Over the years, I have learned being a very visually impaired person does have two terrific perks. I use a blue placard that allows someone else to park the car conveniently close to wherever they are driving me so I don’t have to walk in the dark too far, and it has become impossible to see blood and gore anymore. Witnessing the inside of cadavers, knife stabbings, bludgeons, axings, and brutal carvings creates no frightful, freaky moments. It all just glides over me, and the fear has dissipated forever. This opens up a whole new genre for me to discover. As the British comedian Miranda would say, “Such fun!” While others are screaming bloody hell out loud or groaning at the sight of all the red liquid oozing from brain goo or other body parts, I sit calmly still, mesmerized by the emotional turmoil of those seated around me. It’s awesome for me and annoying to those who love the feeling of fear. Being frightened is not in my vocabulary anymore because I will never see it coming clearly.
This Halloween, I decided to finally watch a film my husband has been raving about for years. I had never seen it before and quickly realized it belonged in my classic group. Rotten Tomatoes heartily agrees. SHAUN OF THE DEAD reeks of British humor and the importance of keeping relatively calm even in an invasion of zombies. It’s zany and not to be taken seriously while “batting” a bunch of neighbors out of your way. It is a hilarious horror film with one-liners and schticks.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a hoot simply due to the comedic talents of Simon Pegg as Shaun and Nick Frost as Ed. These two are a match made in comedy land heaven. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the director, Edgar Wright, to yell cut when this duo was on a roll. Their split-second timing was spot-on. Their straight-faced, dead-panned expressions allow audiences to howl in pure joy and laughter. It didn’t feel like they missed a beat, whether in a car, in the pub, or just sitting on their living room couch. I loved how the camera continually focused on Shaun’s morning routine. Heavy foot stomping d that brought uncontrollable giggles. I want to see the blooper’s reel for this movie!
I was also impressed with Pegg’s ability to express his devastating sadness and breakdown moments. It surprised and broke my heart to watch a grown-ass, cynical man weep over his Mum. He then went from sadness to compartmentalizing killer instincts with panache and humor. It was brilliantly executed.
The fabulous make-up was sheer perfection, especially since this film is twenty years old. It was all very realistic, and I am ‘told’ it was extremely bloody. I loved how creatively audiences realized the changes to the town’s quaint streets and stores by filming before and after the zombies came to life during “Z” Day. It was simple, but it was clever. Nothing else needed to be said. The message of a complete collapse of society as we know it was evident in each frame.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD is a witty look at the undead. It leaves viewers with a silly grin on their faces until the gruesome end. It was a successful zombie movie that killed off main characters in a grisly way while keeping the tone light and acceptable. SOTD is a laugh-out-loud horror classic because it still works superbly today. It shocked me because I couldn’t stop chuckling, and I felt no fear. And that’s how I “see” it.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD is available on PEACOCK for your Halloween pleasure.
