Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Director:

Edgar Wright

Writers:

Simon Pegg (written by) and
Edgar Wright (written by)

Release Date:

9 April 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

It's just one of those days when you're feeling a little...dead.

Plot:

A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Zombie | Record Collection | Cricket Bat | Pub

Awards:

6 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 4	4:30 PM	COMEDY
Sat. Dec. 5	10:00 AM	COMEDY

Cast

Simon Pegg	...	Shaun
Kate Ashfield	...	Liz
Nick Frost	...	Ed
Lucy Davis	...	Dianne
Dylan Moran	...	David
Nicola Cunningham	...	Mary
Keir Mills	...	Clubber 1 (as Kier Mills)
Matt Jaynes	...	Clubber 2
Gavin Ferguson	...	Football Kid
Peter Serafinowicz	...	Pete
Horton Jupiter	...	Homeless Man
Tim Baggaley	...	The Usher
Arvind Doshi	...	Nelson
Rafe Spall	...	Noel
Sonnell Dadral	...	Danny (as Sonell Dadral)
Samantha Day	...	Woman on Trisha
Trisha Goddard	...	Herself
David Park	...	Grave Scientist
Finola Geraghty	...	Distraught Vox Pop
Bill Nighy	...	Philip
Robert Fitch	...	Distressed Man
Sharon Gavin	...	Florist
Patch Connolly	...	Pigeon Man
Jessica Hynes	...	Yvonne (as Jessica Stevenson)
Stuart Powell	...	Snakehips
Patricia Franklin	...	Spinster
Steve Emerson	...	John
Phyllis MacMahon	...	Bernie (as Phyllis McMahon)
Krishnan Guru-Murthy	...	Himself
Carol Barnes	...	Herself
Rob Butler	...	Himself
Jeremy Thompson	...	Himself
Vernon Kay	...	Himself
Mark Donovan	...	Hulking Zombie
Christopher Harwood	...	Grizzled Zombie
Penelope Wilton	...	Barbara
Martin Freeman	...	Declan
Reece Shearsmith	...	Mark
Tamsin Greig	...	Maggie
Julia Deakin	...	Yvonne's Mum
Matt Lucas	...	Cousin Tom
Nick Ewans	...	Pyjama Zombie
Alex Lutes	...	Trisha Zombie
Chris Martin	...	Himself
Jon Buckland	...	Himself (as Jonny Buckland)
Keith Chegwin	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucy Akhurst	...	Zombie shot by soldiers (uncredited)
Peter Bateson	...	Livid Commuter (uncredited)
Paul Bayfield	...	Army Officer (uncredited)
Peter Baynham	...	Man in street (uncredited)
Rob Brydon	...	Football Commentator / 'Zombies From Hell!' Presenter (voice) (uncredited)
Antonia Campbell-Hughes	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Liz Cater	...	Wheelchair Zombie (uncredited)
Chris Clarke	...	Livid Commuter (uncredited)
Joe Cornish	...	Zombie shot by soldiers (uncredited)
Julia Davis	...	News Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
Mark Gatiss	...	Radio Presenter With 'Spaceship' Theory / Wildlife voiceover (voice) (uncredited)
Nick Goldsmith	...	'Fun-Dead' Zombie (uncredited)
Garth Jennings	...	'Fun-Dead' Zombie (uncredited)
Rich Johnston	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Paul Kaye	...	Zombie behind 'The Winchester' (uncredited)
Pamela Kempthorne	...	Zombie outside flat (uncredited)
Lauren Laverne	...	Zombie outside flat (uncredited)
Jason McDonald	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Michael O'Mahony	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Robert Popper	...	News Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
Paul Putner	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Peter Rnic	...	Zombie (uncredited)
James Scott	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Michael Smiley	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Dave Smith	...	Zombie Monkey (uncredited)
David Spratt	...	Zombie shot by soldiers (uncredited)
Greg Tanner	...	SWAT Team Officer (uncredited)
Ben Thompson	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Kenneth Thompson Marchesi	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Ronaldo Vasconcellos	...	Livid Commuter (uncredited)
David Walliams	...	News Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
Julianne Watling	...	Zombie (uncredited)
Edgar Wright	...	Rabid Monkeys Newsreader / Prat-falling Zombie / Italian Restaurant Voice (uncredited)

Directed by
Edgar Wright

Writing credits
Simon Pegg		(written by) and
Edgar Wright		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
Eric Fellner	....	executive producer
Mark Hudson	....	line producer: additional photography
Alison Owen	....	executive producer
Nira Park	....	producer
Ronaldo Vasconcellos	....	line producer
Natascha Wharton	....	executive producer
James Wilson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dan Mudford		(as Daniel Mudford)
Pete Woodhead

Cinematography by
David M. Dunlap		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Chris Dickens

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Marcus Rowland

Art Direction by
Karen Wakefield

Costume Design by
Annie Hardinge

Makeup Department
Faye Aydin	....	hair trainee: FT2
Faye Aydin	....	makeup trainee: FT2
Candice Banks	....	hair stylist
Candice Banks	....	makeup artist
Sarah Berry	....	additional hair stylist
Sarah Berry	....	additional makeup artist
Brian Best	....	additional hair stylist
Brian Best	....	additional makeup artist
Stuart Bray	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Cathy Burczak	....	additional hair stylist
Cathy Burczak	....	additional makeup artist
Lucy Cain	....	makeup artist: additional photography
Stuart Conran	....	prosthetic effects designer
Dan Frye	....	prosthetic effects technician (as Daniel Frye)
Anthony Lilley	....	hair stylist
Anthony Lilley	....	makeup artist
Waldo Mason	....	special makeup effects artist
Nicola Matthews	....	additional hair stylist
Nicola Matthews	....	additional makeup artist
Nuala McArdle	....	additional hair stylist
Nuala McArdle	....	additional makeup artist
Caroline Morrison	....	additional hair stylist
Caroline Morrison	....	additional makeup artist
Lesley Smith	....	hair stylist
Lesley Smith	....	makeup artist
Jo Stelly	....	additional hair stylist
Jo Stelly	....	additional makeup artist
Jane Walker	....	hair stylist
Jane Walker	....	makeup designer
Isabel While	....	additional hair stylist
Isabel While	....	additional makeup artist
Karen Montgomery	....	assistant makeup artist: extras (uncredited)
Simon Rose	....	prosthetic makeup artist: additional shooting crew (uncredited)

Production Management
Karen Beever	....	production manager
Jeanette Haley	....	post-production supervisor
Gary Pickering	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonny Benson	....	third assistant director
Julian Hearne	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Richard Hewitt	....	first assistant director
Toby Hosking	....	second assistant director
Andrew McEwan	....	second assistant director: additional photography

Art Department
Stuart Clark	....	scenic artist
George Dean	....	painting supervisor
Joe Fearn	....	trainee carpenter: FT2
Richard Field	....	stand-by art director
Segan Friend	....	stand-by dressing props
Fiona Gavin	....	draughtswoman
Warren Greenham	....	scenic painter (as Warren Grenham)
Liz Griffiths	....	set dresser
Kathy Heaser	....	art department assistant
Springer Horrill	....	property master (as David 'Springer' Horrill)
Tony Hoskins	....	carpenter
Shay Leonard	....	stand-by dressing props
Sarah Lovett	....	production buyer: additional photography
David Mears	....	scenic painter
Eddie Murphy	....	construction supervisor
Steve Nicholls	....	scenic painter (as Steven Nicholls)
Mark Overall	....	carpenter
Steve Parnell	....	dressing props
Simon Reeves	....	stand-by carpenter
Antoine Robin	....	construction manager
Carrie Rock	....	trainee painter: FT2
Russell Sargent	....	carpenter
Rosy Thomas	....	production buyer
Oli van der Vijver	....	art department assistant: video unit
Peter Wood	....	dressing props
Oscar Wright	....	storyboard artist
Leslie Wylie	....	carpenter (as Les Wylie)

Sound Department
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Graham Day	....	sound trainee: FT2
Giancarlo Dellapina	....	sound recordist: additional photography
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist (as Andi Derrick)
Arthur Fenn	....	sound maintenance engineer (as Arthur Turner)
Jamie Gambell	....	boom operator: additional photography
Arthur Graley	....	foley editor
Ben Greaves	....	cable person
Andrew Griffiths	....	boom operator
Tom Harrison	....	sound trainee: FT2
Simon Hayes	....	sound recordist
Nigel Heath	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alex Hudd	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Lewis James	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Robin Johnson	....	boom operator
Matt Lygo	....	sound recordist: video unit
Dan Morgan	....	adr editor
Dan Morgan	....	dialogue editor
Julian Slater	....	supervising sound editor
Keith Tunney	....	sound recordist: additional photography

Special Effects by
Paul Dunn	....	special effects supervisor
Cat Hart	....	special effects technician
Catherine Hart	....	special effects
Luke Marcel	....	special effects technician
Stephanie Bell	....	special effects painter (uncredited)
Wilma Dunn	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)
Laurence Harvey	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Scott McIntyre	....	special effects (uncredited)
Mark Vanstone	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Paul Alexiou	....	runner: Double Negative
Oliver Atherton	....	scanning and recording
Matthew Bristowe	....	digital lab producer
Hal Couzens	....	visual effects producer: Double Negative
Ciaran Crowley	....	digital compositor
Claudia Dehmel	....	visual effects coordinator: Double Negative
Richard Etchells	....	online film editor
Andy Hague	....	visual effects editorial
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager
Jeremy Hattingh	....	visual effects supervisor
Alex Hope	....	visual effects producer
Max Horton	....	digital colourist
Alex Ireland	....	digital compositor
Jody Johnson	....	digital compositor
Philippa Leathers	....	data operator
Giles Livesey	....	digital film colorist
Begoña Lopez	....	digital lab producer
Lindsay McFarlane	....	first assistant director: vfx unit
Paul Riddle	....	digital compositor: Double Negative
Matthew Shaw	....	digital compositor
Clare Tinsley	....	visual effects coordinator
Thomas Urbye	....	online film editor
Daniel Walton	....	digital artist
Daniel Walton	....	digital compositor
Pieter Warmington	....	3D animator: Double Negative
Alison Wortman	....	3D matchmover
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)
Steve Lynn	....	technical support (uncredited)
Stephan Pilon Lectez	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Lucy Allen	....	stunt performer
Lloyd Bass	....	stunt performer
Dani Biernat	....	stunt performer
Michael Byrch	....	stunt performer
Tracey Caudle	....	stunt performer (as Tracy Caudle)
Abbi Collins	....	stunt performer
George Cottle	....	stunt performer
Danielle da Costa	....	stunt performer
Ray De-Haan	....	stunt performer (as Ray De-Harn)
Dave Fisher	....	stunt performer
Sarah Franzl	....	stunt performer
Paul Herbert	....	stunt performer
Jeff Hewitt-Davis	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Lisbon	....	stunt performer
Guy List	....	stunt performer
Tony Lucken	....	stunt performer (as Toni Lucken)
Tina Maskell	....	stunt performer
Heather Phillips	....	stunt performer
Andy Smart	....	stunt performer
Amanda Foster	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Paul Kennington	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rob Armstrong	....	stand-by rigger
Paul Barker	....	stand-by rigger
Peter Bateson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Pete Bateson)
Jason Berman	....	second assistant camera: additional photography (as Jason Burman)
Craig Bloor	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
David Carey	....	Steadicam operator
Wailoon Chung	....	electrician
Chris Clarke	....	camera trainee (as Chris Clark)
Glenn Coulman	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Julia Curtin	....	video assistant operator: "b" camera
Tom Debenham	....	director of photography: effects unit
Paul Edwards	....	Steadicam operator
Steve Evans	....	loader: additional photography
Mark Gay	....	electrician
Mark Hanlon	....	electrician
Star Hart	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Star Hart	....	video assistant operator
Paul Hatchman	....	key grip
Darren Holland	....	grip: additional photography
Tony Jackson	....	Steadicam operator
Tony Jackson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Craig Loveridge	....	camera assistant: video unit
Pat Miller	....	rigging gaffer
Mark Moriarty	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Mark Moriarty	....	lighting camera operator: additional photography
Andy Mountain	....	lighting console operator
Gary Nagle	....	best boy
John Palmer	....	camera operator: additional photography
Rod Patterson	....	trainee grip
Rupert Power	....	Steadicam operator
Clive Prior	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
David Rist	....	grip: additional photography (as Dave Rist)
Roger Sabarwal	....	generator operator
Paul Slatter	....	gaffer
Adam Stevenson	....	video playback operator
Chyna Thomson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
Tony Turner	....	additional grip
Oliver Upton	....	still photographer
Tammo van Hoorn	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Terry Williams	....	grip: additional photography
Jon Wood	....	camera operator: video unit
Chris Clarke	....	camera loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Dixie Chassay	....	senior casting assistant
Nick Forgacs	....	junior casting assistant
James McCavana	....	extras casting
Jessica Weetch	....	extras casting
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fiona Coutts	....	wardrobe assistant
Peter Halston	....	additional wardrobe assistant
Phil Lester	....	assistant costume designer
Aaron Timperley	....	wardrobe assistant
Ruth Young	....	additional wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Ian Cunningham	....	trainee editor: FT2
Lucinda Glover	....	editor trainee
Lucie Graves	....	post-production coordinator
Max Horton	....	colorist: MPC
Giles Livesey	....	colorist: MPC
Catriona Richardson	....	first assistant editor
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Nick Angel	....	music supervisor
Alexandra Hill	....	music coordinator
Kirsten Lane	....	music consultant
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Universal Pictures
Andy Richards	....	original score mixer
Andy Richards	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Mike Billamore	....	unit driver
Tom Cheape	....	facility driver
Colin Giffin	....	unit driver
Geoff Gowland	....	driver: technical vehicle (as Geoff 'Cookie' Gowland)
David Grose	....	unit driver
Finn Hillman	....	driver: technical vehicle
Michael Hoskins	....	driver: construction department
Jeff Hudson	....	unit driver
Lee Kitchen	....	driver: minibus
David Lewis	....	unit driver
Jim Lynch	....	driver: technical vehicle
Chris Parker	....	facility driver (as Chris 'Kiwi' Parker)
Rod Patterson	....	driver: technical vehicle
Phil Richman	....	facility driver
Brian Tame	....	props transportation
Paul Watson	....	driver: minibus
Barrie Williams	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Paul Bayfield	....	stand-in: Nick Frost
James Biddle	....	production coordinator
Litza Bixler	....	choreographer
David Blank	....	assistant accountant
Charlotte Bloxham	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Rhidian Bridge	....	military advisor
Nick Clark	....	location assistant
Chloe Dorigan	....	assistant: Tim Bevan (as Chloé Dorigan)
Susie Gordon	....	assistant to producer and director
Madeline Herbert	....	fabric painter
Nina Hume	....	stand-in: Kate Ashfield
Carl Isherwood	....	chef
Aliza James	....	assistant: Eric Fellner
Rowena Ladbury	....	script supervisor
Sarah Lee	....	location manager
Kenny MacDonald	....	assistant production coordinator
Stacy Mann	....	unit publicist (as Stacey Mann)
Paul Melton	....	base runner
Oliver Musgrave	....	production runner
John Nixon	....	armorer
Nick Oliver	....	location manager: additional photography
Rachel Plose	....	production accountant
Dan Precious	....	runner (as Daniel Precious)
Jim Rickard	....	location assistant
Sascha Robey	....	armorer
Gavin Rothery	....	stand-in
Sandra Shepherd	....	production runner
Joss Skottowe	....	supervising armorer
Anthony Smith	....	armorer
Trine Thielen	....	stand-in: Lucy Davis (as Trine Van Thielen-MacPhail)
Ed Tull	....	stand-in: Simon Pegg
Morag Webster	....	unit nurse
Oscar Wright	....	title designer: main titles
Sarah Jane Wright	....	production executive
Paul Bayfield	....	runner (uncredited)
Kellie Belle	....	product placement (uncredited)
Peter Foster	....	additional floor runner (uncredited)
Jethro Harris	....	operations manager: Pepper Post-Productions Ltd. (uncredited)
Nina Hume	....	runner (uncredited)
Charlotte Keating	....	production runner (uncredited)
Tony Muro	....	publicist (uncredited)
David Pinkus	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ed Tull	....	runner (uncredited)

Thanks
Rob Brydon	....	thanks
Adam Buxton	....	thanks
Julia Davis	....	thanks
Mark Gatiss	....	thanks
Charlotte Hatherley	....	thanks
Paul Machliss	....	thanks
Robert Popper	....	thanks
Paul Putner	....	thanks
David Walliams	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Studio Canal
• Working Title Films
• WT2 Productions
• Big Talk Productions (in association with)
• Inside Track 2 (in association with)
• FilmFour (developed and produced with the assistance of)

Distributors

• Focus Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• NFP Distribution (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Neue Filmproduktion (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Odeon Films (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Premium Cine (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Rogue Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Animated Extras (prosthetics) (as Animated Extras International Limited)
• Cine Image Film Opticals (end titles)
• Crystal Reflections (contact lenses)
• Double Negative (digital visual effects)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (digital intermediate)
• Postoptics (contact lenses)
• ReelEye Company (contact lenses) (as Reel Eye Company)
• Special Effects UK (special effects)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• AFM Lighting  lighting
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  camera and grip equipment
• Audiosend Communications  walkie talkies
• Audiosound  sound equipment
• Bickers Action Enterprises  tracking vehicles (as Bickers Action)
• Compuhire  video playback equipment
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound editing facilities (as De Lane Lea)
• Hackenbacker Sound  audio post-production (as Hackenbacker Studios)
• Island Records  soundtrack published by
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  legal clearances
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  digital film master
• Out of Eden  original score mixed at
• Pepper Post Production  preview conform and grade
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Right Music  music consultant
• SA19  extras casting
• Salon  sound editing equipment (as Salon)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• TLO Film Services  action vehicles
• Universal Records  soundtrack released by
• Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting (as Jason Wheeler Film Services)

Also Known As:

Shaun of the Dead (France)
Tea-Time of the Dead (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for zombie violence/gore and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:-12 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13 | Singapore:R21 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Archway, London, England, UK

Company:

Studio Canal

Trivia:

The non-featured zombie extras were paid the princely sum of £1 a day for their troubles.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Queen fight, as Shaun falls and gets back up, his pool cue swaps hands twice, but only one is deliberate.

Quotes:

[first lines]
John: Last orders, please!

Movie Connections:

References Rollerball (2002)

Soundtrack:

White Lines

May be the best comedy-horror mix of recent years

Shaun (Simon Pegg) is in the midst of a lousy patch--he hates and is embarrassed about his job, he gets no respect from other employees, one of his roommates is on his case about the other roommate--a slacker friend of Shaun's, his girlfriend is on his case about the fact that all the ever do is hang out at a pub, and he hates his stepfather, who is also on his case about doing something nice for his mum. As if that's not bad enough, suddenly, everyone is turning into a zombie. Shaun must both straighten out his life and fight for it at the same time.

Shaun of the Dead is a superb blending of horror and comedy ala An American Werewolf in London (1981), Idle Hands (1999), Frankenhooker (1990), or the Evil Dead films (beginning with the 1981 original, although there is progressively less to more comedy in that series). It manages to successfully both pay homage to and spoof a number of classic zombie films and horror film zombie mythology in general.

The film begins firmly in very British comedy/drama territory, with a number of stylistic directorial flourishes that seem like a cross between Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream (2000) and Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (1996). The horror material enters gradually, beginning with a couple background gags, then entering Desolation Boulevard territory via another Boyle reference, this time to 28 Days Later (2002) (although that itself was basically a version of The Last Man on Earth (aka L'Ultimo uomo della Terra)(1964), based on Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend). This arrives in the guise of Shaun crossing over to the corner store to buy his morning soda. He doesn't notice the deserted streets or store because he's so hung over from the night before.

Before long, our ragtag bunch of heroes is in the midst of a full-fledged zombie apocalypse--of the traditional, slow-moving zombie type. Acknowledging the cultural differences that strict gun laws bring about, they have to use their wits to commit the requisite head busting, enlisting unwanted LPs (after some debate over the merits of each), cricket bats, shovels and other items for the job. Of course it would be easier if any of our heroes were the slightest bit athletic and had any aim, but they get the job done. More or less.

Furthering genre-fan fun, director/writer Edgar Wright and co-writer Pegg insert a lot of references to other zombie films--especially when it comes to explaining the source of the "epidemic". The "scientific" explanations given in Resident Evil (2002), 28 Days Later, all of Romero's Dead films--beginning with Night of the Living Dead (1968)--and possibly even Romero's The Crazies (1973) and then some are all mentioned in the background, but resolutely cut off before they're finished. Part of the reason might be that usually, the explanations were pretty ridiculous, and we didn't really care--we just wanted to get to the cool zombie stuff, such as limbs being torn off, guts being eaten, and brains being blown or smashed out of skulls.

Wright and Pegg also insert clever nods to the subtexts of zombie films. Shaun looks and walks like a zombie when he's waking up. We see zombie like office workers, retail workers, and so on. There's also an amusing nod to filmic attempts to study and tame zombies, as well as organized militaristic defenses (both very prominent in 28 Days Later, but present in other films as well). There are interesting, more subtle and original zombie subtexts in Shaun of the Dead, also, such as the "mirrored" scene where Shaun and his crew meet up with Yvonne and her crew.

As long as you like outrageous comedy, somewhat gory horror, and you don't mind mixing the two, Shaun of the Dead should provide an enjoyable ride. Although it is the most fun when you're very familiar with the source material it is spoofing and referencing, it is still a great comedy-horror film if viewed with fresher eyes, and not so much as a spoof.