Well before The Walking Dead sought to revive the horror subgenre, Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg brought their own unique style of writing to the world of zombies with Shaun of the Dead. The duo were coming off of the critically acclaimed British sitcom Spaced at the time, in which Pegg was not only the star, but also the co-creator and co-writer with fellow star Jessica Stevenson, while Wright also directed all 14 episodes of the show. One particular episode of the show led to the creation of their 2004 film, humorously marketed as a “romantic zomedy” at the time.
In addition to co-writing with Wright, Pegg leads the Shaun of the Dead cast as the titular London salesman drifting aimlessly through a low-maintenance life with his girlfriend Liz, his slacker best friend Ed, Liz’s friends, David and Dianne, and his and Ed’s roomate, Pete. On the heels of being dumped by Liz and enduring a massive hangover, Shaun finds that London has been overrun by a zombie apocalypse and must spring into action to get those he cares about, including his mom Barbara, to a safe place before it’s too late.
Shaun of the Dead’s Biggest Appeal Is Its Relatability
Between true-to-life characters and believable situations, anyone can connect to its story
Much like Spaced before it, one of the best things that sets Wright and Pegg’s Shaun of the Dead apart from any other similar genre efforts is the relatable nature of its characters and story. Shaun, in particular, feels very true to life. Even beyond the movie’s London setting, the idea of feeling stuck in a corporate job is something we all go through at some point in our lives, as is the heartbreak of a breakup. The movie also does a meaningful job of highlighting the importance of breaking free from routines to better explore life.
The way Shaun of the Dead‘s story progresses is very believable and grounded, even if there’s a comedic undercurrent to every step. Beyond just the concept of trying to win back the love of one’s life, the plan Shaun comes up with to survive the apocalypse may seem shortsighted, but the drive of getting everyone to The Winchester, because it’s believed to be a secure location, is effectively set up in earlier sequences. The use of everything from a cricket bat to vinyl records also rings true to how an everyday person would fight to survive a zombie outbreak.
Shaun Of The Dead’s Zombie Homages Resonate On Multiple Levels
Between direct callbacks to other movies and effective formula usage, it remains a genre standout
Another reason Shaun of the Dead holds up 20 years later is the way it approaches the history of horror. As evidenced by its title, Pegg and Wright hold a deep affection for George A. Romero’s Dead trilogy, and pay frequent homage to those movies. Some of the most enjoyable, for Romero fans such as myself, include Nick Frost’s Ed telling Shaun’s mom, “We’re coming to get you, Barbara“, echoing a quote from the beginning of Night of the Living Dead and the store Shaun works at being Foree Electric, a nod to Dawn of the Dead star Ken Foree.
In paying true to the genre’s past legacy, Shaun of the Dead also makes effective use of the zombie formula with its cast of characters.
Even beyond Romero’s movies, Wright and Pegg layer in several other intriguing horror references throughout Shaun of the Dead to delight genre fans. Between a joking debunking of “rage-infected monkeys” being the cause of the zombie apocalypse to the restaurant Shaun attempts to take Liz to named after Italian horror director Lucio Fulci, it’s nice to see a wide range of zombie filmmakers included in the movie’s Easter eggs.
In paying true to the genre’s past legacy, Shaun of the Dead also makes effective use of the zombie formula with its cast of characters. Characters being bitten become emotional revelations for Shaun and his friends or moments of conflict as they grapple with how to deal with their impending change. The decision to stick to slow-moving zombies over the running ones from the then-recently-released 28 Days Later also leans into the old-fashioned sense of terror of the genre while still allowing for the comedy to shine.
Wright’s Direction Is Energetic & The Jokes Quippy (If Occasionally Dated)
Some of the supporting characters could also have used a little more growth
For his first major movie in the director’s chair, Wright also displays an exceptional amount of style in Shaun of the Dead. Partnered with editor Chris Dickens, the comedy would lay the foundation for many trademarks of Wright’s future movies, especially in the Cornetto trilogy, including the seamless transition between different locations with a sideways-moving camera to quick cuts to speed up certain actions. In addition to creating an energetic feel to the zombie movie, it also showcases the promising career to come from Wright.
The only other thing that really keeps Shaun of the Dead from being a perfect movie is that some of the supporting characters feel slightly underdeveloped.
While the humor may largely remain relatable and gut-busting, particularly Shaun and Ed’s drunken night out and first encounters with the undead, there are a few bits of comedy that don’t quite stand the test of time. Whether it’s Ed dropping the n-word when pulling up to Shaun and the group as they race away from Liz’s apartment or his frequently calling Shaun “gay” for expressing his emotions to the man who’s essentially his brother, there are a few lines that just don’t quite play the same 20 years later.
The only other thing that keeps Shaun of the Dead from being a perfect movie is that some of the supporting characters are slightly underdeveloped. The entire cast does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life, but it still would’ve been nice to see some of them undergo more growth by the end. Despite its few missteps, though, Shaun of the Dead remains one of Pegg and Wright’s best outings. It’s not only a modern classic of the zombie genre, but one that is sure to stand the test of time for the next 20 years and beyond.
Shaun of the Dead is re-releasing in theaters September 1-3.