One of the Most Popular Cult Films in History Just Turned 20, Here’s Why It’s Still as Great

Horror and comedy fans celebrate 20th anniversary of the premiere Shaun of the Dead. Directed by Edgar Wright, this modern classic follows in the footsteps of Simon Pegg (Star Trek) a thirty-something slacker who must take his life into his own hands to survive the zombie apocalypse. The film also features famous British actors such as Nick Frost (The end of the world), Kate Ashfield (Born to kill), Lucy Davis (Office), Dylan Moran (Black books), Bill Nighy (First sign), Penelope Wilton (BFG-B …) and Piotr Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy).

There is a wealth of talent in this film that continues to entertain and inspire fans two decades after its release. There are many reasons why Shaun of the Dead ahead of its time, and what better way to celebrate this horror-comedy classic than by taking a look at why its popularity is still alive and well?

Uses zombies as modern satire

While it may seem like a mindless comedy, Wright’s film is actually a satirical warning about the dangers of modern conformity. At the beginning of the story, Shaun and the people around him trudge through their dull, soul-sucking lives like the walking dead. They do the same things over and over, executing synchronized movements, showing how trapped they are in their daily routines.

When a zombie outbreak devastates London, it takes a moment for a dazed Shaun to finally notice the chaos that has broken out in the night, even after walking around the block and watching the news on TV. Even when a zombie stares him in the face and tries to eat him, Shaun simply laughs at her, thinking she’s drunk and hitting on him.

But when the heroes realize something is wrong, the conformist zombies go after them, putting the heroes at risk of becoming real zombies. So, while they act like zombies, they move through the walker horde unnoticed, symbolically surviving in an oppressive norm.

The film’s funny twist shows that humanity has learned to control zombies and use them as freelancers or reality show participants. Overall, there are very few differences between the worlds before and after the zombie outbreak, which makes the film’s satire both funny and terrifying.

He has intelligent writing.

Pegg and Wright’s script for this film is simply meticulous. Every little detail is significant, scattering bits of foreshadowing throughout the film. One example in the first act is when Shaun and Ed’s roommate Peter yells at Ed to move into the shed, and that’s where Ed ends up, becoming a zombie. Similarly, there are many contrasting parallels in Shaun’s morning walks before and after the zombie takeover, painting nuanced pictures of the end of the world and the aftermath.

Likewise, the film fires off one hilarious joke after another with an uncanny sense of timing that adds to its quotable longevity. It also features surreal and memorable gags, such as when Shaun and his group encounter their doppelgangers and later beat up zombies to the sounds of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Despite the fact that it is a comedy festival of bloody scenes, Shaun of the Dead mixes his brand of humor with more serious character drama, which is not easy to achieve. The most notable examples are Philip’s death scene and when Shaun’s mother, Barbara, is infected and Shaun is forced to kill her, which causes a lot of pent-up emotions to erupt.

The film reflects modern psychology

The absurd ways in which the characters react to the zombie apocalypse are very reflective of the psychology of modern times. Like the characters in the film, many people have become so accustomed to the comforts of modern society that it would be difficult for them to change if everything suddenly fell apart.

Shaun and Ed are so tightly clinging to their past lives that their survival instincts take too long to kick in. They barely know how to defend themselves as they start throwing random objects at the zombies, most notably their record collection. They spend way too much time deciding which records to keep and which to throw at the zombies before they get their real weapons out of their shed. It’s only after they kill the zombies first that they start to change as their original selves awaken to survive the apocalypse.

In addition, the zombies are largely a reflection of Shaun, who initially appears walking and yawning like a zombie. Like the undead, Shaun “sleepwalks” through life, depressed and emotionless, with the former having faces described as “blank with a hint of sadness” and “like a drunk who lost a bet”. These traits fit Shaun’s character in the first act of the film, as he has had issues with his stepfather and a recent breakup with his ex-girlfriend, Liz.

As the title of the film suggests, Shaun is one of the living dead. It is not until the apocalypse comes that Shaun finally wakes up and takes control, fighting to survive and protect his loved ones. In this way, he manages to reach the end, return to Liz, and gain the life he desired as a reward.

In the end, all these features make Shaun of the Dead a timeless horror-comedy classic, a must-see for fans of the genre this Halloween. Although Edgar Wright has made many other high-quality films, such as Child driver AND Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldthere’s nothing better than shaun and the gang’s date to the zombie apocalypse. how about a piece of fried gold?

Shaun of the Dead is broadcast on Peacock.