Cornetto please

Rating: Null/10 (15 April 2004)

In light of the recent release of the remake or `re imagining' of `Dawn of the Dead' its hard not to make comparisons between these two films that both owe so much to George Romero's seminal works.
But lets not. Just for now. And take `Shaun' as a film in its own right.
Is it well shot? Yes - for me being English myself the look of the film, its very realistic slightly grainy look and superb colour balance brought the reality of Zombie holocaust home to me much more than any mall in Pittsburgh or nuclear bunker in Florida ever could. These are my streets, my corner shops and my local pub. There camera is intelligently used and follows the action as well as the more intimate scenes. For those who have seen spaced, there will be some familiar filmic techniques used here. Note used, not over used.
Is it funny? Yes. Absolutely. Hilarious. You can't fail to be awed by the second walk to the corner shop, or the background action in the first half of the movie it's a brilliant blend of black humour, physical comedy and pathos that impresses like nothing has since, well spaced really. Its sharp and dry yet it treats the matter of survival very respectfully, the drama and tension are maintained throughout. This is NOT scary movie, this is clever mature writing from some of the best talent in England today.
Is it Romeroie? Okay that not really a word but how does it hold up to the original films you ask? Very well indeed, Pegg has described the film as `a love letter to George Romero' and so it is. We have our beloved shuffling Zombies back again. We have charecterful dead we have many fantastic references to the early films, I wont spoil anything by listing them here but any fan will have a great time in the pub after comparing notes on the references.
So that thing you talked about at first, the other dead film, how does it hold up? Well Shaun is clearly a superior film to the remake of Dawn, it does all the things that the original Dawn did that the remake failed to do, it is character driven, these people are recognisable as our mates, we are involved with their lives and we are made to care, so when the chomping jaws do come we are scared for the people in the film, its great ensemble work worth believable relationships and reactions.
There is more care given to developing relationships than a feeble 3 minute `time is passing' montage ala Dawn 2004, there are no `disposable' un realised characters ala dawn 2004, even the people who never speak, and are hardly seen alive at all (for those whove seen it think cowboy boots) are more authentic than Meike Phiffers whole character (as good an actor as he is).
Okay I didn't intend when I sat down to write this to sound like a gushing fanboy, but to any Romero fan, spaced fan or basically breathing human with a sense of humour this film is that good, plus its British. So I suppose this is my love letter to Simon Pegg et al. You made a Fan's film with humour and integrity. Good on you. Go see it. Now.