‘Shaun of the Dead’ blends blood, comedy
In “Shaun of the Dead,” which blends bloody horror, slapstick comedy and rollicking romance, the title character exists in a North London neighborhood that could be described as a dead zone. The commitment-shy, achievement-challenged 29-year-old Shaun (co-writer Simon Pegg of HBO’s “Band of Brothers”) drifts through a bland existence that includes a mind-numbing routine making him seem like a dead man walking. Each day consists of visiting a convenience store, playing video games with his best buddy, Ed (newcomer Nick Frost), working in a electronics shop, dealing with his frustrated girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield of “The War Zone”), and – at the start of each evening – visiting the local pub.
In an ironic twist, Shaun only comes to life when zombies – whom at first he thinks are just spaced-out Londoners like him, not reanimated corpses hungry for human flesh – invade. That’s when Shaun and Ed break out the coal shovels, cricket bats and flying objects and declare war on the pesky zombies, who seem like creatures out of a video game.
Already a major hit with young adults in England, “Shaun of the Dead” seems destined to attract a similar audience on these shores due to its international themes. Debuting co-writer/director Edgar Wright weaves in messages about the life decisions faced by twentysomething men and women who enjoy holding on to the joys of their youth and worry about looking ahead to the type of adulthood associated with turning 30.
Of course, battles with zombies fuel “Shaun,” but the talented creators and cast members of the R-rated film massage the material to bring out insights in a project that would merely be gore-driven in lesser hands. Little touches – such as Shaun’s 17-year-old fellow retail employees meanly referring to him as “granddad” – lift it above and beyond the usual fright fare.
With all due respect to George Romero and his “Dead” trilogy (“Night of the Living Dead,” “Dawn of the Dead” and “Day of the Dead”), which obviously inspired the import, “Shaun” is ultimately in a league of its own and works as both a horror comedy and a social satire.
FILM REVIEW
“Shaun of the Dead”
Grade: B+
Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Ashfield and Nick Frost; written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright; produced by Nira Park; directed by Edgar Wright.
Running Time: 99 minutes.
Parental Guide: R rating (very strong violence, gore, harsh four-letter profanity, drug references).
Web site: www.shaunofthedead.com.