No matter the mood, you can never go wrong with an Edgar Wright film. This man has the talent to make films that are so fast-paced and so incredibly intelligent, highly entertaining, and full of personality that you can’t look away from the screen. He enthralls you into his films’ worlds, and he doesn’t let you go even after the credits start rolling. His masterful streak of phenomenal comedies started with Shaun of the Dead, back in 2004. A film so good, that it set him and Simon Pegg on the path to a full-fledged trilogy.
How to Download Shaun of the Dead
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you are interested in more of Edgar Wright’s work check out also The Adventures of Tintin and Ant-Man also where he was the writer.
The Movie Review
Shaun, played by Simon Pegg, is having a rough go of it lately. His colleagues fail to treat him with any regard, his strict stepfather nags him constantly, and his dear girlfriend Liz is fed up with his lack of motivation and thoughtfulness.
Despite not being an entirely unpleasant individual, Shaun appears to lack drive and would rather spend time with his jobless, gassy, video game-obsessed roommate, Ed, than anyone else. But to make matters worse, corpses have begun to reanimate and roam the planet in pursuit of human flesh to devour. Zombies are everywhere, and Shaun and his rackety squad must survive to the best of their abilities.
There is no doubt that Edgar Wright’s vision played a crucial role in making Shaun of the Dead the cinematic masterpiece that it is. His astute vision and precise instructions brought to life the ingenious screenplay, and Wright’s direction added an extra layer of depth to the movie’s satirical humor and horror elements.
One of the notable strengths of Wright’s direction in Shaun of the Dead is his exceptional use of pacing and timing. The film’s comedic and horror beats are meticulously crafted, and the way they are delivered is nothing short of genius.
Wright’s meticulous attention to detail with editing, moving from frame to frame with the beat of a song, or with a pulsating rhythm is evident in the film’s grand design. It’s visible in the subtle background gags to the clever framing of the shots.
The impeccable comedic timing of Simon Pegg’s portrayal of the titular character, Shaun, and Nick Frost’s rendition of the affable sidekick, Ed, is nothing short of priceless.
The visionary director, Edgar Wright, who collaborated with Pegg in penning this opus, cleverly juxtaposes the apathy of the glassy-eyed commuters with the insatiable appetite of the undead. Hailing from the motherland, this film unequivocally stands out as one of the most trailblazing horror movies of the contemporary age.
Despite the genre’s proclivity for gore, Shaun of the Dead tries to curtail its use at least for the first 45 minutes in favor of a plethora of sidesplitting moments. However, once the gore gets going, it’s pretty gruesome.
Shaun and Ed are by far the best characters in the film, of course, with the comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost being incredible to watch on screen. However, there’s a whole ensemble here that fits the film perfectly and adds to the fun of it all. Bill Nighy, delivers a fantastic performance as Shaun’s supercilious stepfather, injecting a dose of snobbery into the mix.
Meanwhile, Penelope Wilton portrays Shaun’s absent-minded mum with her usual grace and charm. Dylan Moran is perfectly cast as Liz’s snooty housemate, David. His sharp wit and disdainful attitude towards Shaun and his group of friends add a layer of tension to the already chaotic situation. Finally, we’ve got Lucy Davis who shines as the aspiring actress, Diane.
The Visuals
The camera work in Shaun of the Dead is absolutely incredible. There are hardly any comedy films with so much attention to shot composition, color palette, and lighting. You notice this right at the start of the film, when that one long take comes up, of Shaun simply walking in the street with his earplugs on, listening to music amidst the outbreak.
That long take is so well shot, with brilliant choreography that keeps the film interesting. There are more examples of this throughout the film, and they are used very well.
Moreover, there’s some great gore and VFX work in the film as well, despite being quite a low budget, Edgar Wright utilized everything to perfection. The zombies look menacing, the blood looks realistic, and at times it’s overdone for comedic effort and yet it works!
The Music
The music in the film is not the strongest thing out there, but it does work to the film’s strength, especially during the action sequences. However, the songs that are used in the film are all splendid, they use them at just the right opportunities, Egdar Wright’s films have some of the best musical moments out there.
Verdict
Shaun of the Dead is one of the best comedy films of all time, in my opinion, it supersedes almost everything in the zombie genre, at least from the 2000s to 2010s and even going into the 2020s, there’s nothing that compares to this film.
The best thing about Shaun of the Dead is that it knows what it is, and it doesn’t take itself overly seriously. It’s made to entertain you in the most British way possible, and it succeeds every step of the way.
