I couldn't possibly have done these lockdown film reviews without watching this one. Not only is this one of the best zombie films ever made but it is one of the best films ever made period. I'm of course talking about the ever green masterpiece that is Edgar Wright's 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004). I'll warn you now I am going to absolutely gush over this film throughout this review. The film follows Shaun (Simon Pegg), a dead beat 29 year old who has fallen into a routine that sees him in the pub with his best friend, Ed (Nick Frost), his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield) and her two flatmates, David (Dylan Moran) and Dianne (Lucy Davis). After Liz breaks up with him, Shaun decides it is time to turn his life around and become a responsible adult. Fortunately, a zombie outbreak gives him the perfect opportunity to do this. But, in typical fashion, he finds himself back in the pub except this time he is fighting for his life and the lives of his friends, girlfriend and mum. Let the gushing commence.
This film is just so damn good. Almost every aspect of it is absolutely stellar; the script, directing, editing, sound design and acting. It is just brilliantly done. Lets first talk about the style of the film, and by that I mean Edgar Wright's style. I love it. The way he uses quick cuts to make mundane tasks like making a cup of tea seem like the most exciting thing in the world is not only a great way of keeping the film at a fast and exciting pace. but also is worthy of a good chuckle. His mixing of music with action is also stellar. He went on to do this in brilliant style in 'Baby Driver' (2017) but the seeds of this are definitely sewn in this film in the bar fight scene. I'm sure you all know it but for those of you who have not had the privilege the scene uses 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen to dictate the action and it is executed brilliantly. The choreography, camerawork and editing all go together to make a scene that is brilliantly fun, funny and impressive to watch all at once. Now lets talk about the script which is also fantastic. The film is co-written by Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg and they did an incredible job. It is a brilliantly smart script which uses mirroring and call backs frequently and to superb effect. It also does what all great spoof films need to do and manages to be a brilliant satire of zombie films as well as also being a film that fits into the genre it is satirising. It also manages to be stupidly funny and massively heartbreaking at the same time. Seriously, this film has some of the most emotionally devastating scenes in any zombie film despite its comedic style. Fortunately, it has enough laughs to pick you up after it punches you in the face,
On to the acting an my gush continues. Everyone plays their parts fantastically in this film, and its unsurprising considering the cast. Even in bit part roles Rafe Spall, Peter Serafinowicz and Bill Nighy all put in great performances. Lucy Davis as Dianne is great and absolutely nails the drama student aspects of her character, most notably in a scene where she is teaching the group how to act like zombies. Kate Ashfield is fantastic as Liz, showing great emotional range and bouncing well of Simon Pegg. Penelope Wilton is also great as Shaun's mum, Barbara, playing up all the stereotypical motherly tendencies brilliant. All of these actors do brilliantly in matching comedy with the emotional weight the film needs. However, for me there are three stand out performers. First, Dylan Moran as David. David is a twat. You know it, I know it, we all know it. And I applaud Dylan Moran for managing to make the character so unlikeable. It takes a properly good performance for me to genuinely dislike a fictional character, and it takes an even better one for me to feel somewhat sympathetic for said character by the end and Moran manages to do both. But the stars of the show are Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Their chemistry is incredible and this leads to two superbly written characters bouncing off each other wonderfully. They are as equally hilarious as they are emotionally gripping and it is their relationship that has the bigger emotional impact rather than that of Shaun and Liz. There is one scene in particular which comes towards the end of the film which shows off the two actors talents brilliant and in heartbreaking fashion. I won' spoil it, but if you know you know.
I think the best way of showing how highly I rate this film is by bringing up my Letterboxd account. On that account I have rated 971 films. I have only rated 20 of those as 5 star. This is one of them. That is how highly I rate this film. I just love it. It is as close to perfect as a film can be. Not only is it funny as holy hell but it is also emotionally gripping and its you in the gut on several occasions. The acting is superb all round with two stellar performances from Pegg and Frost. But the real strength does come in the directing style that Edgar Wright brings to the film. I am a huge fan, which can also be seen in my Letterboxd ratings with 3 of those 20 films rated 5 star being directed by Edgar Wright. Obviously I recommend the film, in fact I implore you to give it a watch. In these strange times we all need a bit of levity and this film fits the bill perfectly.