved along briskly, hilariously and is an example that ought be followed.

The film has a few recurring themes but my favorite is Exacerbation. The film in many different ways shows how things continuously become exacerbated, from a small character level as well as the entire zombie apocalypse. The personal level is best at the Liz and Shaun relationship level, where Shaun is a grown man in a dead end job and yet the only good thing he really has going for him he continues to put under enormous amounts of stress that, finally, takes the end of the world to mend. It's important, clever and darkly funny to put such a focal point on exacerbation even so far as defining it in the opening scene.

Wright, is never a director to shy away from direct physical representation in his films, my favorite is in Hot Fuzz(review to follow.) However Wright's outright portrayal of society being at a stage of zombification is biting. What is Shaun defending other than a tame version of the apocalypse already come? Shaun himself is a form of that zombification shown in the opening, go to work, go home, go to the pub, play video games etc. etc. The opening scene really sets the tone of what to look for throughout the film and works really well at making you look inward to what's important in our lives and question our motives.

Growing up is a never ending process, we are all kids on some level. It's picking and choosing constantly that defines us at various levels along with our levels of responsibility. Shaun is a kid in adult attire. He takes the very bare amount of responsibilities having not even excelled in management in his own job and continuously putting boyhood antics ahead of his love life. It is extreme the example it takes for him to grow up but it is very well done, everything Shaun does from the outbreak on dictates him as a character, how he handles his routine and so on. It is fitting that his greatest fixation and crutch, The Winchester, is the moment he does disband his childishness and realizes what is important. It's very metaphorical and well done throughout the neighborhood, with symbolism of childhood interwoven, video games, late nights, even a child's slide.

Just a quick note on this but the horror and build up shots are very, very well done. The scene that comes most to mind is the scene of Shaun having the zombie atop him while his friend photographs the event. It is reminiscent of Night of The Living Dead, where the first zombie in film history is atop one of the protagonists. Wright has done his homework and his shots are perfect.

The comedy is really versatile in this film, there is the obvious slap stick that is used sparingly and very wise in that, but the true humor comes from the absurd and the intelligent. The antics that Shaun and crew come across in the wake of the zombie apocalypse are hilarious, whether it be acting to get across a field of zombies or lending helpful tips on how to handle a zombie kill, Wright is a very well crafted comedic film maker and one of the finest.

This film is endlessly touching. Every major relationship in life is represented and even some that aren't always represented in film. The most touching was that of Shaun and his step-father who in a tight space of time manages a story arc from beginning to end, that suitably ends in a chuckle rather than a tear. Goodbyes are the most common place in the film and in it we see Shaun say goodbye to friends, parents, habits and even a little bit of himself in all of it.

The Bad.

Some of the shots and scenes are a bit bloated, and over done. Wright generally fixes these wrongs with good pay off but some of the set up could have been tighter in the editing stages.

Aside from that minor complaint I really, really loved Shaun Of The Dead. It's a film that can be enjoyable for die hard horror and gore fans, as well as comedic and drama fans. It's a film with a wide array and it is still Wright's best film as of yet. 8/10.