Shaun of the Dead (2004)
reviewed by Brian "The Naked Gun" Felts & Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell

This is just a great funny movie with some surprising heart felt sentiment along with your blood and gore. It is a very simple movie and that is the genius of the movie. This very British movie has no American equal. The closest we could come would be Return of the Living Dead, and that is like comparing an apple with a big steaming pile of crap, the apple being Shaun of the Dead.

The story is still a basic survival against the zombies kind of the movie, but it is a smart zombie movie. The movie is so real, which is weird to say about a zombie movie. There are lots of scenes in the beginning that show the main character Shaun watching TV and despite all of the warnings that are being shown by the news, he keeps flipping channels. When he and his roommate Pete, find a zombie in their back yard, the think the lady is actually drunk at first. That is smart writing. That heart warming scene involves his mother when he realizes that she has been bitten and she will eventually die and turn into a zombie, and he realizes how much he has wasted his opportunity to spend real time with her. The scene where he has to kill his zombie mother is very sad.

However, the movie is still quite simple and funny. The acting is not outstanding, although, Simon Pegg, who played Shaun, was quite entertaining and was able to show depth of a character in a movie you don't expect to see it in. The writing was very smart, as was the directing. What it is not is scary, but there are some bloody scenes that if you have a weak stomach you may not want to watch it, but I hope you do.

This movie is a keeper and should be added to your DVD collection, there are no extra features on the DVD that add anything to the movie, but this movie is quite entertaining on its own.

Brian - the Naked Gun

This picture is extremely original, simply because it's British. Characters respond to the "Day of the Dead" horrific situation in such an English stately manner, the picture's actually gags are needless. Just watching proper British folks battle the undead is hilarious.

"Shaun of the Dead" has so many memorable scenes. On of my favorites was when Shaun and friend Ed are going through Shaun's LP collection, picking which ones he doesn't mind throwing at two oncoming zombies; purely smart comedy.

Brian is also right in that the picture has a handful of very touching moments, between mother and son, between best friends, which most other zombie pictures do not have.

I also enjoyed the reality of the picture. Shaun is supposed to be the "best shot" of the group, but when he's armed with a rifle and zombies are breaking through his group's stronghold, he can't hit a target to save his life.

In other typical zombie flicks, everyone aiming for the head of the undead has an eagle aim, even though characters are no only scared, but usually running away. Shaun, on the other hand, is somewhat brave, his feet planted, and for some reason he just can't shoot a thing. Why? Cause he's not used to firing a gun.

Overall, "Shaun of the Dead" has originality which redefines the genre of the zombie horror flick. I haven't seen such humor in a horror movie since 1992's "Dead Alive," from Australia. This picture is a very clever laugh and worth renting.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?