"You've got some red on ya."

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2004)

Before viewing "Shaun of the Dead", I considered Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers" to be the best film in the continuing year of 2004 [USA release year]. Now I am not too sure.
Yes, a romantic comedy with zombies - as the tagline states - may very well end up being the best film I have seen this year, and I find that incredibly refreshing. From the opening nod to George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" to a downright absurd final shot, "Shaun of the Dead" blazes a clear path into horror parody via social satire. Obvious shots of Shaun staggering out of bed to go to work to his bus ride packed with equally spaced-out passengers work surprisingly well thanks to our knowledge of what is to come. In fact, the humor of the first act relies almost entirely on that knowledge as when Ed threatens his roommate Pete during an argument with "And the next time I see you, you're dead!". I can only wonder how those scenes would play to someone unaware of the film's title and subject matter.
Once the characters finally catch up with the audience, the film moves comfortably into horror territory with equal amounts of practicality and absurdity. When Shaun and his best friend Ed encounter their first zombies in the garden, they begin by tossing random objects at their heads to kill them. Everything from toasters to Shaun's prized vinyl collection. And when that doesn't work, it's off to the shed for a shovel and cricket bat. From that point on, every move Shaun makes for his own survival makes complete sense, even it rarely works out for comedic purposes.
In it's final act, the film does grow surprisingly dark as some characters meet less than pleasant fates, but that doesn't hinder the hilarious epilogue. A two minute epilogue that takes one last jab at our society and perceived humanity.
Better than "28 Days Later" & the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, "Shaun of the Dead" is, most importantly, an instant classic and I can't wait to see it again.
Rating [on a 5 star system] : 4 1/2 stars