Shaun of the Dead
By Common Sense Media,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Zombie horror-comedy has lots of gore, cursing.

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Shaun of the Dead
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Based on 36 parent reviews
R for language and graphic violence
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Very gory but funny cult classic spoof horror film.
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What's the Story?
In SHAUN OF THE DEAD, Shaun (Simon Pegg) is a 29-year-old slacker who holds down a dead-end job he hates. His girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) has asked him to make something of himself, but he can't bring himself to change. Sick of playing second fiddle to Shaun's immature roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), to beer, and to video games, Liz breaks up with Shaun. Shaun wants to save the relationship, but before he can, he must deal with a strange situation that has emerged: a horde of zombies taking over London, and looking for new recruits. Now Shaun must save his family and friends as chaos erupts through the city.
Is It Any Good?
This cult favorite zom-rom-com pokes fun at zombie movie clichés, but it also honors these movies by following their rules. It balances laugh-out-loud funny scenes (such as when Shaun is so self-absorbed that he doesn't see the zombies wandering around his neighborhood and then misses the news warnings because he's channel-surfing) with some intense, suspenseful, and yes, very gory and bloody scenes (for example, the zombies attack a man and pull various bloody organs out of his stomach). The gore is plentiful, but also over the top and cartoonish. Mature horror fans are likely to really enjoy the movie's droll British humor and the homage to George Romero's zombie classics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of zombie movies. How does this movie fit into the zombie genre, while also standing out from others?
How does this movie parody the conventions of zombie movies while also satirizing contemporary society? To that end, what purpose did the movie's epilogue serve?
Was the violence necessary to make the film fit the conventions of zombie-themed horror movies, or did it seem gratuitous?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 23, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: December 21, 2004
- Cast: Lucy Davis , Nick Frost , Simon Pegg
- Director: Edgar Wright
- Studio: Rogue Pictures
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 99 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: zombie violence/gore and language
- Last updated: May 24, 2023
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