"SHAUN OF THE DEAD" Celebrates 20 Shambling Years With A Stellar Steelbook (REVIEW)

Twenty years ago, we watched “SHAUN OF THE DEAD” in a damp, musty movie theater on a screen the size of an overturned loveseat…and we were in heaven. It turns out that when you’re experiencing what would instantly become THE definitive horror/comedy of the 2000s, it doesn’t matter where or how you see it; it just matters that you did. For those lucky enough to have this experience, you left the theater buzzing on multiple levels. First, you were now part of the Wright Army, vowing to see every future release on screen, if not opening night, and second, you were immediately smitten with two lovable losers whose friendship is so genuine it transcends death itself, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost would become Tiger Beat crushes for nerds everywhere, and rightfully so; their onscreen chemistry is one of the strongest onscreen since Abbott and Costello. Filmmaker Edgar Wright would go on to complete his Cornetto Trilogy with “HOT FUZZ” and “AT THE WORLDS END” and continue to write and direct some of the most unique stories onscreen to this day. His upcoming version of “THE RUNNING MAN” has us pacing the floor till release day. We certainly hope this trio will continue to collaborate soon, but until then, we’ll consider ourselves lucky that we have this insanely detailed and comprehensive 4K UHD Steelbook to fanatically obsess over. Let’s take a look at the goodies!

BONUS FEATURES on 4K Ultra HD, BLU-RAYTM & DIGITAL:

• SHAUN OF THE DEAD: 20 BLOODY YEARS!* (NEW)

  • Director Edgar Wright joins actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to reflect on the funniest zombie movie ever.

• MISSING BITS

  • Kitchen Pow-Wow

  • Body on the Line

  • Body on the Line / Yvonne

  • Taxi Driver

  • Bathroom Blowout

  • In the Bedroom

  • Meercats United

  • Alternate Ed

  • The Dopplegang

  • Q.W.A.

  • David vs. Shaun

  • More Peanuts

  • Rifle Trifles

  • David’s Redemption

  • Bar Extension

• OUTTAKES

  • The Man Who Would Be Shaun

  • Funky Pete

  • Plot Holes

• RAW MEAT

  • Simon Pegg’s Video Diary

  • Lucy Davis’ Video Diary

  • Joe Cornish’s Video Diary

  • Casting Tapes

  • Edgar and Simon’s Flip Chart

  • SFX Comparison

  • Make-Up Tests

  • EPK Featurette

• TV BITS

  • T4 with Coldplay

  • Fun Dead

  • Trisha – Your Nine Lives Are Up

  • Trisha – I Married a Monster

  • Remembering Z Day

• TRAILERS

  • US Trailer

  • UK Teaser Trailer

  • UK Trailer

  • UK TV Spot #1

  • UK TV Spot #2

  • Fright Fest Trailer

• AUDIO COMMENTARY

  • Feature Commentary with Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright

  • Feature Commentary with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield and Lucy Davis

  • Feature Commentary with Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton

  • Feature Commentary with the Zombies

SYNOPSIS:

 It feels weird laying out the plot for a movie that’s easily part of every horror lover’s Top 10, but we’re nothing if not thorough. You all know the main gist of the film: two lovable losers experience the worst day of their lives as they try to navigate their friends and loved ones through the increasingly zombified streets of London, but that’s really just the surface level. The film is an examination of relationships, maternal, platonic, and romantic. Each has its own unique expectations and commitments. It reflects on that moment in one’s life when you have to grow up and leave the party behind, even if that’s where you’re the truest version of yourself. It’s not lost on us that the depiction of walking hunger that wants to consume you is a perfect metaphor for love.

THE VIDEO:

Back in 2009, we saw the release of the 1080P version. It worked and was a fine representation of the 2004 film. It’s more of a “get what you get, and you don’t get upset” release. We appreciated the effort, but it was lacking in almost every aspect. In 2019, Universal released a new 4kUHD upgrade, which became the go-to for collectors and wowed fans worldwide. Miles ahead of the 2009 version, this was a drastic improvement and set a new bar. With the release of the new 2024 4KUHD Steelbook, the movie has been completely remastered and reinvisioned. Upgraded from 2019 with a Dolby Vision pass, everything looks stunningly gorgeous. Wright shot on film, and the beauty of the grain of “Shaun of the Dead” will make you reminiscent of that particular look and feel, and you’ll ache for that almost completely forgotten process. This new release is the one and only version you need. We couldn’t imagine anything else that could improve the quality of the visuals. It’s so lovingly restored that it’s almost a new watching experience.

THE AUDIO:

Previously, we had a perfect DTS-HD MA 5.1 track to accompany the Blu-ray. Now we get Dolby Atmos, and you can’t believe the improvements you’ll hear. Surround Sound will put you dead center in the middle of the action, with zombies shuffling in from left to right and right to left. It’s a remarkable listen; the dialog is crisp and clean, and the audio effects are stunning over the visuals. You can’t get any better than this.

THE GOODIES:

Okay, here’s what you’ve come for! Now, there are so many fantastic extras to the 20th Anniversary that we can’t possibly go over all of them, so let us highlight some of the best (spoiler alert…they’re all fantastic)

SHAUN OF THE DEAD: 20 BLOODY YEARS!

Where do we begin? The awkward yet fantastic elevator ride with Sade? The origin of why “Coronetto,” the call Edgar and Simon get from George Romero? This in-depth discussion with Wright, Pegg, and Frost recounts the movie’s shoot, which is fascinating. Still, the absolute pleasure of this new additional bonus feature is the genuinely sweet stories of the press tour and the excitement they feel as the movie starts to catch on. The funniest of them all is Frost halfway through a tale, realizing it’s not his story at all; it’s Pegg’s…or was it Wright’s? The excitement and enthusiasm they all have for the experience they shared in making this classic is infectious and a highlight of the reissue.

RAW MEAT: THE VIDEO DIARY OF SIMON PEGG, LUCY DAVIS AND JOE CORNISH

Three video diaries are included here: Pegg’s, Lucy Davis’, and Joe Cornish’s. All are fantastic, but Pegg’s is the most compelling and comprehensive. Most interesting is a time-lapse of Simon getting his bloody, battered face made up, the car rig used for the cast’s out-of-control car crash, and the fun they’re all having behind the scenes. Cornish gives you a peek at what Zombie training looks like, and Davis treats you to table reads with the cast (they’re all so young!)

TEST FOOTAGE:

For the Practical Effect and Green Screen Geek in all of us, there are some amazing before and after shots of the make-up used to transform Londoners into the shambling undead. The Green Screen effects are incredibly cool, as you can see how they add poles going through bodies and gunshots, creating holes through heads.

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THE BOTTOM LINE:

Horror comedies are hard to pull off successfully. The fact that we have such a comprehensive, loving restoration for one of, if not THE most successful, ever made is a gift you shouldn’t pass up. We promise you won’t regret this purchase.