It's a horror with jokes, not a joke horror.

Rating: 9/10 (16 April 2004)

The British film industry has been crying out for a decent movie for ages - Curtis is past it, The Office should never be on the big screen... so where on earth are our good movies going to come from?
Well, I would cite this movie as the beginning of the a new era of British film - the one where we're original and do action as well; most British films recently have shied away from any action at all above a kind of gangland torture cliche that seems to crop up every five minutes. There is so much about Shaun of the Dead that excels: the comedy is top notch (especially if you, like Shaun, feel you're going nowhere), the zombies are well made up (the only problem with the original Dawn of the Dead was their stupid green make up) and the acting superb.
Most importantly though, the actual violence is done so well, it's almost unbelievable this is a British scripted and directed movie. Obviously there's not a lot of pitched gun battles, but it's very refreshing to see a film be this daring this well! Also, I think it's great to see a film so British in nature; not cod cockney gangster rubbish or anything, just genuinely lazy british.
If the industry is brave enough, this (along with the slightly less excellent, though very good Dog Soldiers) represents a new wave of British horror. As for the director himself, I'd like him to remember how multiple award winning director Peter Jackson started out: a low budget horror comedy flick called "Bad Taste" (and then Braindead). Maybe we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future. I hope so.
Finally, talking to people about this movie, I've realised that many people wanted it to be funny all the way through and didn't like the darkness of the last 45 minutes. I disagree wholeheartedly. A horror spoof, with zombies having blunt false teeth or whatever, would be on a par with total vacuous tripe like "Dracula: Dead and loving it". A movie like this needs its dark heart to be more than a silly Mel Brooks film! I would say that we should view this film as a horror film with added comedy, not a comedy film with zombies in.
In short (and I know I go on forever); this is the best British Film for ten years (American money notwithstanding). Go see it as part of your patriotic duty at least. You won't be disappointed.
Remember: It's not what Shaun did, it's that he did anything at all that's important.
P.S. It is possible to see this film as a allegorical tale of a man having to grow up and say goodbye to the trappings of childhood (mum, best freind, etc.) to grow up and commit to the woman he loves. But why bother analysing it when it's this much fun?