SHAUN OF THE DEAD REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

This is the first film in the 'Blood and Ice Cream' (a.k.a 'Cornetto') trilogy starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and directed by Edgar Wright.

Shaun (Simon Pegg), is a late twenties slack who lives with his friend, Ed (Nick Frost), and roommate Pete (Peter Serafinowicz). He has a job as a sales advisor at a local electronics store. The film begins with him breaking up with his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield), who he spends the whole film trying to win back. Shaun's friend, Ed, has no job and spends most of his days watching TV and being a couch potato, much to the annoyance of Pete. The morning after a night out, Shaun and Ed discover that the place has been filled with zombies. Shaun's plan is to get his ex-girlfriend, her friends, his mum and Ed to his favourite pub, The Winchester, to hide but will they all survive the zombie apocalypse? Well, you'll just have to watch and find out, won't you?

I think this was a great way to start off the trilogy. While we don't see the zombies until about 20 minutes into the film, the first 20 minutes still manage to give us plenty of laughs. The film begins with Liz wanting more from Shaun and criticising their relationship, stating that they always have their dates at The Winchester and that she hasn't met his mum yet, despite being together for over two years. We then see minor characters going about their everyday lives and acting in a very zombie-like manner, which brings humour as no one has become a zombie yet. The day begins badly for Shaun as he forgets to book a table at a restaurant leading to Liz ending their relationship, much to his dismay. He then decides to spend the evening at The Winchester with Ed and they both end up drunk together. And just as they are walking home, they notice a person who they assue is drunk but, as they leave, we see the first zombie. They return home and dance to loud music and Pete comes downstairs and shouts at them saying that he has to get up for work in just a few hours. The two friends notice a bandage around Pete's hand and he says that he got bitten by a teenager and that he now has a headache. The next morning, Shaun walks to the shops to get himself a drink and a Cornetto for Ed, and because he is hungover from the night before, he is oblivious to the zombies that are surrounding him. There are humorous moments when Shaun and Ed are surfing through the TV channels and, despite every channel talking about the zombie apocalypse, they don't notice the zombies until they see a young girl in their garden and, when Shaun pushes her by accident into a metal stump, they are shocked to see her rise up again. From this moment on, Shaun, Ed and many others have to do whatever they can to escape the apocalypse.

There are loads of hilarious moments throughout the film but also some sad moments, especially after (*SPOILER ALERT*) Shaun's mum becomes a zombie and he has no choice but to kill her. 

This is definitely one of my favourite comedy-horror films. For people who don't like gore needn't worry as there isn't that much in it.

If you like Zombieland, and the Scary Movie films, I'm pretty sure you'll like this.

8/10

Read my review of 'Hot Fuzz' here.

Read my review of 'The World's End' here.