Rohini Kudva / The Hoya
The movie to consolidate all zombie movies, “Shaun of the Dead” is a comedy classic from the early 2000s. The beginning of an unofficial trilogy, dubbed the “Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy” due to the appearance of the Cornetto ice cream in all three films, “Shaun of the Dead” effectively both spoofed and redefined the zombie genre with its brand of uniquely quirky wit.
Directed by Edgar Wright, “Shaun of the Dead” centers around Shaun (Simon Pegg), a sorely uninspired man whose lack of desire — for anything other than to relive his younger years with his childish friend Ed (Nick Frost) — leaves him stuck in life. Working as a deadbeat salesman, Shaun watches his life fall into disarray when a zombie apocalypse descends upon London, forcing Shaun to man up or get bitten.
Wright’s dynamic style colors the entire film in a fast-paced frenzy. The many quick cuts drive the film’s comedy, such as during Ed and Shaun’s brainstorming sequence, in which they try to form a plan to save themselves and their loved ones from the apocalypse. In short scenes that smash into each other, we feel the two characters get increasingly excited about their plan. With every little edit or change they make, the montage plays again with the newly formed ideas. However, some things don’t ever change, like the pure joy that Barbara, played by a sweetly hilarious Penelope Wilton, places into her every skip as she escapes with Shaun and Ed in their idealized plans.
There are so many moments of pure playfulness in the film’s delivery that make “Shaun of the Dead” so memorable. Whether it be hitting zombies in tune with “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, watching a long take where Shaun ignores all the bloody signs of a zombie apocalypse or the baffling ending in which Yvonne (Jessica Hynes) — Shaun’s friend and the leader of the more competent version of Shaun and his crew — busts in with the might of hundreds of tanks behind her, “Shaun of the Dead” is wonderfully delightful to watch.
The zombies of “Shaun of the Dead” are an interesting force themselves. Zombies are either relegated to stupidity or an overwhelming force of horror (“Train to Busan” has scarred me — never test a Korean zombie), but “Shaun of the Dead” manages to strike a great balance between the two. Its zombies are stupidly funny in the way they drone, groan and wander in endless bouts of desire for brains; however, once they sense a human, there has been no other terrifying creature. They’re brainless until you see them descend upon their targets in a flash mob of gore.
The greatest strength of the film is the balance that it manages to strike between genres. Operating as a horror, comedy, romance and drama, the film is as packed as the constant switching shots that Wright puts to use in his storytelling. Yet, the film never feels overstuffed or out of its depth — it’s quite efficient in its delivery of both jokes and drama.
This efficiency, however, doesn’t mean the film fails to put effort into its characters. Even the shorter character and relationship arcs that fill its runtime, such as that of Shaun and his stepdad Philip (Bill Nighy), are emotionally weighted and impactful. We only see Philip in short increments at the beginning of the film, enough to establish Shaun’s obvious disdain for him. In the whirlwind of action that follows their rescuing of Barbara, we realize that Philip has been bitten. In his last words, he reconnects with Shaun, making his death heartbreaking as the hope for Shaun to fully be part of the family with no inhibitions or grudges is immediately taken away as Philip dies. “Shaun of the Dead” delivers its heart in packed punches, much in tune with the film’s vibrant energy.
However, it is the film’s central trio that really makes “Shaun of the Dead” the charming story that it is. Pegg is as perfect as the scrappy Shaun, both empty-headed and brave in his endeavors. There’s a genuine care in his attempts to change himself that helps us understand why Liz (Kate Ashfield) loves him despite his buffoonery and often selfish choices. Ashfield is a captivating crush in the film, the audience’s foothold into the madness. Liz is someone you root for throughout the entirety of the film, thanks to Ashfield’s sweet charm. As always, the third wheel is the most dynamic and it’s no less true for Frost’s Ed, a man-child who would always stick by Shaun, for better or worse, even when the world is falling apart. The push and pull Shaun has with both Ed and Liz makes up for the film’s biggest compelling and heartwarming storyline.
While an undeniable comedy classic, “Shaun of the Dead” is unique to the zombie genre for its equal investment in horror as well as heart. It shows how it’s the bonds you have and the inner discoveries you make that matter at the end of the day. Yet, even within that everlasting battle to change, sometimes you have to hold onto your past, even if it’s your undead best friend, trapped in your shed, who you’ll play video games with forever.