Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Editor's Note Edgar Wright's horror-comedy film, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, follows the title character (Simon Pegg) through his mundane life in London. Joined by his immature and ever-present roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun excels at nothing except drinking pints of ale and watching television, which causes friction with his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield). Before Shaun can save his relationship, however, he's got to fend off a horde of zombies that are slowly taking over the city. Armed with a cricket bat and a vague sense of direction, Shaun must rescue his friends and loved ones, and bring them to the only safe place he can think of--the pub. Cowritten by Wright and Pegg, SHAUN OF THE DEAD succeeds remarkably well at combining droll British humor with good, old-fashioned zombie cinema. While the movie is often hilariously amusing, it takes its horror pedigree seriously, offering up moments of genuine suspense, and even a healthy dose of gore. Pegg is oddly charming as the put-upon lead slacker, and Frost is appropriately oafish, but the living dead themselves also take up a fair amount of screen time, shuffling and limping in their best Romero form. For lovers of zombie films and other chills-and-chuckles outings like EVIL DEAD II and DEAD ALIVE, SHAUN OF THE DEAD is an instant cult classic.

	Lucy Davis
	Peter Serafinowicz
	Dylan Moran
	Nick Frost
	Penelope Wilton
	Kate Ashfield
	Bill Nighy
	Simon Pegg
	Chris Martin - Cameo
	Edgar Wright - Screenwriter
	Alison Owen - Executive Producer
	Tim Bevan - Producer
	Simon Pegg - Screenwriter
	Eric Fellner - Producer
	Martin Freeman - Cameo
	Jon Buckland - Cameo
	Edgar Wright - Director

Rolling Stone
"[The directors] keep the blood and the laughs gushing....This blast of fright and fun best catches the spirit of George Romero..." 09/30/2004 p.204

Uncut
"[With] genuinely witty slapstick....A delight." 10/01/2004 p.153

Entertainment Weekly
"[T]he filmmakers, clearly fans of the genre, have got the zom and the com parts down cold..." 10/01/2004 p.52

New York Times
"[The film] yields ironic dramatic dividends." 09/24/2004 p.E20

Los Angeles Times
"SHAUN has all the markings of a labor of love. It's a grisly but sweet ode to friendship, love and the George Romero zombie trilogy." 09/24/2004 p.E4

USA Today
"There are some funny scenes, particularly as the film's lead actors, a pair of Everyguys, fight off hordes of creepy flesh-eaters in creative ways and with unusual implements." 09/24/2004 p.10E

Premiere
"The intense hilarity here is best enjoyed with a friend..." 03/01/2005 p.112