funny and scary. best uk comedy horror in ages.

Rating: 10/10 (9 April 2004)

I had been eagerly awaiting this film since I first heard it was on the cards some time ago. Having missed the first series of "SPACED", I was introduced to it at a later date and loved the referential nature of the programme(both to itself and previous moments in pop culture and film), and thought it one of the most original comedies of recent times, mainly because of the accessibility of its characters.
Usually I go to see comedy or horror with several mates. But I couldn't wait for them to be around for this one. The cinema was about half full & I was laughing out loud with at least two thirds of the audience. I look forward to seeing it again with mates and seeing their reactions. I can guarantee they will find it at least as funny as I did.
OK so I came to this as a fairly avid fan of "SPACED" and "Big Train" previously. But this actually increased my expectations of the project. I would be interested to hear the opinions of people who never caught these however. Hopefully they will be encouraged to get hold of the DVDs of these.
The menace builds quite gradually like the best of the genre, with nods to cinematic history in the soundtrack from the start. Normality prevails at first(a convention, but one that works well)it seems. The "zombies" are beautifully inept(more like original Dawn of the Dead than,say, 28 Days Later or ED3) and provide many a comedic moment of indecision/violence.
Ed (Mark Frost's character) was a little less comic but more human than Mike in SPACED. An überslob rather than a territorial. All the same, the relationship between him and Simon Pegg's Shaun aped Tim and Mike.

Peter Serafinowicz was inspired casting as the twunt of a 3rd flatmate & provides a couple of genuinely scary moments. Bill Nighy is slightly throwaway ( he always reminded me of David Davies of the FA and Midlands Today with that haircut) but as always reliable as Shaun's (step)dad. Also, if you either liked or completely hated Dylan Moran in Black Books or How Do You Want Me you might like this film. Won't spoil the reason why.
There's a brilliant cameo bit that I won't spoil in the middle,but I suppose the main difference between this and SPACED is that Jessica Stevenson only plays a minor (albeit crucial) role in this film. I was a bit disappointed not to see Mark Heap or Bill Bailey in it - they would have made great featured zombies(shouldn't be using that word!).Then again, might have been over egging the pudding.
To be honest, I don't think I have done the film justice thus far. In summing up, this is up there with Evil Dead 2 and Demons as one of the funniest (intentionally funny) horror movies I have ever seen. It may also be that I missed some of the references, so I look forward to seeing it again after a bit more discussion with afficionado mates.
Go see this film if you like comedy or horror. or preferably both. You will not be disappointed.