You know what?
I actually believed that I had written a review of SHAUN OF THE DEAD back in March when I first saw it. During my research into trying to find my review, I’ve discovered that I’ve just written a billion intros to other people’s reviews, and I suppose that I was holding my review till it got closer to release, so this morning I did a search to find that review so that I could repost it – so it’d be right there for easy access. No review.
Well, SHAUN OF THE DEAD is hands down, the most worthy geek film of AICN’s history. It’s a zombie film, a tiny low budget independent film from the UK and a group of ungodly talented folks responsible for the lovely and wonderful SPACED show. I’ve seen the film 3 times now – which is odd, there’s a group of films I’ve seen 3 times now, which is actually a bit unusual for me, only… SKY CAPTAIN, This and COLLATERAL were just that good, I find myself taking different people to them, wanting to see them with a regular non-critic audience – and in SKY CAPTAIN and SHAUN’s cases – I wanted to throw events celebrating the films.
You see, here’s an odd little factoid. Most of the times that I end up throwing a show here in town, it is because it is a film that I’m dying to see, that I contact the filmmakers or studio to get them to bring the film to the Drafthouse for a proper shebang. Now – SHAUN OF THE DEAD was a biggie for me. When I saw it that first time, way back before it had ever even opened in the UK, I didn’t have a clue what to expect. I loved SPACED, but in no way did that prepare me for SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
This film can be enjoyed on multiple levels. The key level is that this is a complete film. A make you laugh, cry, cheer & clap old school holy sweet Jesus this is what I’m talking about WOW! The film has characters that are clearly defined and developed. Dialogue that you find yourself quoting. Songs you want to sing with. Scenes that you want to gather your friends together and reenact. As the movie continues to play into October, you’ll find yourself wanting to dress up like zombies and Shaun and storm the theater. At Halloween, many of us will have RED on us. The film is bristling with delight and Easter eggs and audiences eat this film up like brains!
On another level, it’s a tender story about a slacker trying to rise above his station, one that he’s pretty much destined to remain stuck in. Sure there’s the whole, “a hero will rise” aspect, but really, Shaun isn’t a hero. He’s a bloke. A punch clock denizen of CHEERS -- In fact – if there were, GOD FORBID, a remake of this movie in the United States, the only way to do it would be with the cast of CHEERS. Sam & Norm… Diane… Cliff… and of course the bar. Oddly though, the cast of Shaun are far more affecting, simply because while they may be new to us, they don’t seem like cut-out carbon copies, they feel like real people that are just seriously fucked. I get the idea they’ve lived together, known each other for their entire lives. These characters existed before this movie and after this movie. Perhaps just somewhere in the fertile minds of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, but this world is so rich, the characters so filled with each others’ histories and in-jokes that have been apart of their lives forever, and long-standing closeted hatred & love waiting for the taut moment to be unleashed. Characters that characters thought they’d hate, they find they love and vice-versa. It really is that good.
Yet, here… in some ways, even more effectively told than in Romero’s classic DAWN OF THE DEAD, is the satire on how we’re all zombies already. I don’t want to go too far talking about this, just because I don’t want to spoil it, but if you’ve seen the spots on TV – you’ve seen Shaun do his morning walk and yawn… Well, that’s the tip of the iceberg. There’s quite a bit of life comparisons to zombie life – not in a beat it over your head form of satire, but eloquent visual nods that are just instantly appreciated.
Key to this film succeeding wildly is the phenomenal charisma and genuine affection felt between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. When Simon looks at Nick, there’s such affection in his eyes, that it reminded me of Moriarty when he looks at me… sigh… I’m not sure if Simon and Nick have consummated their love like James G and I, but I did see that they had visited Vegas, where amore sprung eternal for the Napoleon of Crime and I. They’re timing is beyond belief, and their natural talent at classic buffoonery is to be hailed. My favorite timing gag is the slip on the unseen that Simon does on the Dawn of his adventures. It is… as perfect a slip as has ever been done on film. So natural, so real… that when I met Simon I had to ask about it, and sure enough… it was just a physical gag, not an actual slick spot. Great job. All the better for that sound effect.
Along with the performances, writing, direction, comedy, drama and action all being perfect… another aspect of eerie perfection was the assembly of this soundtrack. I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK, from the re-mix on Goblin’s classic DAWN OF THE DEAD mall music to new tunes (to me) like The Specials’ “Ghost Town” and the Ash tracks… Then there’s the use of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “You’re My Best Friend.” Perfect! The editing to the music by Chris Dickens is just dead on perfect, whether it’s to enhance and create comedy or that brilliant beating to the beat in the Winchester sequence that just about makes me want to stand and cheer each and every time I’ve fucking watched it.
This film is just bloody perfect. It is so genuinely amazing to see an absolutely classic perfect horror romantic comedy. Amazing because it’s one hell of a coming out for this crew. Amazing because it has been far too long since a genre film of this type has been as perfect as this. Genuinely, not since AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, which I do still prefer… but only because that damn transformation sequence is the best make-up anything in the history of work. I was watching it just recently and it still makes me cringe and cower. Awesome.
Halloween begins today in the states folks, check this one out, it is definitely our trick and treat of the season!
