Blog Post 4 - "That's So Meta!"

 By borrowing elements from classic horror films such as Dawn of the Dead and meshing them  with the comedic elements of Return of the Living Dead, Edgar Wrights Shaun of the Dead becomes a shining example of a genre bending movie. Although other films such as Ghostbusters and Inglourious Basterds are perfect examples of mixed genre movies, Shaun of the Dead clearly stands out for its clever comedic tone and convincing horror setting.

 

  The story starts off with our diligent protagonist Shaun (Simon Pegg), struggling to set things right with his careless best friend, affectionate mum, resentful step-dad, and longtime girlfriend and from there are all plunged into the middle of a zombie outbreak.

 Viewers are treated to a comedy that will appeal to both high brow stiffs and low brow cinema goers and an engaging action/horror film that, surprisingly, stays true to the horror genre. There's no wonder films like ZombieLand and Cabin in the Woods among others attempted to bank off the success of Shaun of the Dead.

 In short, Shaun of the Dead is a spectacle of modern cinema. It combines two genres very foreign to one another and seamlessly creates one of the most hilarious, entertaining and captivating stories ever told in horror movie history.