Shaun of the Dead (2004)
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A downtrodden London salesman must navigate a zombie apocalypse while trying to navigate his personal life.
The story
In the Crouch End area of London, 29-year-old sales advisor Shaun is struggling with a failing relationship and a difficult household life. When a zombie apocalypse suddenly overwhelms the city, Shaun and his best friend Ed find themselves caught in the chaos. The two must navigate the streets of London to rescue Shaun's mother and his ex-girlfriend, all while trying to survive the growing horde of undead. They seek refuge in their favorite local pub, the Winchester, as they attempt to navigate the initial stages of the outbreak and find a way to safety.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Shaun, a struggling salesman, and his friend Ed find themselves in London during a zombie apocalypse. After discovering the threat, they attempt to rescue Shaun's mother, Barbara, and his ex-girlfriend, Liz. They gather a group of friends and family, including Shaun's stepfather Philip, and flee to the Winchester pub. Inside, the group faces various challenges, including a zombified Pete and a horde of zombies. During the siege, Barbara is turned and killed, and a character named David is devoured by the horde. Eventually, the survivors are separated, and Shaun and Liz are rescued by the British Army while Ed stays behind. Six months later, the world has returned to a new normal where zombies are used for labor, and Shaun lives with Liz while keeping a zombified Ed in his garden.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Edgar Wright
- Writers
- Simon Pegg · writer; Edgar Wright · writer
- Cast and characters
- Simon Pegg · Shaun; Nick Frost · Ed; Kate Ashfield; Lucy Davis; Dylan Moran; Bill Nighy · Philip; Penelope Wilton · Barbara
- Genres
- zombie comedy; comedy; horror
- Themes
- post-9/11 anxiety; post-Thatcher Britain; transnational comedy
- Tone and mood
- comedy; horror
- Setting
- Crouch End area of London during a zombie apocalypse.
- Premise and plot tags
- zombie apocalypse; buddy comedy; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Spaced
- Franchise connections
- Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy
- Reception
- The film was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming a cult favorite and being featured on several 'best of' lists.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 76 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Production trivia
- The film's title is a pun on Dawn of the Dead.; The score is a pastiche of Italian zombie film soundtracks.; The film was inspired by an episode of the sitcom Spaced.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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