The Popkorn Junkie :: SHAUN OF THE DEAD

     British humor can sometimes be very dull and confusing. In the case of Monty Python, it never really took off in Britain...it just wasn't their cup of tea. However, it hit the United States and instantly became a worldwide phenomenon. Basically, some people loved it and some people hated it -- there really wasn't any middle ground. I suspect that will also be the case with "Shaun of the Dead", quite possibly the most wholly entertaining film I have seen this year. While watching the film, I was instantly struck with the notion that this film had 'cult classic' written all over it, and boy was I right. This was the "Evil Dead" of 2004, and will be remembered years from now just as that...a cult classic. That is probably what director Edgar Wright was going for. "Shaun of the Dead" combines the gore and suspense of "28 Days Later" with the comedy of "The Office" and the drama of those fantastic old British dramas that we use to avoid as children when they came on PBS or BBC.

     Simon Pegg stars as Shaun. He spends his days selling electronics, and his nights drinking and playing video games with his best friend Ed (Nick Frost). Ed sells drugs for a living and really has no ambitions other than getting drunk and listening to electro music. And, despite the pleas of Shaun's flat mate, he will not kick his friend out because he makes him laugh. Shaun is also dating Liz (Kate Ashfield), who just wants Shaun to be more considerate and romantic once in a while. Everything turns on its head when the dead start coming to life, limping down the streets of London as slowly as possible. At first, Shaun and Ed don't know what to do, so they improvise by tossing records and tea cups at the zombies. Eventually, they realize that bashing a zombie's brains in will do the trick. They quickly make the decision to go on a road trip and rescue Shaun's mom Barbara (Penelope Wilton), whose husband Philip (Bill Nighy) has been bitten by a zombie, and Liz and her roommates from the clutches of the undead. The plan from there is to hold up at The Winchester, a local pub where Shaun and Ed spend most of their time.

From this point on I will dissect this film into three areas:

(01) HUMOR: These are some of the most richly comedic performances I have seen in a long, long time. As Shaun, Simon Pegg brings forth a dry, yet frantic humor that seems more accustomed to American cinema. Nick Frost, as Ed, delivers the most entertaining performance of the year, as proves time and time again his gift for doing the absolutely worst thing at the absolute worst time. I also enjoyed Penelope Wilton as Shaun's subdued, slightly cuckoo mother. Who would have thought one could derive so many laughs from watching two lazy slobs mutilate the walking deceased? The screenplay from Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg also features some subtle little references to other horror films like "28 Days Later", but manages to not ridicule them as much as they could have. In many ways, this is superior to anything they are spoofing.

(02) HORROR: The gore factor is high in this film. Though there are not many scenes that make you jump out of your seats, the make-up effects are stellar, especially when one of the group is pulled through The Winchester and slowly torn to pieces, starting with the zombies removing his intestines from his body. Very graphic indeed. By the end of the film, the gore factor has almost tripled from the first of the film, and some people in the audience were even covering their mouths -- now that is a sign that someone is doing something right.

(03) DRAMA: Strangely enough, "Shaun of the Dead" manages to escape predictability by adding in some nice little emotional scenes. Bill Nighy, as Shaun's stepfather, is quite sad when he apologizes, while dying, for trying his best to be a role model for Shaun. And, when Shaun is forced to kill his mother, we see the pain and the deliriousness in his face. These scenes were nice contrasts to Nick Frost's bumbling sidekick comments, and as a combination effect, they pack a wallop.

     So, "Shaun of the Dead" made me glad to go to the movies. I felt that my ticket price was totally worth it, and I hope you will take the same leap as I did. What this film does is deliver pure, non-stop entertainment for one hour a forty-five minutes, something that is evidently quite difficult when you look at films like "Team America: World Police". May cult status welcome this film with open arms and give our children something to rent on Halloween and laugh out loud at. By then, I suspect all involved will be off to bigger things, some maybe even better things. However, I will never forget where I was and how I felt when I watched "Shaun of the Dead"...a true horror film, for any fan of the genre.

-- Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )

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